Animal feed compositions and feed additives
The present invention relates to pre-, pro-, and postbiotic compositions and methods of use for improving the health and nutrition of commercial livestock and companion pets.
1. An animal feed composition comprising a mixture of:
a. a mixture of Lactobacillus organisms comprising Pediococcus acidilactici, Pediococcus pentosaceus , and Lactobacillus plantarum produced by submerged liquid fermentation, wherein the resulting organisms are dried to a moisture content of less than about 10% by weight, and then ground to produce a powder having a mean particle size of less than about 800 microns;
b. Bacillus subtilis produced by submerged liquid fermentation, wherein the resulting organism is dried to a moisture content of less than about 10% by weight, and then ground to produce a powder having a mean particle size of less than about 800 microns; and
c. a filler material, wherein:
the Lactobacillus plantarum is present in the composition in an amount between 10 9 and 10 11 colony forming units (CFUs) per gram (g);
the Pediococcus acidilactici and Pediococcus pentosaceus are each present in the composition in an amount between 10 5 and 10 7 CFUs/g; and
the Bacillus subtilis is present in the composition in an amount between 10 9 and 10 11 CFUs/g.
2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the Bacillus subtilis has the 16S nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1.
3. The composition of claim 1 , further comprising a prebiotic selected from the group consisting of inulin, a fructo-oligosaccharide, a gluco-oligosaccharide, and a galacto-oligosaccharide.
4. The composition of claim 1 , further comprising a postbiotic, wherein the postbiotic is dried liquid fermentation medium of the Lactobacillus organisms.
5. The composition of claim 4 , wherein the postbiotic is prepared by:
a. collecting the supernatants from the centrifugation of each of the individual anaerobic fermentations of Pediococcus acidilactici, Pediococcus pentosaceus , and Lactobacillus plantarum;
b. combining the supernatants obtained from step (a);
c. freeze-drying the mixed supernatants to a moisture content of less than about 5% by weight; and
d. grinding the dried, mixed supernatants to a mean particle size of about 295 microns, with 60% of the mixture in the size range between 175-900 microns.
6. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the filler is selected from the group consisting of dextrose, wheat bran, rice bran, cereal grain filler, corn meal, starch, calcium carbonate, and a combination thereof.
7. The composition of claim 1 , comprising about 0.1 to 1% by weight of the Bacillus subtilis.
8. The composition of claim 1 , comprising about 0.1 to 1% by weight of the Lactobacillus plantarum.
9. A process for dosing an animal with the composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition is dissolved into the drinking water supply for the animal.
10. The process of claim 9 , wherein the composition is dosed into the water supply between about 0.1 and 1 kg per 1000 liters.
11. A method of feeding an animal, the method comprising administering to the animal the animal feed composition of claim 1 .
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the animal is shrimp, fin fish, poultry, swine, ruminants, or companion pets.