Food or edible material: processes – compositions – and products – Fermentation processes – Of plant or plant derived material
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-25
2002-06-04
Sayala, Chhaya D. (Department: 1761)
Food or edible material: processes, compositions, and products
Fermentation processes
Of plant or plant derived material
C426S052000, C426S615000, C426S623000, C426S629000, C426S630000, C426S635000, C426S807000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06399123
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for removing oligosaccharides from animal feed prior to consumption by an animal subject and the resultant animal feed. More particularly, the present invention relates to increasing the metabolizable energy available in the feed, which includes breaking down raffinose and stachyose.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
Ground soybeans, corn, wheat, and other similar products are the primary sources of food in the diet of a variety of animals, including hogs and chickens. In particular, soybeans comprise a substantial portion of the diet of these animals. The ground soybean meal contains substantial amounts of the oligosaccharides, in particular raffinose and stachyose. The presence of oligosaccharides is undesired for a number of reasons. Oligosaccharides reduce the metabolizable energy value of the feed given to animals by greater than 15 percent, so that the energy available to the animal is reduced and the animal does not as readily use available energy found in the feed. In turn, non-utilization of available energy will prevent maximum growth and weight gain by the animals who consume the feed. Resultingly, it is desired to increase the amount of energy that can be metabolized by an animal from a food source.
Further problems associated with the presence of oligosaccharides relate to sticky fecal droppings and an increase in flatulence. Oligosaccharides in feed cause the fecal droppings to be stickier than droppings of animals that have not consumed oligosaccharides as part of their diet. Increased flatulence in animals also increases as a result of oligosaccharide consumption. Such problems are exacerbated in farms and production facilities where animals are concentrated, as extremely unpleasant odors are associated therewith. Such strong odors can foul the air of areas adjacent to such facilities. More importantly, sticky droppings can be a problem because they will stick to the feet or hoofs of the animals in contact with the droppings. Adherence to the feet of the animals will cause the formation of sores on the animals. The sores can then result in the animals becoming infected, with the sores decreasing the fitness of such animals. As such, there is a strong desire to reduce the stickiness of droppings so as to promote better overall health in a flock or herd of farm animals. It is further desired to reduce the occurrence of flatulence in these animals. For the above reasons, it is desired to have a method and/or composition for removing oligosaccharides from feed.
Previously, attempts have been made to remove oligosaccharides from feed by using enzyme technology to hydrolyze and remove the oligosaccharides. These attempts have failed in part because the methods for promoting hydrolysis typically included heating the enzyme and feed mixture. Heat is often necessary to promote hydrolysis; while the heat results in the hydrolyzation of the oligosaccharides it also causes a maillard reaction. This reaction causes sugars in the feed to caramelize and prevents complex sugars from being readily metabolized by the animals that are fed the treated feed. The resulting maillard reaction reduces the amount of energy available to the animal.
Other methods for removing oligosaccharides have included adding an enzyme to the feed prior to consumption by an animal, but not inducing immediate hydrolyzation. The enzyme hydrolyzes the oligosaccharides in the gut of the animal. This process has failed because it can be impractical and does not sufficiently break down or hydrolyze the oligosaccharides. In particular, there is a risk the enzyme will degrade as a result of storage prior to hydrolyzing the oligosaccharide. Also, when the enzyme and feed are in the gut of the animal, it is possible the enzyme will be digested prior to the enzyme hydrolyzing the oligosaccharides.
Thus, it is desired to have a method and/or composition that hydrolyzes oligosaccharides and, in turn, eliminates sticky droppings and reduces the occurrence of flatulence. It is also desired to have a method and/or composition that substantially eliminates oligosaccharides and increases the amount of available energy to the animal that consumes the treated feed. In order to increase the amount of available energy that can be metabolized by the animal, it is further necessary to have a method that does not result in a maillard or similar type of reaction. Finally, it is desired to have a method that efficiently and consistently hydrolyzes the oligosaccharides.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for removing, or hydrolyzing to monosaccharides, oligosaccharides found in animal feed and the resultant treated animal feed. In particular, the present invention relates to adding an amount of enzyme to an amount of feed prior to consumption by an animal, whereby the enzyme degrades or hydrolyzes the oligosaccharides found in the feed to form an animal feed having fewer oligosaccharides. Such animal feed will have a higher metabolizable energy level and will decrease the rate of sticky droppings and flatulence in animals that consume such feed on a regular basis. Importantly, an animal that consumes such feed will be able to derive a greater amount of energy from the treated feed as compared to an equal amount of untreated feed. Increased energy absorption results in potentially enhanced weight and feed efficiency gain and health in such animals.
The method is initiated by obtaining an amount of feed and, preferably, treating such feed to reduce the particle size. It is desired for the feed to have a particle size smaller than the particle size of the feed in an untreated or seed state. Decreasing the particle size will allow for greater enzymatic activity because of an increased availability of surface area.
An amount of enzyme will be mixed with the feed to cause hydrolysis of the oligosaccharides. Use of an enzyme is preferred; however, any protein that catalyzes a reaction, whereby oligosaccharides are hydrolyzed to monosaccharides, may be used as long as it does not adversely affect the animal's health and function under ambient conditions or conditions close to ambient. Any enzyme can be selected as long as it degrades the oligosaccharides to monosaccharides, functions at temperatures less than those which cause a maillard reaction, and the resultant feed has a metabolizable energy value of greater than 20% as compared to untreated feeds. Preferably, the enzyme is selected from the group consisting of xylanase, galactosidase, cellulase, and combinations thereof. Any amount of enzyme can be added as long as the available oligosaccharides are sufficiently degraded. In chickens fed soybean meal, this means approximately 45% or more of the available oligosaccharides are degraded. It is also preferred to add water to the enzyme and feed mixture so as to enhance enzyme distribution and contact between the enzyme and the oligosaccharides. Any method for enhancing enzyme distribution, however, can be used.
The resultant feed should have fewer oligosaccharides than untreated feed. Additionally, the feed should have a metabolizable energy value of greater than 20% as compared to untreated feed. The feed will not contain reaction products resulting from a maillard reaction and will be formed prior to consumption by an animal.
The present invention overcomes a number of problems associated with previously disclosed treated and untreated animal feeds. A resultant feed is produced that has a higher metabolizable energy value, that reduces the rate of flatulence and sticky droppings in animals that consume such feed, and that has fewer oligosaccharides present than untreated feeds. Additionally, the present feed can be stored for a period of time. The method is advantageous because not only are the oligosaccharides reduced to monosaccharides, but the method consistently reduces the oligosaccharides so that a consistent result or feed is achieved.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The present invention relates to a method for eliminating oligosaccharides from animal
Allee Gary L.
Kerley Monty S.
Lathrop & Gage LC
Sayala Chhaya D.
University of Missouri Board of Curators
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