A METHOD FOR REDUCING AMMONIA EMISSION OF ANIMALS
The present invention provides a method for reducing ammonia emission of animals comprising administering to the animals one or more proteolytic enzymes, i.e., proteases. The present invention also provides a feed composition suitable for the above methods and use thereof.
1 . A method for reducing ammonia emission of an animal comprising administering to the animal one or more proteolytic enzyme(s), i.e., protease(s).
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the protease is a serine protease, preferably an acid stable serine protease, and more preferably a S8 protease.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the protease is a microbial protease.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the protease is derived from a microorganism such as bacteria, e.g. bacteria of the Family: Nocardiopsaceae , e.g. of the Genus: Nocardiopsis , e.g. Nocardiopsis sp. NRRL 18262, and Nocardiopsis alba; bacteria of the family Bacillaceae , e.g. of the genus Bacillus , e.g. Bacillus horneckiae and Bacillus sp.; and bacteria of the families Pianococcaeae and Paenibacillaceae ; and mutants or variants thereof.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the protease is an acid stable serine protease obtained or obtainable from the Genus: Nocardiopsis , such as those derived from Nocardiopsis dassonvillei DSM 43235 (A1918L1), Nocardiopsis prasina DSM 15649 (NN018335L1), Nocardiopsis prasina (previously alba) DSM 14010 (NN18140L1), Nocardiopsis sp. DSM 16424 (NN018704L2), Nocardiopsis alkaliphila DSM 44657 (NN019340L2) and Nocardiopsis lucentensis DSM 44048 (NN019002L2); or the Genus: Bacillus , e.g. Bacillus horneckiae, Bacillus sp TY145, Bacillus sp-13380, Bacillus idriensis, Bacillus sp-62451 and Bacillus oceanisediminis ; as well as homologous proteases.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the protease is acid-stable and thermostable.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the protease is provided in a dosage of between 1,000 units/kg animal feed and 1,000,000 units/kg animal feed, for example in one of the following amounts (dosage ranges): 1,000, 2,000, 4,000, 6,000, 8,000, 10,000, 15,000, 20,000, 30,000, 50,000, 80,000, 100,000, 150,000, 200,000, 250,000, 300,000, 500,000, 600,000, 800,000, 1,000,000 units/kg animal feed.
8 . A feed composition, a feed additive or an animal feed comprising one or more proteolytic enzymes, i.e., proteases, for reducing ammonia emission of an animal.
9 . The feed composition, a feed additive or an animal feed of claim 8 , wherein the protease is contained in a total amount of from 0.5 wt % to 50 wt %, preferably from 1 wt % to 30 wt %, more preferably from 2 wt % to 20 wt %, and the most preferably from 5 wt % to 15 wt %, based on the weight of the feed composition, the feed additive or the animal feed.
10 . Use of one or more proteolytic enzymes, i.e., proteases, and a carbohydrase in an animal feed for reducing ammonia emission of an animal.