USE OF A COMPOSITION FOR REDUCING THE MOISTURE AND NITROGEN CONTENT IN POULTRY FECES

Abstract

The present invention concerns the use of a composition containing guanidino acetic acid and glycine for reducing the moisture in poultry feces and/or for reducing the nitrogen content in poultry feces.

Claims

1. A method for reducing moisture and/or nitrogen content in poultry feces, the method comprising providing a composition containing guanidino acetic acid and glycine to the poultry during rearing, husbandry or in fattening of the poultry.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the composition is provided as a solid preparation in a feed for the poultry, and the feed contains a base feed, guanidino acetic acid in a quantity from 0.1 to 5 g per 1 kg base feed and glycine in a quantity from 0.01 to 2.5 g per 1 kg.

3. Method according to claim 1, wherein the composition is provided as a drink solution for the poultry, and the drink solution contains water, guanidino acetic acid in a quantity from 0.05 to 1.2 g per 1 l water and glycine in a quantity from 0.005 g to 0.12 g per 1 l water.

4. Method according to claim 2, wherein the feed or drink solution is provided to the poultry ad libitum for nourishment of the poultry.

5. Method according to claim 1, wherein the composition contains: i) guanidino acetic acid as a free acid or in the form of a salt of this acid; and/or ii) glycine as a free acid or in the form of a salt of this acid.

6. Method according to claim 1, wherein the guanidino acetic acid is used in the form of a salt of guanidino acetic acid, wherein the salt is selected from the group consisting of alkali or earth alkali salts of guanidino acetic acid, in particular sodium guanidino acetate, potassium guanidino acetate, magnesium guanidino acetate or calcium guanidino acetate.

7. Method according to claim 1, wherein the glycine is used in the form of a salt of glycine, wherein the salt is selected from the group consisting of alkali or earth alkali salts of glycine, in particular sodium glycinate, potassium glycinate, magnesium glycinate or calcium glycinate.

8. Method according to claim 1, wherein the poultry is selected from the group consisting of ducks, geese, chickens, hens, laying hens, broilers, turkey cocks, quail, ostriches and turkey hens.

9. Method according to claim 1, wherein the base feed has a calorific value from 8 MJ to 20 MJ per 1 kg base feed, and/or the base feed is a balanced base feed according to Animal Nutrition Handbook, 3.sup.rd Revision, 2014 Section 12, Poultry Nutrition and Feeding.

10. Method according to claim 1, wherein the base feed comprises: i) at least one grain, grain meal, coarse grain or extracts thereof; and/or ii) at least one further feed additive selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate, dicalcium phosphate, amino acids or vitamins.

11. Method for reducing the moisture in poultry feces and/or for reducing the nitrogen content in poultry faeces, wherein a composition containing guanidino acetic acid and glycine is provided for the poultry during rearing, during husbandry or in fattening of the poultry, for consumption ad libitum by the poultry.

Description

EXAMPLES

Feed Composition Used for Test 1

[0098]

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 1b Nutrients of feed composition Declared level Nutrients [g/kg] Dry mass 890 Raw protein 161.2 Raw fats 66.8 Raw fibre 38.7 Raw ash 129.7 Lysine 7.80 Methionine 3.81 Calcium 38.1 Phosphorus 5.2 Sodium 1.5 Energy (MJ/kg) 11.79

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 1a Constituents of feed composition Composition ‰ Wheat 188.04 Maize 350.00 Soya meal 165.00 Sunflower meal 60.00 Wheat mixtures 80.00 Animal fat (lard) 20.00 Soya oil 24.00 Premix 5.0 Lime (fine) 32.00 Grit 64.00 Monocalcium phosphate 6.00 Salt 2.50 NaHCO3 1.60 L-lysine HCl 0.60 DL-methionine 1.20 Sod. phos 5000 G 0.06 Choline 0.035

Test 1

[0099] 192 laying hens (Lohmann LSL Classic, age: 38 weeks) were randomly divided into 4 groups of 48 birds and kept in mesh cases (30×45 cm.sup.2) for a period of 4 weeks. Each hen had unrestricted access to two nipple drinks which were topped up with tap water daily (ad libitum). The feed points were also topped up daily (ad libitum). The minimum temperature was 20° C. and the room was illuminated for 14 hours per day and darkened for 10 hours. The excrement from each individual hen was captured in a manure box. The manure boxes were emptied weekly and combined separately for each group. The combined manure from each group was cleaned, mechanically homogenised, and the solids content was determined by drying at 130° C. in a vacuum. The nitrogen content of the dried specimens was determined using the Kjeldahl method.

[0100] Group 1 was fed with the above feed (Table 1a, 1b). For Group 2, for each 1000 kg of the above-mentioned feed, 600 g guanidino acetic acid were added to the feed. For Group 3, for each 1000 kg of the above-mentioned feed, 10 g glycine were added to the feed. For Group 4, for each 1000 kg of the above-mentioned feed, 600 g guanidino acetic acid and 10 g glycine were added to the feed.

TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 2 Total quantity feces Weight of feces [kg] Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Group 1 12.4 13.5 12.7 12.8 Group 2 12.3 12.8 12.3 12.9 Group 3 12.7 13.0 12.8 13.3 Group 4 11.9 12.5 12.0 12.2

TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 3 Solids content of feces according to Table 2 Solids content of feces [%] Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Group 1 45.2 47.6 46.1 48.7 Group 2 48.3 51.8 51.4 50.1 Group 3 45.5 48.0 48.9 48.4 Group 4 49.8 53.1 52.5 53.9

[0101] The conversion (100-solids content)%=water content % gives a water content according to Table 4.

TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 4 Water content of feces according to Table 2 and Table 3 Water content of feces [%] Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Group 1 54.8 52.4 53.9 51.3 Group 2 51.7 48.2 48.6 49.9 Group 3 54.5 52.0 51.1 51.6 Group 4 50.2 46.9 47.5 46.1

[0102] From this, firstly by subtraction the absolute percentage change in water content relative to Group 1 (Δ.sub.abs) was calculated, and the relative percentage change in water content relative to Group 1 (Δ.sub.rel). The results are shown in Table 5.

TABLE-US-00007 TABLE 5 Absolute and relative change in water content of feces according to Table 4 Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Δ.sub.abs (Group 1-Group 2) [%] 3.1 4.2 5.3 1.4 Δ.sub.abs (Group 1-Group 3) [%] 0.3 0.4 2.8 −0.3 Δ.sub.abs (Group 1-Group 4) [%] 4.6 5.5 6.4 5.2 Δ.sub.rel (Group 1-Group 2) [%] 5.6 8.0 9.8 2.7 Δ.sub.rel (Group 1-Group 3) [%] 0.5 0.7 5.2 −0.6 Δ.sub.rel (Group 1-Group 4) [%] 8.4 10.5 11.9 10.1

[0103] In Group 4, supplemented with guanidino acetic acid and glycine, there is an increased solids content in the feces in comparison with Group 1. The water content in the faces fell by between 8.4% and 11.9%. In the group supplemented with guanidino acetic acid alone (Group 2), the effect on the water content was weaker, and in the group supplemented with glycine alone (Group 3), there was almost no effect on the water content.

[0104] The nitrogen content of the dried specimens was determined using the Kjeldahl method and is shown in Table 6.

TABLE-US-00008 TABLE 6 Nitrogen content of feces according to Table 2 and Table 3 Nitrogen (N) in dried feces [kg/t] Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Group 1 52.3 55.2 51.9 52.4 Group 2 50.4 52.8 51.7 50.1 Group 3 50.9 53.2 53.7 52.0 Group 4 49.0 50.4 47.8 48.2

[0105] From the values in Table 6, firstly by subtraction the absolute change in nitrogen content relative to Group 1 (ΔN.sub.abs) was calculated, and from this the relative percentage change in nitrogen content relative to Group 1 (ΔN.sub.rel). The results are shown in Table 7.

TABLE-US-00009 TABLE 7 Absolute and relative change in nitrogen content of feces according to Table 6 Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 ΔN.sub.abs (Group 1-Group 2) [kg/t] 1.9 2.4 0.2 2.1 ΔN.sub.abs (Group 1-Group 3) [kg/t] 1.4 2.0 −1.8 0.4 ΔN.sub.abs (Group 1-Group 4) [kg/t] 3.3 4.8 4.1 4.2 ΔN.sub.rel (Group 1-Group 2) [%] 3.6 4.3 0.3 4.0 ΔN.sub.rel (Group 1-Group 2) [%] 2.7 3.6 −3.5 0.8 ΔN.sub.rel (Group 1-Group 4) [%] 6.3 8.7 7.9 8.0

[0106] In Group 4, supplemented with guanidino acetic acid and glycine, the nitrogen content in the feces was lower in comparison with Group 1. The nitrogen content in the feces was 6.3% to 8.7% lower than in the comparison group. In the groups supplemented solely with guanidino acetic acid (Group 2) and solely with glycine (Group 3), there was only a slight effect on the nitrogen content.

Test 2

[0107] 2505 fattening chickens (Cobb 400) were accommodated in a density of 94.5 square inches/bird on wood shavings. Water and feed were available ad libitum. In the first 15 days, heating was provided with infrared lamps. All birds were fed for 18 days with a poultry starter diet (based on wheat, coarse-ground soya extract, maize, soya bean toast, maize germ): Gallugold® poultry starter OG (12.2 MJ/kg, 22.00% raw protein, 0.62% methionine, 6.00% raw fat, 3.80% raw fibre, 6.80% raw ash, 0.95% calcium, 0.65% phosphorus, 0.16% sodium; additives per kg: vitamin A 10,000 IU, vitamin D3 5,000 IU, vitamin E 100 mg, copper 10 mg, selenium 0.45 mg). From day 18, the birds were divided at random into 4 groups of 46 birds. Group 1 was fed with Gallugold® poultry grain OG (based on maize, soya bean, wheat, soya bean toast, vegetable oil, maize germ) (12.6 MJ/kg, 22.00% raw protein, 0.56% methionine, 6.8% raw fat, 3.5% raw fibre, 9.0% raw ash, 0.90% calcium, 0.65% phosphorus, 0.15% sodium; additives per kg: vitamin A 13,000 IU., vitamin D3 5,000 IU, vitamin E 100 mg, copper 10 mg, selenium 0.42 mg). Group 2 was fed as Group 1 but 0.06 w.-% guanidino acetic acid was first added to the feed which was then mechanically mixed for 10 min in a drum. Group 3 was fed as Group 1 but 0.002 w.-% glycine was first added to the feed which was then mechanically mixed for 10 min in a drum.

[0108] Group 4 was fed as Group 1 but 0.06 w.-% guanidino acetic acid and 0.002 w.-% glycine were first added to the feed which was then mechanically mixed for 10 min in a drum.

[0109] On days 21, 25 and 30, each group was transferred for 24 hours to an empty shed with a concrete floor without litter. After 24 h, the groups were transferred back and by means of a collection bin, the feces of each group was collected and the solids content determined by drying at 130° C. in a vacuum. The values are shown in Tables 8 and 9.

TABLE-US-00010 TABLE 8 Total quantity of feces Weight of feces [kg] Day 21 Day 25 Day 30 Group 1 0.63 0.71 0.83 Group 2 0.60 0.69 0.81 Group 3 0.64 0.73 0.80 Group 4 0.61 0.67 0.79

TABLE-US-00011 TABLE 9 Solids content of feces according to Table 8 Solids content of feces [%] Day 21 Day 25 Day 30 Group 1 29.8 31.0 30.3 Group 2 29.6 33.4 31.3 Group 3 30.2 30.5 31.1 Group 4 32.4 33.9 32.8

[0110] The conversion (100-solids content)%=water content % gives a water content according to table 10.

TABLE-US-00012 TABLE 10 Water content of feces according to Table 8 and Table 9 Water content of feces [%] Day 21 Day 25 Day 30 Group 1 70.2 69.0 69.7 Group 2 70.4 66.6 68.7 Group 3 69.8 69.5 68.9 Group 4 67.6 66.1 67.2

[0111] From this, firstly by subtraction the absolute percentage change in water content relative to Group 1 (Δ.sub.abs) was calculated, and the relative percentage change in water content relative to Group 1 (Δ.sub.rel). The results are shown in Table 11.

TABLE-US-00013 TABLE 11 Absolute and relative change in water content of feces according to Table 10 Day 21 Day 25 Day 30 Δ.sub.abs (Group 1-Group 2) [%] −0.2 2.4 1.0 Δ.sub.abs (Group 1-Group 3) [%] 0.4 −0.5 0.8 Δ.sub.abs (Group 1-Group 4) [%] 2.6 2.9 2.5 Δ.sub.rel (Group 1-Group 2) [%] −0.3 3.5 1.4 Δ.sub.rel (Group 1-Group 3) [%] 0.6 −0.7 1.1 Δ.sub.rel (Group 1-Group 4) [%] 3.7 4.2 3.6

[0112] In Group 4, supplemented with guanidino acetic acid and glycine, there was an increased solids content in the feces in comparison with Group 1. The water content of the feces fell by between 3.6% and 4.2%. In Group 2 there was a slight effect. In Group 3 almost no effect was evident.

[0113] The nitrogen content of the dried specimens was determined using the Kjeldahl method.

TABLE-US-00014 TABLE 12 Nitrogen content of feces according to Table 8 and Table 9 Nitrogen (N) in dried feces [kg/t] Day 21 Day 25 Day 30 Group 1 58.1 59.5 58.7 Group 2 56.9 57.7 55.4 Group 3 58.3 56.7 59.2 Group 4 54.4 55.2 54.1

TABLE-US-00015 TABLE 13 Absolute and relative change in nitrogen content of feces according to Table 12 Day 21 Day 25 Day 30 ΔN.sub.abs (Group 1-Group 2) 1.2 1.8 3.3 [kg/t] ΔN.sub.abs (Group 1-Group 3) −0.2 2.8 −0.5 [kg/t] ΔN.sub.abs (Group 1-Group 4) 3.7 4.3 4.6 [kg/t] ΔN.sub.rel (Group 1-Group 2) 2.1 3.3 5.6 [%] ΔN.sub.rel (Group 1-Group 3) −0.3 4.7 −0.9 [%] ΔN.sub.rel (Group 1-Group 4) 6.4 7.2 7.8 [%]

[0114] Furthermore, in Group 4 supplemented with guanidino acetic acid and glycine, the nitrogen content in the feces was lower in comparison with Group 1. The nitrogen content in the feces was 6.4% to 7.8% lower than in the comparison group. In Group 2, an effect with respect to lower nitrogen content was also evident, but this was significantly smaller than with Group 4. In Group 2, on Day 21 and on Day 30, there was a slightly higher N content (0.3% and 0.9%) than in the control group.