BIRD FEED

Abstract

A particulate dry bird feed includes, in combination forming greater than 50% by mass of the feed, a protein source and an added vegetable oil-based or animal fat or fatty acid that is admixed together with the protein source, and less than 50% by mass grain or grain-derived ingredients. The invention extends to a method of manufacturing a particulate dry bird feed and to a method of feeding a granivore.

Claims

1. A particulate dry bird feed which includes, in combination forming greater than 50% by mass of the feed, a protein source and an added vegetable oil-based fat or fatty acid or an added animal fat or fatty acid that is admixed together with the protein source; and less than 50% by mass grain or grain-derived ingredients.

2. The bird feed according to claim 1, which includes less than 25% by mass or less than 10% by mass or less than 5% by mass or less than 1% by mass grain or grain-derived ingredients.

3. The bird feed according to claim 1, wherein the protein source is selected from the group consisting of egg white, whole egg protein or whole egg powder, soy bean meal, soy protein, pea isolate, larvae meal, fish meal, animal proteins, plant proteins, synthetic amino acids and mixtures of two or more thereof.

4. The bird feed according to claim 1, wherein the added vegetable oil-based fat or fatty acid or the added animal fat or fatty acid comprises predominantly saturated fatty acids, and/or wherein the added vegetable oil-based fat or fatty acid or the added animal fat or fatty acid is not liquid at ambient temperature, and/or wherein the added vegetable oil-based fat or fatty acid or the added animal fat or fatty acid is a spray-dried fat or fatty acid in the form of a powder or granulate.

5. The bird feed according to claim 1, wherein the added fat or fatty acid is a vegetable oil-based fat or fatty acid, and/or wherein the added vegetable oil-based fat or fatty acid is palm oil-based fat or fatty acid.

6. The bird feed according to claim 5, wherein the added vegetable oil-based fat or fatty acid is predominantly palmitic acid.

7. The bird feed according to claim 1, in which the added vegetable oil-based fat is a lecithinized palm fat powder without a carrier, which is free of trans fatty acids and which includes a phospholipid complex.

8. The bird feed according to claim 1, wherein the protein source and the added vegetable oil-based fat or fatty acid or the added animal fat or fatty acid form at least 70% by mass, or at least 80% by mass, or at least 85% or at least 90% by mass of the bird feed.

9. The bird feed according to claim 1, wherein the added vegetable oil-based fat or fatty acid or the added animal fat or fatty acid and the protein source are present in a mass ratio of added vegetable oil-based fat or fatty acid or added animal fat or fatty acid:protein source of at least 1:2 or at least 1:3, or at least 1:4, or at least 1:5.

10. The bird feed according to claim 1, which includes added CaCO.sub.3 which is present as an additive in a concentration of at least 0.1% by mass or at least 1% by mass or at least 2% by mass.

11. The bird feed according to claim 1, which has an energy content of at least 12.8 MJ/kg or at least 20 MJ/kg or at least 25 MJ/kg.

12. The bird feed according to claim 1, which includes one or more additives selected from the group consisting of refined sugar, monocalcium phosphate, nonphytate phosphorus, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, fat soluble vitamins and minerals, water soluble vitamins and minerals, a methionine source, lysine, electrolytes, taurine, creatine monohydrate, niacin and thiamine.

13. A method of manufacturing a particulate dry bird feed, the method including admixing a protein source and a vegetable oil-based fat or fatty acid or an animal fat or fatty acid, to form an admixture in which the protein source and the fat or fatty acid, in combination form at least 50% by mass of the admixture; and shaping the admixture into particulate dry bird feed bodies with a maximum dimension of 20 mm.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the protein source is a dry protein source and wherein the vegetable oil-based fat or fatty acid or the animal fat or fatty acid is not liquid at ambient temperature, and/or wherein the admixture includes less than 25% by mass or less than 10% by mass or less than 5% by mass or less than 1% by mass grain or grain-derived ingredients.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the protein source and the vegetable oil-based fat or fatty acid or the animal fat or fatty acid are admixed to form an admixture in which the protein source and the vegetable oil-based fat or fatty acid or the animal fat or fatty acid in combination make up at least 70% by mass, or at least 80% by mass, or at least 85% by mass or at least 90% by mass of the admixture.

16. A method of feeding a granivore, the method including providing to the granivore a dry particulate animal feed according to claim 1.

17. (canceled)

18. The method according to claim 16, in which the granivore is a bird or in which the granivore is a racing pigeon or in which the granivore is poultry.

Description

EXAMPLE 1

[0071] A bird feed, suitable for feeding to racing pigeons, was prepared in accordance with the following formulation:

TABLE-US-00001 Ingredient Mass % Virbac Phenix Stresspac PO, gelatin powder, 0.1% extreme electrolyte, dried cheese Taurine 0.05% Creatine monohydrate 0.05% Larvae meal (MagMeal) .sup.67% A vegetable oil-based fat or fatty acid 32.8% (BergaFat HPL-106 for monogastric animals)

[0072] This formulation was mechanically admixed and pelleted through a pellet machine to provide pellets that were circular cylindrical in cross-section with a diameter of about 3 mm and a length of about 6 mm.

[0073] In place of the larvae meal, or in partial substitution thereof, spray dried egg can be used.

[0074] The dry pelleted bird feed had a crude protein content of 33% by mass, a fat content of 40% by mass, a fibre content of 8.7% by mass and an energy content of 21.84 MJ/kg (on a dry matter basis).

[0075] Virbac Phenix Stresspac PO has a composition as set out in the following table:

TABLE-US-00002 Composition per kg Vitamin A 15 000 000 IU Vitamin E 25 000 mg Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) 5 000 mg Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) 2 000 mg Folic acid 500 mg Pantothenic acid 10 000 mg Sodium chloride 150 000 mg Vitamin D3 1 500 000 IU Vitamin K 4 000 mg Niacin 2 500 mg Vitamin B12 20 mg Biotin 40 mg Vitamin C 150 000 mg Potassium chloride 10 000 mg

[0076] Virbac Phenix Stresspac PO is usually applied, for poultry and ostriches, as a 1100 g sachet per 100 kg complete feed.

[0077] The dry bird feed prepared in accordance with Example 1 was fed to racing pigeons. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the racing pigeons are showing an increase in performance of up to about 15%, compared to when they were fed on conventional grain-based feed. Thus, a pigeon travelling 20 miles in 20 minutes with no wind can travel 20 miles in 17 minutes with no wind. This is a result of the pigeon weighing about 15% less due to the feed.

EXAMPLE 2

[0078] A bird feed suitable for racing pigeons was formulated as follows:

TABLE-US-00003 Ingredient Mass % Virbac Phenix Stresspac PO, gelatin powder, 0.13% extreme electrolyte, dried cheese Vitamin and mineral premix 0.55% Taurine 0.06% Niacin 0.01% Thiamine 0.002% Whole egg powder 82.498% Calcium carbonate 2.4% A vegetable oil-based fat or fatty acid 14.35% (BergaFat HPL-106 for monogastric animals)

[0079] This formulation was admixed and pelleted as described in Example 1. The dry pelleted bird feed had a crude protein content of 37%, a fat content of 51%, zero % fibre and an energy content of 25.7 MJ/kg.

EXAMPLE 3

[0080] A bird feed in accordance with the invention was prepared from BergaFat HPL-106 and larvae meal (MagMeal). The bird feed had a 33% by mass protein content, a 40% by mass fat content, 8.7% by mass fibre content and an energy content of 20.5 MJ/kg. This bird feed however leads to higher moisture take-up by birds, as a result of the presence of the larvae meal fibres, and hence to an increase in bird. This bird feed was given to racing pigeons as a 33 g/day ration.

EXAMPLE 4

[0081] A bird feed in accordance with the invention was prepared from BergaFat HPL-106 and whole egg protein, instead of larvae meal, to eliminate chitin fibre, to improve on caloric density and to boost calcium and vitamin D content. The bird feed had a 32% by mass protein content, a 61% by mass fat content, 0.74% by mass carbohydrates, 0% fibre, a low moisture content and an energy content of 28.6 MJ/kg.

[0082] Whole egg powder advantageously includes helpful amounts of essential amino acids such as threonine, cysteine and methionine and does not include chitin fibre, unlike larvae meal. The chitin fibre undesirably reduces protein digestibility and absorbs water.

EXAMPLE 5

[0083] A bird feed in accordance with the invention was prepared from BergaFat HPL-106 and whole egg protein to lower the caloric density to address a potential issue with birds (racing pigeons) not eating enough of the calorie-dense food of Example 4 to meet their desired 11 g/day protein intake. The protein content was increased so that the birds can ingest 11 g protein daily in approximately 29 g feed/day. The fat content was lowered to reduce the caloric density. The bird feed had a 37% by mass protein content, a 51% by mass fat content, 11% by mass ash (from calcium carbonate), 0% fibre, 1% carbohydrates and an energy content of 25.5 MJ/kg.

[0084] The bird feed of Examples 4 and 5 improve on the mineral content, particularly calcium and phosphorus, vitamin D content and energy content of the bird feed of Example 3, and address a potential soft egg shall problem identified with the bird feed of Example 3.

EXAMPLE 6

[0085] A bird feed, suitable for feeding to racing pigeons, was prepared in accordance with the following formulation:

TABLE-US-00004 Mass per Mass Mass daily ration per per of 27.9 g kg 100 kg feed ration ration Mass Ingredient (g) (g) (kg) % Whole egg powder 23 824.59 82.46 82.5 A vegetable oil-based fat 4 143.41 14.34 14.35 or fatty acid (BergaFat HPL-106 for monogastric animals) Calcium carbonate 0.67 24.02 2.40 2.4 Potassium chloride 0.15 5.38 0.54 0.54 Virbac Phenix 0.035 1.25 0.13 0.13 Stresspac PO Taurine powder 0.0175 0.63 0.0627 0.06 Creatine monohydrate 0.0175 0.63 0.0627 0.01 powder Niacin 0.002 0.07 0.0072 0.01 Thiamine (Vitamin B1) 0.0005 0.02 0.0018 0.002 Total 27.9 1000 100 100

[0086] The bird feed of Example 6 provides an energy content as set out below:

TABLE-US-00005 Mass per Glycaemic Dietary Ingredient daily ration Protein Fats per carbohydrates fibre per Calories mass/100 g of 27.9 g per 100 g 100 g per 100 g feed 100 g per 100 g Ingredient feed (g) feed (g) feed (g) feed (g) (g) feed (g) feed (kcal) Whole egg powder 79.6 23 39.6 36.2 0.93 0 487.9 A vegetable oil-based 13.2 4 0 14.2 0 0 127.8 fat or fatty acid (BergaFat HPL-106 for monogastric animals) Additives 7.2 0.9 0 0 0 0 0 Total 39.6 50.4 0.93 0 616

[0087] Thus, 1 kg of feed has an energy content of 106164.187 kJ=25.7 MJ. The whole egg powder and the fats are the only two sources of calories in the ration, with all of the other additives being non-caloric.

[0088] This bird feed consists of 39.6% by mass protein and 50.4% by mass fats as macronutrients. Glycaemic carbohydrates are extremely low at 0.93% by mass and the feed is free from dietary fibre. Ash and moisture makes up about 9.1% by mass of the feed.

[0089] Assuming a 28 g daily ration, a bird will receive 11.4 g protein, 14.1 g fats, 0.26 g carbohydrates, 0 g fibres and 720 kJ of energy.

[0090] The bird feed of Example 6 provides the minerals as set out in the following table, meeting the daily requirement for racing pigeons for calcium, chlorine, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and sodium:

TABLE-US-00006 Amounts supplied by some of the feed ingredients per 28 g ration 23 g Calculated whole 0.15 g 0.67 g Macro requirement egg potassium calcium minerals mg/day powder chloride carbonate Total Calcium 360 56.1 270 326.1 Chlorine 63 70 70 Magnesium 13.5 7.8 7.2 15.0 Phosphorus 135 144.6 2.52 147.2 Potassium 180 124.2 75 2.4 201.6 Sodium 67.5 109.5 109.5 Iron 1.7 1.7 Zinc 0.72 0.72 Copper 0.046 0.046 Manganese 0.013 0.013 Selenium 38.5 38.5

[0091] The bird feed of Example 6 provides the vitamins as set out in the following table, meeting the daily requirement for racing pigeons for vitamins A, D3, E and K, B12, biotin, choline, folacin, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine and riboflavin, with added niacin and added thiamine:

TABLE-US-00007 35 mg Virbac Phenix 23 g Stresspac PO whole egg per 28 g ration powder at recommended Unit/day per 28 g level of use required ration (1.2 g/kg) Total Fat soluble vitamins Vitamin A (IU) 74.25 229.8 495 724.8 Vitamin D3 (ICU) 33.75 76.1 99 175.1 Vitamin E (IU) 0.54 0.89 1.65 2.5 Vitamin K (mg) 0.045 0.00027 0.13 0.13 Water soluble vitamins Vitamin B12 0.135 0.68 0.7 1.38 (mcg/day) Biotin (mcg/day) 13.5 16 1.4 17.4 Choline 90 231.6 231.6 Folacin 45 27.4 17.5 44.9 (mcg/day) Niacin (mg/day) 1.8 0.078 0.088 0.17 Pantothenic acid 0.45 1.28 0.35 1.6 (mg/day) Pyridoxine 0.135 0.12 0.07 0.19 (mg/day) Riboflavin 0.18 0.44 0.18 0.61 (mg/day) Thiamine 0.09 0.042 0.042 (mg/day)

[0092] Although the vitamin A level is high, it is well within the level of use for poultry and racing pigeons. Vitamin A also undergoes a degree of oxidation and degradation during pelleting, storing and exposure to oxygen and light so that an excess of vitamin A will make up for such losses.

[0093] With added niacin and added thiamine, the bird feed of Example 6 brings daily intake to 2.1 mg niacin/35 g ration and to an adequate level for thiamine.

[0094] It is believed that the bird feed of Example 6 meets, from the use of whole egg powder, the daily requirements for pigeons of protein, arginine, glycine+serine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, methionine, cystine, methionine+cystine, phenylalanine, phenylalanine+tyrosine, threonine, tryptophan and valine. The requirements for alanine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid and proline are not met.

[0095] Whole egg powder is also a valuable source of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K), a decent source of water-soluble vitamins, including biotin, choline and vitamin K and has a fat content of about 44% by mass. Egg white powder, if available, is even higher in protein (84% by mass) than whole egg powder and less powder can then be used, which may reduce the cost of the bird feed.

[0096] For a comparison between the nutritional value of whole egg powder, egg yolk powder and egg white powder, one can refer to the following two tables, based on information provided by the US Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Research Service, Nutrient Data Laboratory:

TABLE-US-00008 Dried Dried Dried stabilized whole egg egg yolk egg white Nutrients per 100 g powder powder powder Protein (g) 48.05 33.63 84.08 Moisture (g) 2.78 3.08 5.48 Fat (g total lipid) 43.9 59.13 0.32 Ash (g) 4.13 3.51 5.61 Carbohydrate (g) 1.13 0.66 4.51 Glucose (g) 0.56 0.23 0 Calories (kcal) 592 669 376 Cholesterol (mg) 1630 2307 0

TABLE-US-00009 Dried Amino acids per Dried Dried stabilized 100 g whole egg egg yolk egg white (g) powder powder powder Alanine 2.706 1.751 5.313 Arginine 3.071 2.336 4.812 Aspartic acid 5.02 3.31 7.291 Cystine 1.07 0.588 2.044 Glutamic acid 6.388 4.263 11.496 Glycine 1.623 1.043 3.085 Histidine 1.202 0.861 1.872 Isoleucine 2.434 1.701 5.023 Leucine 4.15 2.908 7.172 Lysine 3.339 2.469 5.076 Methionine 1.495 0.858 3.204 Phenylalanine 2.53 1.472 5.181 Proline 1.832 1.326 3.098 Serine 3.773 2.814 6.078 Threonine 2.129 1.545 3.665 Tryptophan 0.775 0.39 1.266 Tyrosine 1.981 1.422 3.309 Valine 2.991 1.934 6.17

[0097] The bird feed of Example 6, in summary, typically provides the nutrition as set out in the following table:

TABLE-US-00010 Per 27.9 g Per Per ration 100 g kilogram Energy (MJ) 0.717 MJ 2.57 MJ 25.7 MJ Protein (g) 11.04 39.6 395.7 Carbohydrates (g) 0.26 0.9 9.32 Fats (g) 15.05 53.9 639.43 Fibre (g) 0 0.0 0.00 Arginine (g) 0.69 2.47 24.73 Glycine + Serine (g) 1.24 4.45 44.48 Histidine (g) 0.28 0.99 9.89 Isoleucine (g) 0.56 2.01 20.07 Leucine (g) 0.95 3.42 34.21 Lysine (g) 0.77 2.75 27.53 Methionine (g) 0.34 1.23 12.32 Cystine (g) 0.25 0.88 8.82 Methionine + cystine (g) 0.59 2.11 21.15 Phenylalanine (g) 0.58 2.09 20.86 Phenylalanine + Tyrosine (g) 1.04 3.72 37.19 Threonine (g) 0.54 1.92 19.20 Tryptophan (g) 0.18 0.64 6.39 Valine (g) 0.69 2.47 24.66 Alanine (g) 0.62 2.22 22.22 Aspartic acid (g) 1.15 4.12 41.22 Glutamic acid (g) 1.47 5.27 52.69 Proline (g) 0.42 1.51 15.05 Calcium (mg) 326.12 1168.89 11688.9 Chlorine (mg) 70.00 250.90 2509.0 Magnesium (mg) 28.52 102.22 1022.2 Phosphorous (mg) 147.19 527.56 5275.6 Potassium (mg) 201.60 722.58 7225.8 Sodium (mg) 109.48 392.40 3924.0 Iron (mg) 1.66 5.94 59.4 Zinc (mg) 0.72 2.60 26.0 Copper (mg) 0.05 0.16 1.6 Manganese (mg) 0.01 0.05 0.5 Selenium (g) 38.50 138.00 1380.0 Vitamin A (IU) 724.77 2597.74 25977.42 Vitamin D3 (ICU) 175.13 627.71 6277.06 Vitamin E (IU) 2.54 9.11 91.13 Vitamin K (mg) 0.13 0.47 4.67 Vitamin B12 (g) 1.38 4.95 49.49 Biotin(g) 17.40 62.37 623.66 Choline (mg) 231.62 830.19 8301.92 Folacin (g) 44.87 160.82 1608.24 Niacin (mg) 0.17 0.59 5.94 Pantholenic acid (mg) 1.63 5.83 58.30 Pyridoxine (mg) 0.19 0.66 6.63 Riboflavin (mg) 0.61 2.19 21.94 Thiamine (mg) 0.09 0.32 3.23 Vitamin C (mg) 5.25 18.42 184.21

[0098] The formulations, as exemplified, are nutritionally balanced even though they do not include grain or grain-derived ingredients in significant proportions, or are even grain free, and can easily be shaped, e.g. pelleted, to form particulate dry bird feed. Advantageously, in some embodiments, the bird feed is fibre-free and has a very low carbohydrate content. Compared to commercially available bird feeds of which the inventor is aware, that are suitable for feeding to birds such as racing pigeons, the bird feed of the invention is higher in protein content and higher in fat content. The bird feed of the invention in at least some embodiments is lower in fibre content (even fibre-free), much lower in carbohydrate content and higher in energy density than such commercially available bird feeds. As a result of the high energy content of the feed, a bird with a relatively small crop, such as a racing pigeon, can consume sufficient of the particulate dry bird feed to perform optimally, particularly when compared to the situation where the pigeon is fed maize, which quickly fills the pigeon's crop but which has a much lower energy content and which makes the pigeon heavier.