Enzyme supplements for increasing fiber digestion in ruminants - 1033
- *Abstract
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Overview
Supplementationof animal feed with exogenous enzymes improves animal performance, particularlyin overcoming the negative effects of antinutritional factors, such as thoseseen in animals whose diet primarily consists of plant materials. Plant materials contain significantproportions of insoluble, structural polysaccharides that reduce the digestibilityand nutrient availability absorbed by the animal. Enzyme supplements have shownpromise; however current supplements require lengthy pretreatments or have alimited shelf life. Therefore, need exists for for alternative enzymesupplements capable of enhancing the efficacy of fiber digestibility that cansimultaneously provide improvements in the economics of agriculture.
Invention
UK researchers are developing compositions comprising acetylesterase that are useful for enhancing fiberdigestion. These compounds improve drymatter and neutral detergent fiber disappearance rates and can be mixed withfeed or incorporated into mineral supplements to be fed to animals. Thismethodology reduces the lengthy pre-treatment of current enzyme supplements andincreases fiber digestion.
Applications
- animal nutrition
Advantages
- increases fiber digestion
- may be utilized alone or in combination withexogenous fibrolytic enzyme supplements
IP Status: U.S. Patent No. 6,750,051
- Country/Region
- USA
