Use of a feed composition for reducing methane emission in ruminants, and/or to improve ruminant performance

Abstract

The present invention relates to the field of reduction of methane emission in ruminants. Particularly, it relates to the use of a feed composition or a feed additive comprising at least one fatty acid containing at least 5 carbon atoms and at least one organic molecule substituted at any position with at least one nitrooxy group, for reducing the production of methane emanating from the digestive activities of ruminants, and/or to improve the ruminant performance.

Claims

1. A method for reducing the production of methane emanating from the digestive activities of ruminants and/or for improving ruminant animal performance comprising orally administering to the animal a feed composition or feed additive comprising 3-nitrooxypropanol and lauric acid in a mol ratio of the 3-nitrooxypropanol to the lauric acid of between 0.0025 and 0.1 sufficient to achieve an amount of the 3-nitrooxypropanol administered to the ruminant animal of from 1 mg to 10 g per kg feed, and an amount of the lauric acid administered to the ruminant animal of from 0.1 to 20 g per kg of feed.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the ruminant animal is selected from the group consisting of cattle, goats, sheep, giraffes, American Bison, European bison, yaks, water buffalo, deer, camels, alpacas, llamas, wildebeest, antelope, pronghorn, and nilgai.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the methane production in ruminants is reduced by at least 10% when measured in metabolic chambers and based on the treatment with the at least one organic molecule substituted at any position.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the mol ratio of the 3-nitrooxypropanol to the lauric acid is between 0.004 and 0.01.

Description

EXAMPLES

(1) In Vitro Test for Methane Production:

(2) A modified version of the “Hohenheim Forage value Test (HFT)” was used for testing the effect of specific compounds on the rumen functions mimicked by this in-vitro system.

(3) Principle:

(4) Feed is gadded into a syringe with a composition of rumen liquor and an appropriate mixture of buffers. The solution is incubated at 39° C. After 8 hours the quantity (and composition) of gas phase produced is measured and put into a formula for conversion.

(5) Reagents:

(6) Mass Element Solution: 6.2 g potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KH.sub.2PO.sub.4) 0.6 g magnesium sulfate heptahydrate (MgSO.sub.4*7H.sub.2O) 9 ml concentrated phosphoric acid (1 mol/l) dissolved in distilled water to 1 l (pH about 1.6)

(7) Buffer Solution: 35.0 g sodium hydrogen carbonate (NaHCO.sub.3) 4.0 g ammonium hydrogen carbonate ((NH.sub.4)HCO.sub.3) dissolved in distilled water to 1 l

(8) Trace Element Solution:

(9) 13.2 g calcium chloride dihydrate (CaCl.sub.2*2H.sub.2O) 10.0 g manganese(II) chloride tetrahydrate (MnCl.sub.2*4H.sub.2O) 1.0 g cobalt(II) chloride hexahydrate (CoCl.sub.2*6H.sub.2O) 8.0 g iron(III) chloride (FeCl.sub.3*6H.sub.2O) dissolved in distilled water to 100 ml

(10) Sodium Salt Solution: 100 mg sodium salt dissolved in distilled water to 100 ml

(11) Reduction Solution: first 3 ml sodium hydroxide (c=1 mol/l), then 427.5 mg sodium sulfide hydrate (Na.sub.2S*H.sub.2O) are added to 71.25 ml H.sub.2O solution must be prepared shortly before it is added to the medium solution

(12) Procedure:

(13) Sample Weighing:

(14) The feed stuff is sieved to 1 mm—usually TMR (44% concentrate, 6% hay, 37% maize silage and 13% grass silage)—and weighed exactly into 64 syringes. 4 of these syringes are the substrate controls, which display the gas production without the effect of the tested compounds. 4 other syringes are positive control, in which bromoethane sulfonate has been added to 0.1 mM. When needed, 4 syringes contain a carrier control (if the test compounds need a carrier). The remaining syringes contain the test substances, by groups of 4 syringes.

(15) Preparation of the Medium Solution: The components are mixed in a Woulff bottle in following order: 711 ml water 0.18 ml trace element solution 355.5 ml buffer solution 355.5 ml mass element solution The completed solution is warmed up to 39° C. followed by the addition of 1.83 ml sodium salt solution and the addition of reduction solution at 36° C. The rumen liquor is added, when the indicator turns colourless.

(16) Extraction of the Rumen Liquor:

(17) 750 ml of rumen liquor are added to approximately 1,400 ml of medium solution under continued agitation and CO.sub.2-gassing.

(18) Filling the Syringes, Incubation and Determining Gas Volumes and VFA Values:

(19) The diluted rumen fluid (24 ml) is added to the glass syringe. The syringes are then incubated for 8 hours at 39° C. under gentle agitation. After 8 hours, the volume of gas produced is measured, and the percentage of methane in the gas phase is determined by gas chromatography.

(20) Results

(21) The food fermented was artificial TMR (44% concentrate, 6% hay, 37% maize silage and 13% grass silage). Lauric acid from Sigma Aldrich was used at a concentration of 1000 μM. 3-Nitrooxy-propanol (3-NOP) was used at two different concentrations, 2.5 μM and 5 μM.

(22) The results are presented in the following Table 2 and 3. Clear synergistic effects were obtained for the combination of 3-NOP and Lauric acid in view of the methane reduction as well as on the acetate/propionate ratio, which translates into additional performance benefit for the animal. The results depicted below result from the average of three experiments with either Lauric acid, 3-NOP, or a combination of both. Ace.=acetate; Prop.=propionate

(23) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Effect on methane production 3- Lauric Total Reduction Expected NOP acid methane vs. control reduction* Synergy° Treatment [μM] [μM] [mmol over 8 h] [%] 1 (Con- — — 0.267 — — — trol) 2 (Ref) 2.5 — 0.244 0.023 — — 3 (Ref) 5 — 0.097 0.17 — — 4 (Ref) — 1000 0.255 0.012 — — 5 (Inv) 2.5 1000 0.125 0.142 0.232 −46 6 (Inv) 5 1000 0.022 0.245 0.085 −74 *Expected reduction based on an additive effect vs. control °(Found value − expected value)/expected value * 100%

(24) TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Effect on volatile fatty acids (VFA) profile, i.e. acetate/propionate ratio 3- Lauric Ace./ Reduction Expected NOP acid Prop. vs. control reduction* Synergy° Treatment [μM] [μM] [Mole Ratio] [%] 1 (Control) — — 2.26 — — — 2 (Ref) 2.5 — 2.09 0.17 — — 3 (Ref) 5 — 1.63 0.63 — — 4 (Ref) — 1000 1.98 0.28 — — 5 (Inv) 2.5 1000 1.63 0.63 1.81 −9.9 6 (Inv) 5 1000 1.29 0.97 1.35 −4.4 *Expected reduction based on an additive effect vs. control °(Found value − expected value)/expected value * 100%