FEED COMPOSITIONS CONTAINING BETAINE SALTS

Abstract

Compositions, in particular compacted compositions, contain at least one betaine salt and at least one feed additive; and can be used for providing the feed additive, in particular probiotics, to drinking water or rearing water.

Claims

1. A composition comprising at least one betaine salt and at least one feed additive.

2. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the composition contains the at least one betaine salt in an amount of 20 to 90 wt. %.

3. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the composition contains at least one carbonate salt.

4. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the composition contains at least one bicarbonate salt.

5. Composition The composition according to claim 1, wherein the composition contains at least one polyfunctional acid.

6. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the composition contains at least one further compound selected from the group consisting of disintegrants, flow regulators, anti-caking agents, lubricants, emulsifiers, antioxidants, bulking agents, gelatinizers, colouring agents, and flavouring agents.

7. The composition, according to claim 1, wherein the at least one feed additive is selected from the group consisting of probiotics, minerals, vitamins, enzymes, probiotics, amino acids, organic acids, vaccines, immune modulators, and mixtures thereof.

8. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the composition contains at least one probiotic microorganism.

9. The composition according to claim 8, wherein the at least one probiotic microorganism is selected from the group consisting of probiotic bacteria.

10. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the composition is a compacted composition.

11. A method of preparing a compacted composition, the method comprising: a) providing the composition according to claim 1, wherein the composition is in the form of a powder; b) granulating the powder to prepare a granular composition; and c) pressing the granular composition to form the compacted composition.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein pressing of the granular composition is carried out by applying a pressure force of 5 to 100 kN.

13. A method of providing a feed additive animals, the method comprising: a) dissolving the composition according to claim 1 in water or an aqueous solution, to obtain a prepared solution; and b) providing the prepared solution to animals.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the animals are selected from the group consisting of farm animals, pets, exotic animals, zoo animals, aquatic animals, and animals used for sports, recreation, or work.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein provision of the feed additive to the animals enhances the health of such animals, and/or improves the general physical condition of such animals, and/or improves the feed conversion rate of such animals, and/or decreases the mortality rate of such animals, and/or increases the survival rates of such animals, and/or improves the weight gain of such animals, and/or increases the productivity of such animals, and/or increases the disease resistance of such animals, and/or increases the immune response of such animals, and/or establishes or maintains a healthy gut microflora in such animals, and/or prevents the outgrowth of pathogenic bacteria, and/or enhances the growth of beneficial bacteria, and; or reduces the pathogen shedding through the feces of such animals.

16. The composition according to claim 2, wherein the composition contains the at least one betaine salt in an amount of 45 to 65 wt.-%, and wherein the at least one betaine salt is betaine hydrochloride.

17. The composition according to claim 3, wherein the composition contains the at least one carbonate salt in an amount of 10 to 35 wt.-%, and wherein the at least one carbonate salt is sodium carbonate.

18. The composition according to claim 4, wherein the composition contains the at least one bicarbonate salt in an amount of 1 to 10 wt.-%, and wherein the at least one bicarbonate salt is sodium bicarbonate.

19. The composition according to claim 9, wherein the at least one probiotic microorganism is selected from the group consisting of probiotic bacteria from B. subtilis, B. iichenybrinis, B. amylolyquiefaciens, E. faecium, and mixtures thereof.

20. The composition according to claim 10, wherein the compacted composition is in a shape of a tablet.

Description

WORKING EXAMPLES

Example 1

Determination of the Dissolution Time of Tablets Containing Probiotics

[0092] Powders containing differing amounts of citric acid, betaine hydrochloride, sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate, silica and probiotics (B. amyloliqufaciens with an average particle size (d50) of about 0.9 μm) as disclosed in table 1 were prepared by mixing the components in the amounts as disclosed in table 1. The total amount of citric acid plus betaine hydrochloride corresponds to the same total amount of proton donor in each of the prepared samples. The powders thus obtained were thoroughly mixed making use of an Eirich mixer EL 1 for 240 seconds at 20 m/sec and eventually granulated for 45 seconds at 15 m/sec.

[0093] 2.3 g of the granulated compositions were subsequently pressed to a circular tablet by applying a pressure force of 30 kN, respectively.

[0094] The tablets thus obtained were subsequently dissolved in 5 L of water and the dissolution time was determined.

[0095] As can be seen from the table the dissolution time of the tablet containing only betaine hydrochloride as proton donor was the best. The higher the amount of citric acid, the lower the dissolution time. Further the increasing amount of citric acid in the compositions did also lead to increasing problems with the release of the tablets from the matrix of the pressing machine.

[0096] Further it was observed that the probiotics were homogeneously distributed in the water reservoir.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Tablet compositions and dissolution time Component [g] 1 2 3 4 5 6 Citric Acid 0.0 28.0 39.1 51.3 79.8 136.7 Betaine HCl 180.30 143.4 128.7 112.6 75.0 0 NaHCO3 9.9 11.2 11.8 12.3 13.7 16.4 Na2CO3 56.0 63.6 66.6 69.9 77.6 93.1 Aerosil 200F 3.8 3.8 3.8 3.8 3.8 3.8 B. amyloliquefaciens 27.3 27.3 27.3 27.3 27.3 27.3 CECT 5940 Dissolution time [s] 76 88 90 96 101 105

Example 2

Qualitative Characteristics of a Tablet According to the Invention

[0097] To determine the qualitative characteristics, i.e. in particular the user-friendliness, of a tablet according to the invention in comparison to a probiotics powder with sugar-based carrier as commercially available in the market, the differences were tested by dissolving a tablet according to the invention, on the one hand, and a commercially available probiotics powder, on the other hand, in 1000 L water contained in a water tank, adjusting a probiotics concentration of 5×1011 CFU/1000 L water. The observed characteristics are summarized in the following table.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Comparison of qualitative characteristics of a tablet according to the invention in comparison to a probiotics powder with sugar-based carrier as obtainable in the market Probiotics powder with sugar-based Tablet according Product carrier to the invention Dosing 5 × 10{circumflex over ( )}11 CFU/ 5 × 10{circumflex over ( )}11 CFU/ 1000 L water 1000 L water Handling complicated easy Dust formation moderate non-existent Caking behaviour strong non-existent Amount of probiotic about 10 wt.-% about 11 wt.-% in the product Distribution in water Stirring is necessary Homogeneous distribution without stirring Sedimentation Sedimentation takes Homogeneous behavior/distribution place soon, if distribution of spores over time stirring is stopped is maintained without stirring for more than 24 hours

Example 3

Determination of Biofilm Formation

[0098] To determine the biofilm formation in comparison to a commercially available sugar containing probiotic, tablets were prepared, on the one hand tablets according to the invention, on the other hand tablets, where the probiotic was replaced in the preparation of the tablet by a commercially available probiotic powder with sugar-based carrier. As a negative control, a tablet without probiotics was prepared.

[0099] The tablets according to the invention contained the following components: 11 wt.-% probiotics (B. amyloliquefaciens CECT 5940, 51 wt.-% betaine HCl, 10 wt.-% citric acid, 23 wt.-% sodium carbonate, 4 wt.-% sodium hydrogen carbonate, 1.5% fumed silica (Aerosil® 200F). As comparative example tablets with the same ingredients were prepared where the probiotic was replaced by a commercially available sugar containing probiotics powder.

[0100] To simulate the conditions of drinking water lines as employed in chicken farming, the different formulations were dissolved in water (process water, 20° C.) to adjust a probiotics concentration in the water of about 5×10{circumflex over ( )} 8 CFU/L. The probiotics containing water was then pumped through a system consisting of 3 Schott 1L flasks, which were connected by PVC and stainless steel tubes with a diameter of 4 mm and a length of 300 mm, respectively. The water in the Schott flasks was continuously stirred. Pumping of the water was established by using 3 Watson Marlow 120U pumps. The probiotics containing solutions were replaced daily. Pumping took place 16 h each day, simulating the conditions of poultry farming, where the poultry rests for about 8 hours each day. The flow velocity was increased from 9.8 mL/min in the first week up to 46.2 mL/min in week 6.

[0101] After 6 weeks the amount of biofilm formation was determined by using crystal violet for staining the biofilm as formed in the PVC and stainless steel tubes. Staining of the biofilm was carried out as described by George A. O'Toole (2011), Microtiter Dish Biofilm Formation Assay. JoVE. 47. http://www.jove.com/details.php?id=2437, doi: 10.3791/2437. The more biofilm was formed, the stronger is the staining. The strength of staining was determined by measuring the optical density at a wavelength of 550 nm (OD.sub.550). The results are presented in the following table.

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Biofilm determination by crystal violet staining Negativ Tablets of the Tablets with probiotic Material control invention on sugar-based carrier PVC tubes 2.84 3.19 17.3 Stainless steel tubes 2.62 2.60 12.4

[0102] The experimental data show that by using tablets of the invention, the biofilm formation can be minimized. The biofilm formation is almost the same as for the negative control, i.e. like by using a tablet which does not contain probiotics, at all. Replacing the probiotic in the tablet by a commercially available sugar containing probiotic, to the contrary, leads to a significant undesired increase of the biofilm formation.

Example 4

Feeding Trials

[0103] The farm consisted of 6 houses with about 35.000 birds per house. The poultry used in the trial were Ross 308, mixed sex, with an average start weight of 40 g. The poultry was fed with a standard diet for 40 days. Three houses (treatment group) were supplied with probiotic B. amyloliquefaciens CECT 59 contained in the drinking water, whereas three other houses (control group) were not supplied with probiotic.

[0104] Supply with probiotic of the treatment group was carried out as follows:

[0105] An 8 g tablet with about 4.5 Ell CFU/tablet was dissolved in 20 L of water to prepare a stock solution. The tablet contained 0,8 g citric acid, 4.0 g betaine hydrochloride, 0.3 g sodium hydrogen carbonate, 1.8 g sodium carbonate, 0.9 g B. amyloliquefaciens CECT 59 (Ecobiol®), 0.1 g fumed silica (Aerosil® 200F).

[0106] The stock solution was supplied through the drinking lines at a ratio of 1:50 to the poultry for 12 hours on each of days 0-2, 10-12, 21-23 and 27-29.

[0107] The results of the feeding trial are summarized in the following table.

TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Effect of probiotic supply on feeding parameters Parameter Farm average Control group Treatment group EPFE 414.27 414.49 141.04 Av BWG 2.247 2.230 2.264 Hock % 27.15 29.72 24.58 Podo % 22.56 25.30 19.82 Factory rejects 0.43 0.49 0.38

[0108] The application of the probiotic containing tablets to the drinking water resulted in an increase of the average body weight of the poultry of in average 34 g per bird over the three houses. The application further led to a reduction of hock burns and pododermatitis of more than 5% in the treated poultry in comparison to the untreated poultry. Furthermore, the number of factory rejects was significantly reduced.