ANIMAL FEED COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS OF USE
The invention provides an animal feed composition comprising plant material from a transgenic plant or plant part expressing a recombinant thermotolerant α-amylase. The invention further provides methods of improving feed utilization and decreasing liver abscesses. Also provided are methods of producing a steam flaked corn product, and the steam flaked corn product so produced.
1 . A method of producing an animal feed, the method comprising:
a) providing transgenic corn kernels comprising a recombinant thermotolerant microbial α-amylase; and
b) steam flaking the corn kernels to produce a steam flaked corn product, wherein the throughput rate is increased by at least 20% as compared with control corn kernels that do not comprise a recombinant thermotolerant microbial α-amylase.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the throughput rate is increased by at least 35% as compared with control corn kernels that do not comprise a recombinant thermotolerant microbial α-amylase.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the time to steam flake the transgenic corn kernels is reduced by at least 20% as compared with the control corn kernels.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the digestability of starch in the steam flaked corn product is increased as compared with the digestability of starch in a control steam flaked corn product produced from the control corn kernels.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the steam flaked corn product has a decrease in geometric mean particle size as compared with a control steam flaked corn product produced from the control corn kernels.
6 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the transgenic corn kernels comprise corn event 3272.
7 . A steam flaked corn product produced by the method of claim 12 .