Combinations to improve animal health and performance

1. A method for increasing milk yield and milk efficiency in an animal, the method comprising feeding to the animal as a part of its feed ration a combination comprising at least one antioxidant chosen from 6-ethoxy-1,2-dihydro-2,2,4-trimethylquinoline, tertiary butyl hydroquinone, butylated hydroxyanisole, and butylated hydroxytoluene; a hydroxy analog of methionine; and at least one organic trace mineral, the organic trace mineral comprising a metal chelate or a metal salt, the metal chelate or metal salt comprising at least one metal ion and at least one ligand, the ligand comprising a compound comprising Formula (III):

wherein:

R 1 is selected from the group consisting of methyl and ethyl;

R 2 is selected from the group consisting of hydroxy and amino; and

n is an integer from 0 to 2;

wherein feeding the combination to the animal increases milk yield and milk efficiency without an increase in the animal's dry matter intake compared to feeding the animal a feed ration not containing the combination.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of determining the milk yield or milk efficiency of the animal.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydroxy analog of methionine is chosen from 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanoic acid and a calcium salt of 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanoic acid.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the metal ion is chosen from manganese ions, zinc ions, magnesium ions, copper ions, selenium ions, iron ions, and combinations thereof; and the ligand is 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanoic acid.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the antioxidant is a mixture of 6-ethoxy-1,2-dihydro-2,2,4-trimethylquinoline and tertiary butyl hydroquinone.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydroxy analog of methionine is a calcium salt of 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanoic acid; the antioxidant is a mixture of 6-ethoxy-1,2-dihydro-2,2,4-trimethylquinoline and tertiary butyl hydroquinone and the metal ion is a mixture of zinc ions, manganese ions, and copper ions; and the ligand is 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanoic acid.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the animal is a dairy cow.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising the step of determining the milk yield or milk efficiency of the animal.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising adding at least one organic acid to the combination chosen from formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, butanoic acid, benzoic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, mandelic acid, citric acid, fumaric acid, sorbic acid, boric acid, succinic acid, adipic acid, glycolic acid, glutaric acid, 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanoic acid, and mixtures thereof.

10. A method for increasing the amount of milk fat and milk protein in milk produced by an animal, the method comprising feeding to the animal as a part of its feed ration a combination comprising at least one antioxidant chosen from 6-ethoxy-1,2-dihydro-2,2,4-trimethylquinoline, tertiary butyl hydroquinone, butylated hydroxyanisole, and butylated hydroxytoluene; a hydroxy analog of methionine; and at least one organic trace mineral, the organic trace mineral comprising a metal chelate or a metal salt, the metal chelate or metal salt comprising at least one metal ion and at least one ligand, the ligand comprising a compound comprising Formula (III):

wherein:

i. R 1 is selected from the group consisting of methyl and ethyl;

ii. R 2 is selected from the group consisting of hydroxy and amino; and

iii. n is an integer from 0 to 2;

wherein feeding the combination to the animal increases the amount of milk fat and milk protein in milk produced by the animal compared to the amount of milk fat and milk protein in milk from the animal feeding the animal a feed ration not containing the combination.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising the step of determining the amount of milk fat and milk protein.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the hydroxy analog of methionine is chosen from 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanoic acid and a calcium salt of 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanoic acid.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the metal ion is chosen from manganese ions, zinc ions, magnesium ions, copper ions, selenium ions, iron ions, and combinations thereof; and the ligand is 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanoic acid.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the antioxidant is a mixture of 6-ethoxy-1,2-dihydro-2,2,4-trimethylquinoline and tertiary butyl hydroquinone.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the hydroxy analog of methionine is a calcium salt of 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanoic acid; the antioxidant is a mixture of 6-ethoxy-1,2-dihydro-2,2,4-trimethylquinoline and tertiary butyl hydroquinone and the metal ion is a mixture of zinc ions, manganese ions, and copper ions; and the ligand is 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanoic acid.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the animal is a dairy cow.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising the step of determining the amount of milk fat and milk protein.

18. The method of claim 10 , further comprising adding at least one organic acid to the combination chosen from formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, butanoic acid, benzoic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, mandelic acid, citric acid, fumaric acid, sorbic acid, boric acid, succinic acid, adipic acid, glycolic acid, glutaric acid, 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanoic acid, and mixtures thereof.

19. The method of claim 10 , further comprising the step of increasing milk yield and milk efficiency without an increase in the animal's dry matter intake compared to feeding the animal a feed ration not containing the combination.

20. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of increasing the amount of milk fat and milk protein in milk produced by the animal compared to the amount of milk fat and milk protein in milk from the animal feeding the animal a feed ration not containing the combination.