METHOD FOR IMPROVING FEED EFFICIENCY AND INCREASING GROWTH RATES IN ANIMALS

1 . An animal feed composition for improving feed efficiency and increasing growth rate of an animal, comprising: a feed component and algae meal, the algae meal present in an amount less than about 1000 g/MT by weight relative to a total weight of the animal feed composition.

2 . The animal feed composition of claim 1 , wherein the algae meal includes Euglena having unbranched beta-(1,3)-glucan.

3 . The animal feed composition of claim 2 , wherein the Euglena is grown heterotrophically.

4 . The animal feed composition of claim 1 , wherein the algae meal is in the form of a dried powder.

5 . The animal feed composition of claim 4 , wherein the dried powder is admixed with the feed component, and substantially evenly distributed throughout the animal feed composition.

6 . The animal feed composition of claim 5 , wherein the animal feed component includes at least one of dry rolled corn, alfalfa hay, dehulled soybean meal, vitamin/mineral premix, corn ground, whole cottonseed, cottonseed hulls, cottonseed meal, and fish meal.

7 . The animal feed composition of claim 1 , wherein the algae meal has a particle size of less than about 1000 microns.

8 . The animal feed composition of claim 1 , wherein the algae meal is present in an amount less than about 750 g/MT by weight relative to the total weight of the animal feed composition.

9 . The animal feed composition of claim 1 , wherein the algae meal is present in an amount less than about 500 g/MT by weight relative to the total weight of the animal feed composition.

10 . The animal feed composition of claim 1 , wherein the algae meal is present in an amount less than about 250 g/MT by weight relative to the total weight of the animal feed composition.

11 . The animal feed composition of claim 1 , wherein the algae meal is present in an amount less than about 125 g/MT by weight relative to the total weight of the animal feed composition.

12 . The animal feed composition of claim 1 , wherein the algae meal is present in an amount between about 10 g/MT and about 125 g/MT by weight relative to the total weight of the animal feed composition.

13 . The animal feed composition of claim 1 , further comprising a zinc additive with which the algae meal is complexed.

14 . A method of improving feed efficiency and increasing growth rate of an animal, the method comprising the step of:

administering to the animal an animal feed composition comprising a feed component and algae meal, the algae meal present in an amount less than about 1000 g/MT by weight relative to a total weight of the animal feed composition.

15 . A method of producing an animal feed composition for improving feed efficiency and increasing growth rate of an animal, the method comprising the step of:

admixing a feed component and algae meal to form the animal feed composition, the algae meal present in an amount less than about 1000 g/MT by weight relative to a total weight of the animal feed composition.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the algae meal is provided by the steps of:

heterotrophically growing Euglena in a sterile fermenter with a carbon source to form a biomass;

detwatering the biomass;

processing the biomass to remove an unwanted fraction; and

drying the biomass to form the algae meal.

17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising the step of grinding the biomass following the step of drying the biomass to reduce particle size and form a dried powder.

18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the step of processing the biomass to remove the unwanted components includes at least one of mechanical disruption and chemical disruption.

19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the step of drying the biomass includes at least one of spray drying and drum drying the dewatered biomass.

20 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the algae meal is added in the form of a wet paste to the feed component.