COMPOSITIONS FOR FEEDING ANIMALS
Feed compositions comprising modified starches and an animal feed ingredient are disclosed, as well as methods of feeding such compositions to animals.
1 . A dry feed composition comprising:
an ingredient selected from the group consisting of maltodextrin, dextrose and a combination thereof; and
a grain product.
2 . The dry feed composition of claim 1 , further comprising a second ingredient selected from the group consisting of corn syrup solids, starch, dextrins, sucrose and any combinations thereof.
3 . The dry feed composition of claim 1 , further comprising a compound selected from the group consisting of a protein source, an isolated or purified amino acid, an isolated or purified vitamin, an isolated or purified mineral, corn steep liquor, condensed distiller's solubles, cane molasses, an animal fat, a vegetable oil, a modified starch, a botanical product and combinations of any thereof.
4 . The dry feed composition of claim 1 , further comprising a lactose source.
5 . The dry feed composition of claim 1 , 4 , wherein the grain product is selected from the group consisting of ground grain, an oilseed meal and a combination thereof.
6 . The dry feed composition of claim 1 , wherein the maltodextrin has a dextrose equivalent of between 1 and 20.
7 . The dry feed composition of claim 1 , further comprising a yeast product comprising mannanoligosaccharides, beta-glucan or a combination thereof.
8 . The dry feed composition of claim 1 , further comprising an acidifier selected from the group consisting of an organic acid, an inorganic acid and combinations thereof.
9 . The dry feed composition of claim 1 , wherein the ingredient comprises the combination thereof and has a dextrose equivalent of between 5 and 90.
10 - 11 . (canceled)
12 . A method, comprising:
feeding an animal feed composition comprising maltodextrin to a monogastric animal such that the monogastric animal receives an amount of the maltodextrin of between 0.001-10% of the monogastric animal's weight per day.
13 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the monogastric animal is a pig.
14 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the animal feed composition further comprises a grain product.
15 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the animal feed composition further comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of a lactose source, dextrose, a modified starch and combinations of any thereof.
16 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein feeding the animal feed to the monogastric animal comprises offering a dry animal feed.
17 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the monogastric animal has been weaned.
18 . (canceled)
19 . The method according to claim 14 , further comprising:
configuring the animal feed composition comprising the maltodextrin as a supplement; and
mixing the supplement with the grain product, thus producing the animal feed composition.
20 . A dry feed composition comprising:
maltodextrin;
dextrose;
corn syrup solids;
starch;
dextrin; and
sucrose;
the feed composition comprising at least 15% total sugars.
21 . The dry feed composition of claim 20 , further comprising a grain product.
22 - 23 . (canceled)
24 . The dry feed composition of claim 22 , wherein the combination of the dextrose and the maltodextrin is present in the feed composition at between 1-15%.
25 . (canceled)
26 . The dry feed composition of claim 20 , further comprising a lactose source.