BOLUS FOR ADMINISTRATION TO THE FORESTOMACHS OF RUMINANTS AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING THE BOLUS

Abstract

The invention relates to a bolus for administration to a forestomach of a ruminant, the bolus comprising a mixture of raw fibers and at least one binding agent.

Claims

1. A bolus for administration to a forestomach of a ruminant, wherein the bolus comprises a mixture of raw fibers and at least one binding agent.

2. The bolus according to claim 1, wherein the mixture of raw fibers and the at least one binding agent amounts to a proportion of at least 20% of the volume of the bolus.

3. The bolus according to claim 1, wherein raw fibers amount to a proportion of at least 20% of the volume of the bolus.

4. The bolus according to claim 1, wherein the bolus substantially consists of a mixture of raw fibers and the at least one binding agent.

5. The bolus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one binding agent has hydrophobic properties.

6. The bolus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one binding agent comprises fats, proteins, carbohydrates, salts, synthetic high-molecular-weight substances, and/or minerals, and compounds thereof.

7. The bolus according to claim 1, wherein the raw fiber comprises plant parts or consists of plant parts.

8. The bolus according to claim 7, wherein the plant parts are hay and/or straw.

9. The bolus according to claim 1, wherein the length of the raw fibers is 3 cm to 8 cm.

10. The bolus according to claim 1, wherein the bolus comprises yeast and/or microbiological starter cultures.

11. The bolus according to claim 1, wherein the bolus comprises at least one trace element.

12. The bolus according to claim 1, wherein the bolus comprises a vitamin.

13. The bolus according to claim 1, wherein the bolus comprises at least one agent aiding health and/or digestion.

14. The bolus according to claim 10, wherein the yeast and/or microbiological starter cultures is mixed with the at least one binding agent and/or the mixture of raw fibers and the at least one binding agent and/or with at least one other, further component of the bolus.

15. The bolus according to claim 1, wherein raw fiber protrudes proportionally from the surface of the bolus.

16. A method for producing a bolus according to claim 1, comprising mixing raw fiber and the at least one binding agent together and molding the mixture into a bolus.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the mixing and/or the molding take(s) place under the effect of pressure and/or temperature.

18. The bolus according to claim 1, wherein the bolus has the shape of a capsule.

19. The bolus according to claim 1, wherein the bolus has the shape of an ellipsoid, a cuboid, a cube, a sphere or a cylinder.

20. The bolus according to claim 1, wherein the bolus is in a shape so that the bolus can be entirely swallowed by the ruminant.

21. A method to stabilize and/or stimulate feed consumption in a ruminant comprising administering the bolus of claim 1 to the forestomach of the ruminant.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the raw fibers stimulate the forestomach by mechanical stimuli on the walls of the forestomach.

Description

[0101] An exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the enclosed drawing. The individual figures in the drawing show the following:

[0102] FIG. 1 a capsule-shaped bolus according to the invention, which has a mixture of raw fiber and at least one binding agent, viewed from the outside in the longitudinal direction.

[0103] FIG. 2 a longitudinal section through the bolus shown in FIG. 1, wherein an edge area is indicated by a circular outline;

[0104] FIG. 3 the edge area of the longitudinal section through the bolus shown in FIG. 2, wherein surrounding sub-sections are shown outside of the marking;

[0105] FIG. 4 the capsule-shaped bolus (1) according to the invention, which is shown in FIGS. 1-3, in a customary administration aid before the administration process;

[0106] FIG. 5 the customary administration aid, which is already shown in FIG. 4, after the administration process.

[0107] The bolus 1, which has the three-dimensional shape of a capsule, i.e. is circular in cross-section and rounded off like a hemisphere at the ends, consists of a mixture of raw fiber 2 and at least one binding agent 3. This is shown schematically in FIG. 1, wherein the raw fiber 2 is shown in the form of dark lines and the binding agent 3 is shown as a dotted, continuous region. The raw fiber 2 is densely packed due to the described production method. The binding agent 3 is located between the individual components of the raw fiber 2 and exerts its function of affixing the components of the raw fiber 2 and connecting them to one another. In reality, the density of the raw fiber 2 is preferably higher than what is shown in the figures for the sake of clarity.

[0108] FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal section through the bolus 1. The regions containing the binding agent 3 are shown between the dark lines, which represent the raw fiber. Furthermore, an edge area of the bolus 1 is marked by a circular outline 4U.

[0109] FIG. 3 shows the edge area of the bolus 1 enlarged, which is shown by the circular outline 4U in FIG. 2. It can clearly be seen here that the outer contour of the bolus 1 does not extend completely and not exactly straight everywhere even if this is shown and/or looks this way in FIG. 2 for the sake of simplicity. It can be seen that individual components of the raw fiber 2 protrude from the surface, which is formed by the contiguous binding agent 3 and is shown by a thin, dark contour line. The outer contour of the bolus 1, formed by the individual components of the raw fiber and the binding agent, is irregular and not completely smooth. Such type of outer contour is in the nature of the components used of the bolus 1 and also in the nature of the production method.

[0110] FIG. 4 shows the bolus 1 used in a customary administration aid 6. If the pressure pin 7 at the top of the administration aid 6 exerts pressure onto the handpiece 8, the bolus 1 is repelled. The administration aid 6 in this case is located in the mouth and throat area and in the esophagus of the animal.

[0111] FIG. 5 shows the administration aid 6 after repelling of the bolus 1. The handpiece 8 has been actuated. The bolus 1, which was retained in the administration aid 6 by clamp-like hooks 9, is repelled.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0112] 1 Bolus [0113] 2 Raw fiber [0114] 3 Binding agent [0115] 4U Circular outline [0116] 6 Administration aid [0117] 7 Pressure pin [0118] 8 Handpiece [0119] 9 Clamp-like hooks