Methods of enhancing reproductive performance of animals

Details Methods of enhancing reproductive performance of animals Methods of enhancing reproductive performance of animals

1997-10-21

2001-02-06

Azpuru, Carlos A. (Department: 1615)

Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions

Preparations characterized by special physical form

Specially adapted for ruminant animal

Reexamination Certificate

active

06183769

ABSTRACT:

This application is a 371 continuation of PCT/FI96/00211, filed Apr. 19, 1996 which is a continuation of Australian Patent No. PN2507, filed Apr. 20, 1995.
The present invention relates generally to animal husbandry and in particular to methods of improving or controlling the growth and/or reproduction of animals. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods of controlling stress and related conditions within animals during their growth and/or reproduction, particularly in the early stages of life of the animal, and more particularly when the animal is born in a litter. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to controlling the growth of piglets and more typically to feeding sows with a stress regulator such as betaine, as part of a feed supplement, so that a significantly higher number of piglets are born alive than is considered usual in similar circumstances. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to the use of a stress regulator, particularly betaine, to control stress in sows so as to minimise stress during lactation which in turn increases the fertility and fecundity of the sows resulting in increases in the size of the litter to produce more living piglets, thus increasing productivity and reducing overhead costs. Other animals, to which the invention is applicable, include but are not limited to sheep, goat, cow, horse, cat, fur animals and poultry. In particular, the invention is useful for mammals suffering of lactational stress.
The present invention thus finds particular application in administering betaine or equivalent chemical compounds to animals in appropriate, predetermined dosages or amounts over or for an appropriate, predetermined time interval by administering the betaine separately or including the betaine in the feed of the animals during e.g. lactation to improve subsequent reproductive performance of the animal.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The costs of keeping an animal breeding stock is considerable and for economic animal production it is essential for each parent to rear a large number of progeny.
By way of example, the number of piglets produced per sow is one of the key economical performance indicators in pig farming. With normal weaning, at three to four weeks, the aim should be for about 18 to 24 pigs to be reared per sow per annum, such as for example by having two litters of 9 to 12 piglets each. However, in practice, averages fall below these optimal figures due to (1) time being lost between weaning one litter and conception of the next, (2) many litters being born with too few pigs, and (3) a percentage, such as for example about 12%, of pigs being either stillborn or dying within the first few weeks of life. All of these result in a lower than optimal number of piglets surviving. The lower the number of piglets which survive and mature into pigs for meat production or breeding, the greater the cost to the farmer and the higher is the cost on a per pig basis of maintaining the herd, all of which contribute to a reduction in income for the farmer and a lowering of profits for the enterprise managing the pigs or similar.
Therefore, there is a need for management of the pig herd that allows a greater number of piglets to be born alive and survive to maturity than hitherto before was considered normal, as well as a need for piglets to develop faster and grow more quickly, and perhaps to have litters at a younger age and to have more piglets in a litter.
Betaine has been used in the past as a feed supplement for animals, but until recently, knowledge with regard to its role in animal metabolism has been sparse.
Betaine has recently been reported to both improve gut function and to increase the food intake and growth of animals. Betaine has also been found to decrease the body fat of for example fish, chicks, piglets and growing pigs [see e.g. Virtanen, E. et al., Effects of food containing betaine/amino acid additive on the osmotic adaption of young Atlantic salmon,
Salmo salar L
. Aquaculture 83 (1989) 109-122; Saunderson, C. L. and MacKinlay, J., Changes in body weight, composition and hepatic enzyme activities in response to dietary methionine, betaine and choline levels in growing chicks, British J. Nutrition 63 (1990)339-349; and Virtanen, E. and Campbell, R., Reduzierung der Rückenspeckdicke durch Einsatz von Betain bei Mastschweinen (Reduction of backfat thickness through betaine supplementation of diets for fattening pigs). Handbuch der tierischer Veredlung. Verlag H. Kamlage, Osnabrück, Deutschland, 19 (1994) 145-150]. Betaine has also been reported to have pharmacological effects. Thus, for example proline betaine has been reported to prevent perosis in chicks and glycine betaine has been reported to prevent the detrimental effects of coccidiosis in broilers (PCT/FI94/00166).
Until now, no investigations have been conducted to determine the effect of betaine on the reproduction of animals. It has now been surprisingly discovered that betaine, particularly when used in appropriate, predetermined amounts in feed stock, has resulted in significantly higher numbers of piglets in a litter being born alive. Even though betaine may have been used in the past in connection with pigs, the inventors have surprisingly discovered a hitherto before unknown property of the betaine. This property which has been newly discovered by the inventors relates to using betaine to achieve more fertile and fecund sows with the result that sows now have larger litters, particularly if the sows are fed betaine during lactation. As already stated, pigs are mentioned here by way of example, the invention being applicable to a large number of animals.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of enhancing the reproductive performance of an animal by administering an effective amount of betaine to the animal. Preferably, an effective amount of betaine is administered for a predetermined period of time during certain stages of the life of the animal, such as for example during lactation, gestation or other stress conditions.
A further object of the present invention is the use of betaine for the enhancement of the reproductive performance of an animal.
A still further object of the present invention is a diet for enhancing the reproductive performance of an animal, said diet comprising betaine in addition to ingredients conventionally used in animal feeds.
In connection with the present invention, the expression “reproductive performance” means the fertility and/or fecundity of the animal.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a method of eliminating or reducing stress resulting in reduced reproductive performance of an animal by administering an effective amount of betaine to the animal.
Hence, according to the present invention there is provided a method of substantially eliminating or reducing stress in an animal, particularly a sow, comprising administering a predetermined amount of betaine to the animal for at least a predetermined time over a preselected period in order to effectively reduce or relieve stress, particularly nutritional stress.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Betaine refers to fully N-methylated amino acids. Betaines are natural products that have an important function in the metabolism of both plants and animals. One of the most common betaines is a glycine derivative wherein three methyl groups are attached to the nitrogen atom of the glycine molecule. This betaine compound is called betaine, glycinebetaine or trimethylglycine.
Other betaines are for example alanine betaine and proline betaine and histidine betaine. R. G. Wyn Jones and R. Storey describe betaines in detail in
The Physiology and Biochemistry of Drought Resistance in Plants
(Paleg, L. G. and Aspinall, D. (Eds.), Academic Press, Sydney, Australia, 1981). The publication is included herein by reference.
Most organisms can synthesize small amounts of betaine for cell functions, such as methyl donor functions, but only a few accumulate betaine in high co

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