Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
Description
Title: A Process for Improving Protein Digestion of Animal
Feeds and A Composition Thereof
Technical Field
[0001] The present disclosure is related to a process for improving protein
digestion
and reducing anti-nutrients of animal feeds, especially in oilseeds as the
main
source of animal feed, and a composition thereof. The produced composition has
a high level of rumen degradable protein and low content of phytic acid.
Background Art
[0002] These days, humans have an especial attention to protein products, like
livestock and poultry products, in their food baskets. So, many farmers and
animal feed producers are looking for a solution to improve a protein quality
of
the livestock and poultry products.
[0003] In recent years, the use of plant and/or vegetable proteins, especially
the use
of oilseed meals as a rich source of protein for animal diets has increased.
This
increment in protein consumption has led to a growth in grain prices and
oilseed
meals. Diet formulation, on the other hand, increases the protein content per
unit
of feed.
[0004] In ruminants, rumen protein digestion is recognized as an important
factor in
the optimal productivity of ruminant diets. The ruminants are better able to
use
food, especially plant proteins because they can ferment food using
microorganisms in their rumens. Although, a nutritional value and especially
an
amount of protein passing through a ruminant's feed during a digestion process
in the rumen is adversely reduced. Therefore, protection of the ruminant feed
protein from being dissolved or metabolized by microorganisms in the rumen and
remaining digestible and metabolized after passing the rumen is a key for
improving the digestible protein value of the ruminant's feed resulting in a
high-
value protein product. Hence the demand for improved feed that has higher
levels of protein passing through the rumen has increased as a result of
research
in this area. Protein escape from the rumen may be caused by food processing
resulting from a change in the physicochemical structure of the protein
provided
in diet formulation and a reduction in rum inal fermentation.
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-05-25
[0005] Therefore, developing a simple and low-cost process for producing a
modified
plant and/or vegetable protein food is required such that a produced modified
animal feed comprises a high level of rumen undegradable protein (RUP) as well
as a low content of phytic acid as an anti-nutrient. Producing such a
composition
may be led to decreasing consumption of plant and/or vegetable protein
products
in livestock and/or poultry diet resulting in decreasing feed-in costs as well
as
reducing related issues like greenhouse gases and greenhouse effects.
Summary of Invention
[0006] This summary is intended to provide an overview of the subject matter
of this
patent, and is not intended to identify essential elements or key elements of
the
subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to determine the scope of the
claimed
implementations. The proper scope of this patent may be ascertained from the
claims set forth below in view of the detailed description below and the
drawings.
[0007] In a general aspect, the present disclosure is directed to an exemplary
process for increasing protein digestion and decreasing a phytic acid content
of
an animal feed. The exemplary process may comprise obtaining a pulverized
protein-containing compound by pulverizing a plurality of a protein-containing
compound and preparing a coating mixture comprising at least one
monosaccharide component, at least one homopolysaccharide, and an alginic
acid salt. Furthermore, the exemplary process may further comprise obtaining a
first coated meal by blending the pulverized protein-containing compound and
the
coating mixture, creating a wet first coated meal by injecting a steam stream
to
the first coated meal, and fabricating a second coated meal by mixing the wet
first
coated meal and the coating mixture, finally obtaining a dried coated meal by
drying the second coated meal utilizing a heating apparatus. Finally, the
exemplary process may further comprise producing a modified animal feed by
passing the dried coated meal through a cooling chamber in a predetermined
time.
[0008] The above general aspect may have one or more of the following
features. In
an exemplary implementation, the exemplary process may further comprise
obtaining a wet second coated meal by injecting a second steam stream to the
second coated meal; and producing a grinded modified animal feed by grinding
the modified animal feed. In an exemplary implementation, the at least one
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-05-25
monosaccharide component may comprise glucose, fructose, or a mixture
thereof. In an exemplary implementation, the at least one monosaccharide may
have a concentration in a range of 5000 to 7000 ppm. In an exemplary
implementation, the at least one homopolysaccharide may comprise pectin,
chitin, cellulose, starch, or a mixture thereof. In an exemplary
implementation, a
concentration of the at least one homopolysaccharide may be adjusted in a
range
of 600 to 1000 ppm. In an exemplary implementation, a concentration of the
alginic acid salt is adjusted in a range of 0.02 to 0.04 weight percent. In an
exemplary implementation, the coating mixture on the protein-containing
composition may have a first blended concentration in a range of 2% to 3 %
(w/w). In an exemplary implementation, a second blended concentration of the
coating mixture on the wet first coated meal may be adjusted in a range of 0.9
to
1.1 % (w/w). In an exemplary implementation, the predetermined time of the
dried
coated meal through the cooling chamber may be about 30 seconds to 80
seconds. In an exemplary implementation, the process may result in an increase
of rumen undegradable protein up to 60% and a phytic acid content reduction up
to 55 %.
[0009] In another general aspect, the present disclosure is directed to
producing an
exemplary modified ruminant feed. The exemplary modified ruminant feed may
comprise a protein-containing compound and at least one coating layer.
Moreover, the coating layer may comprise at least one monosaccharide, at least
one homopolysaccharide, and an alginic acid salt.
[0010] The above general aspect may have one or more of the following
features. In
an exemplary implementation, the protein-containing compound may comprise
soybean meal, canola meal, cottonseed meal, peanut meal, sunflower meal, any
kind of oilseed meal, or a combination thereof. In an exemplary
implementation,
the at least one homopolysaccharide may comprise pectin. In some exemplary
implementation, the at least one homopolysaccharide may comprise pectin,
chitin, cellulose, starch, or a mixture thereof. In an exemplary
implementation, the
alginic acid salt may be sodium alginate. In an exemplary implementation, the
coating layer may comprise at least two monosaccharides such that a weight
ratio of each monosaccharide may be adjusted in a range of 25:75 to 75:25. In
an
exemplary implementation, the alginic acid salt may have a concentration about
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-05-25
200 to 400 ppm. In an exemplary implementation, a homopolysaccharide
concentration may be adjusted in a range of 600 to 1000 ppm. In an exemplary
implementation, the rumen undegradable protein of the modified ruminant feed
may increase up to 60%.
Brief Description of Drawings
[0011] The drawing figures only demonstrate one or more embodiments in accord
with the present teaching, by way of example only, not by way of limitation.
Therefore, the drawing figures do not limit the extent of the present
disclosure.
Also, reference numerals with similar numbers in the figures demonstrate
similar
or the same elements.
Fig.1
[0012] [Fig.1] illustrates a flowchart of an implementation of a general
representation
of the process for producing a modified animal feed, consistent with one or
more
exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.
Description of Embodiments
[0013] In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are
set forth by
way of examples in order to provide a thorough understanding of the relevant
teachings. However, it should be apparent that the present teachings may be
practiced without such details. In other instances, well-known processes,
procedures, components, and/or circuitry have been described at a relatively
high-level, without detail, in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring aspects
of the
present teachings. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be
taken
in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present disclosure is defined only
by the
appended claims.
[0014] The following detailed description is presented to enable a person
skilled in
the art to make and use the processes and devices disclosed in exemplary
embodiments of the present disclosure. For purposes of explanation, specific
nomenclature is set forth provide a thorough understanding of the present
disclosure. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that these
specific
details are not required to practice the disclosed exemplary embodiments.
Descriptions of specific exemplary embodiments are provided only as
representative examples. Various modifications to the exemplary
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-05-25
implementations will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art, and the
general
principles defined herein may be applied to other implementations and
applications without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The
present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the implementations shown,
but
is to be accorded the widest possible scope consistent with the principles and
features disclosed herein.
[0015] The present disclosure describes an exemplary process for producing a
modified animal feed comprising two main steps. A first step may comprise a
coating step that a protein-containing compound may coat by at least one
coating
layers. A second step may comprise stabilizing the at least one coating layer.
Some benefits from utilizing the exemplary process described within the
present
disclosure may include, but are not limited to, developing a process to
produce a
modified animal feed containing a protein protection coating layer that may be
led
to decrease of protein digestion in rumen, enhance the rumen undegradable
protein, increase of protein absorption in intestine, and decrease a phytic
acid
content of the modified animal feed.
[0016] In an exemplary embodiment, the exemplary process may result in
producing
an exemplary modified animal feed. In an exemplary embodiment, the term
"modified' may refer to creating some features like a protein digestion
reduction in
rumen, a protein absorption increment in intestine, and a phytic acid content
reduction.
[0017] In an exemplary embodiment, an exemplary modified animal feed
production
process may result in production of an exemplary modified ruminant feed with a
high rumen degradable protein (RUP) level. In an exemplary embodiment, the
term "high" may refer to a rumen undegradable protein level up to 60%.
[0018] In an exemplary embodiment, an exemplary modified animal food
production
process may result in production of an exemplary modified animal feed with a
low
phytic acid content. In an exemplary embodiment, the term "low" may refer to a
phytic acid content less than 50% of a primary phytic acid content.
[0019] In an exemplary embodiment, aspects and features of an exemplary
modified
animal feed production process based on the two main steps including coating a
protein-containing compound to improve protein digestion and stabilizing the
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-05-25
coating and reducing the phytic acid content less than 50% will be described
in
greater detail, below.
[0020] PRODUCING A MODIFIED ANIMAL FEED FROM A PROTEIN-
CONTAINING COMPOUND
[0021] Oilseeds are very important in animal nutrition and the oilseeds
usually are
used in animal feed. Due to economic and nutritional reasons, only a small
proportion of oilseeds are fed to animals like oilseed meal which is a by-
product
of the processing of the seeds for oil production. Although, because of the
high
content of phytic acid and low protein digestion absorption of oilseed meal,
there
is a need for decreasing the phytic acid content as well as increasing a
protein
digestion level in animal feed during a modified animal feed production
process.
[0022] In an exemplary embodiment, an exemplary modified animal feed
production
process may comprise two steps: coating of an oilseed meal as a protein-
containing compound and stabilizing a coated layer and decreasing of a phytic
acid content.
[0023] In an exemplary embodiment, Fig.1 illustrates an exemplary flowchart of
a
general representation of the modified animal feed process 100 for producing a
modified animal feed, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the
present disclosure. As illustrated in Fig.1, the exemplary process 100 may
comprise two main steps for producing the exemplary modified animal feed such
that a first main step may further comprise five steps to provide at least one
coating layer and a second main step may further comprise two steps to
stabilize
the coating layer and increase a yield of the process 100. In an exemplary
embodiment, the exemplary process 100 may comprise step 102, obtaining a
pulverized protein-containing compound by pulverizing a plurality of a protein-
containing compound. Step 104 may comprise preparing a coating mixture
comprising at least one monosaccharide component, at least one
homopolysaccharide, and an alginic acid salt. Step 106 may comprise obtaining
a
first coated meal by blending the pulverized protein-containing compound and
the
coating mixture. In next step, Step 108, the process 100 may comprise creating
a
wet first coated meal by injecting a steam stream to the first coated meal.
Additionally, process 100 may further comprise, steps 110 and 112, fabricating
a
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-05-25
second coated meal by mixing the wet first coated meal and the coating mixture
and obtaining a dried coated meal by drying the second coated meal utilizing a
heating apparatus. Final step, Step 114, may comprise producing a modified
animal feed by passing the dried coated meal through a cooling chamber in a
predetermined time.
[0024] In an exemplary embodiment, the protein-containing compound may
comprise
a vegetable protein, a plant protein, or a mixture thereof such that the
vegetable
and plant proteins may include edible seeds and seed meals. In an exemplary
embodiment, the protein-containing compound may comprise, for example, but
are not limited to, a mixture, a combination, or at least one of soybean,
soybean
meal, canola seed, canola meal, cottonseed, cottonseed meal, sorghum protein,
peanut meal, sunflower seed, sunflower meal, linseed, linseed meal, and other
kinds of vegetable and/or plant protein components that are well-known for
those
skilled in the art. In a particular exemplary embodiment, the protein-
containing
compound may comprise soybean meal.
[0025] In an exemplary embodiment, the at least one monosaccharide may
comprise
glucose, fructose, or a mixture thereof. In an exemplary embodiment, a
concentration of the at least one monosaccharide for preparing the coating
mixture may be adjusted in a range of 5000 to 7000 ppm.
[0026] In another exemplary embodiment, the coating mixture in step 104 may
comprise at least two monosaccharide. In an exemplary embodiment, the at least
two monosaccharide may comprise glucose and fructose. In an exemplary
embodiment, a weight ratio of the glucose to the fructose may be in a range of
1:3 to 3:1 of a total weight of the coating mixture. In an exemplary
embodiment, a
concentration of the at least two monosaccharide for preparation of the
coating
mixture may be adjusted in a range of about 5000 to 7000 ppm.
[0027] In an exemplary embodiment, the at least one homopolysaccharide may
comprise pectin, chitin, cellulose, starch, a mixture thereof, or other
homopolysaccharides that are well-known for those skilled in the art. In a
particular exemplary embodiment, the at least one homopolysaccharide may
comprise pectin. In an exemplary embodiment, the at least one
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-05-25
homopolysaccharide may has a concentration that may be adjusted in a range of
600 to 1000 ppm.
[0028] In an exemplary embodiment, the alginic acid salt may be sodium
alginate. In
an exemplary embodiment, a concentration of the alginic acid salt may be
adjusted in a range of about 0.02 to 0.04 weight percent of total weight of
the
coating mixture.
[0029] In an exemplary embodiment, in step 106, the coating mixture may have a
first blended concentration in a range of about 2% to 3 % (w/w) of the total
weight
of the protein-containing compound such that the first concentration may be
blended with, or sprayed on the protein-containing composition that may be
resulted in a first layer of coating.
[0030] In another exemplary embodiment, in step 110, a second concentration of
the
coating mixture may be blended with, or sprayed on the wet first coated meal
such that the second concentration of the coating mixture may be adjusted in a
range of about 0.9 to 1.1 % (w/w) of the total weight of the protein-
containing
compound.
[0031] In an exemplary embodiment, the predetermined time for passing the
dried
coated meal through the cooling chamber may be in a range of 30 seconds to 80
seconds. Passing the dried coated meal through the cooling chamber may result
in an increment of protein productivity as well as preventing protein
denaturation
in the produced modified animal feed. The predetermined time is a key for
stabilizing the coating layers on the protein-containing compound and
increasing
the protein digestion of the produced product.
[0032] In an exemplary embodiment, the process 100 may further comprise a wet
second coated meal by injecting a second steam stream to the second coated
meal. This step may be applied the second coated meal to improve the adhesion
of the second coated layer on the first coated layer of the first wet coated
meal.
[0033] In an exemplary embodiment, the process 100 may further comprise
producing a grinded modified animal feed by grinding the produced modified
animal feed. The grinded modified animal feed may be packed in a suitable
packaging box that a distinguishing mark for awareness of the user may be
attached or printed on the packaging box. The distinguishing mark may
comprise,
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-05-25
for example, but are not limited to, main component of composition, product
storage conditions, brand name of the product, and/or an instruction for
administration of the product to an animal.
[0034] The several processes and compositions of the non-limiting embodiments
of
the present disclosure may be fed directly to domesticated animals or added to
the domesticated animal's feed, especially ruminant animals, as a feed
supplement or additive. Ruminant animals which may be fed the compositions of
the present disclosure may include but are not limited to bovines, ovines, and
caprines.
[0035] In an exemplary embodiment, the term "domesticated animals" may also
refer
to domesticated birds. Domesticated birds which may be fed the composition of
the present disclosure may include but are not limited to, chickens, turkeys,
geese, and ducks.
Examples
[0036] Example 1: Production of a Modified Ruminant Animal Feed
[0037] In Example 1, production of a modified ruminant animal feed was carried
out
using the exemplary process, consistent with one or more exemplary
embodiments of the present disclosure. In this example, consistent with the
exemplary method 100 of Fig.1, 100 kg of soybean meal was grounded utilizing a
50 microns mesh and then a grinded soybean meal was transferred to a mixing
container equipped with a rotating mixing mean. In this step, a coating
mixture
including glucose, fructose, pectin, and sodium alginate was sprayed on the
grinded soybean meal whereby a concentration of the coated layer on the
grinded soybean meal may be about 2.5% w/w of a total weight of the grinded
soybean meal. Following that, the first coated soybean meal was contacted with
a steam stream within an air conditioner. After that, a wet first coated meal
was
conducted to the mixing container for spraying a second coating layer on the
wet
first meal. For stabilizing of the coated layers as well as reducing a phytic
acid
content of soybean meal, a coated meal was heated through a dryer such that a
temperature of the dryer was adjusted in a range of 60 to 75 C. Following
that, a
dried coated meal was quickly cooled down to a -30 C utilizing passed through
a
cooling chamber and final modified animal feed was prepared.
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-05-25
[0038] While particular aspects of the present subject matter described herein
have
been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art
that,
based upon the teachings herein, changes and modifications may be made
without departing from this subject matter described herein and its broader
aspects and, therefore, the appended claims are to encompass within their
scope
all such changes and modifications as are within the true spirit and scope of
this
subject matter described herein. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the
invention is solely defined by the appended claims. It will be further
understood
by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim
recitation is
intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the
absence
of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to
understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the
introductory phrases "at least one" to introduce claim recitations. However,
the
use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of
a
claim recitation by the indefinite articles "a" or "an" limits any particular
claim
containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one
such
recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases "at
least
one" and indefinite articles such as "a" or "an" (e.g., "a" and/or "an" should
typically be interpreted to mean "at least one" or "one or more"); the same
holds
true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In
addition,
even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly
recited,
those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically
be
interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of
"two
recitations," without other modifiers, typically means at least two
recitations or two
or more recitations).
[0039] It will be understood that the terms and expressions used herein have
the
ordinary meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions with respect to
their corresponding respective areas of inquiry and study except where
specific
meanings have otherwise been set forth herein. Relational terms such as first,
second, and third and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or
action from another without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such
relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms "comprises,"
"comprising," "include," "including," or any other variation thereof, are
intended to
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-05-25
cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article,
apparatus,
or device that comprises a list of elements does not include only those
elements
but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such
process,
method, article, apparatus, or device. An element proceeded by "a" or "an"
does
not, without further constraints, preclude the existence of additional
identical
elements in the process, method, article, or device that comprises the
element.
Moreover, "may" and other permissive terms are used herein for describing
optional features of various embodiments. These terms likewise describe
selectable or configurable features generally, unless the context dictates.
Otherwise.
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-05-25
