EGGSHELL ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT AND METHOD OF USE

1 . A method of inhibiting the growth of bacteria on an animal comprising contacting the animal with an effective amount of a calcined chicken eggshell composition.

2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the contact is direct or indirect.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the contact is direct.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the contact is indirect.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the animal is poultry.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the poultry is chicken.

7 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the animal is rinsed with an effective amount of calcined chicken eggshell, wherein the calcined chicken eggshell is in a solution.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the animal is an animal carcass.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the animal carcass is a poultry carcass.

10 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the calcined eggshell is directly applied to the feet of the animal.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the animal is poultry.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the poultry is chicken.

13 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the calcined chicken eggshell is applied to the floor of an animal coup.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the calcined chicken eggshell is applied to litter in the animal coup.

15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein an effective amount of the calcined eggshell composition is from 0.03% and 0.5% of calcined eggshell in water.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the effective amount of the calcined eggshell composition is 0.08% of calcined eggshell in water.

17 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the calcined eggshell composition comprises free iodine.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the calcined eggshell composition has a pH of from 8.0 to about 8.7.

19 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the calcined eggshell composition further comprises an antibiotic, an antiviral, or a combination thereof.

20 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the carcass is immersed in the calcined eggshell composition.