Abstract: A method is described for improving the digestibility of a forage diet for ruminant animals. A forage, including alfalfa, Chinese wildrye, corn silage, straw silage, corn stover, ryegrass or TMR, is treated with an enzyme product having cellulase, xylanase, beta-glucanase, pectinase, mannanase and alpha-galactosidase activities.

Abstract: A stabilized carotenoid-based pigmenter free of synthetic antioxidants for the addition to animal feed to add color to tissues of animals fed the animal feed. The carotenoid-based pigmenter contains free-form carotenoids obtained from natural sources through a saponification reaction. A natural antioxidant, such as grape seed extracts, green tea extracts, clove bud oil, clove leaf oil, Vitamin C, cinnamon leaf oil, oleoresin turmeric, tocopherol, tocotrienol, rosemary extracts and gallic acid or salts thereof combined with a diluent, preferably glycerol or a glycerol-like substance, is added to the pigmenter after the saponification reaction.

Abstract: Described are stable, starch-rich liquid animal feed suspensions having a high dry matter content and which do not require added heat or suspension agents for starch gelatinization and stabilization of the suspensions. Enzymatic hydrolysis and mechanical grinding are used to release starch and produce a gel-like suspension from a starting grain product, such as seeds or kernels of corn, wheat, barley, millet, oats, or rice, or flours made from the grain seeds or kernels combined with a plant processing by-product such as dried distillers grain solubles, condensed beet molasses solubles, whey, and corn steep liquor. The products produced through the processes of the present invention are flowable, dark brown to golden, gel-like suspensions with a pH of 5-7 and viscosities of 500-1000 cP at ambient temperature. In addition, the products had comparable nutritional profiles to a commercial liquid feed supplement.

Abstract: Antimicrobial compounds from Bacillus subtilis for use against animal and human pathogens. A novel strain of Bacillus subtilis was isolated from the gastrointestinal tract of poultry and was found to produce a factor or factors that have excellent inhibitory effects on Clostridium perfringens, Clostridium difficile, Campylobacter jejuni, Campylobacter coli, and Streptococcus pneumoniae. The factor(s) retain full viability and antimicrobial activity after heat treatment. The invention provides a method of treatment of pathogenic microorganisms including C. perfringens.

Abstract: A method was developed for the screening of antioxidant efficacy in food and feed matrices. The novel method uses radical initiators to accelerate the oxidation process. Consequently the screening of the oxidation process can be performed at significantly lower temperatures compared to the existing methods. The use of initiators improves the correlation between accelerated screening and real shelf life. This resolves an important issue that is frequently raised concerning the applicability of accelerated oxidation tests conducted at high temperatures. Furthermore feed and food products can be analyzed in their original states because lower temperatures have less influence on the product matrix.

Abstract: A method for improving the performance of enzymes used in animal feeds by the use of surfactants. Lecithin and/or lysolecithin is added to an animal feed including an exogenous enzyme to boost the performance of the enzyme so that a desired level of performance can be maintained while reducing the amount of exogenous enzyme that must be included in the animal feed. Preferably, the surfactant includes lyso-forms of lecithin.

Abstract: A mold inhibitor is described which is a combination of a salt of propionic acid and an essential oil. The essential oil is selected from the group that includes but is not limited to cinnamon oil, eucalyptus oil, lemongrass oil, palmrosa oil, rosemary oil, sage oil, cassia oil, and thyme oil. The essential oil of cinnamon bark (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) has a synergistic effect with propionic acid in mold inhibition. The new mold inhibitors have improved efficacy, are less corrosive and are cost effective.

Abstract: A process for the solid-phase synthesis of salts of organic acids in a granular, free-flowing, and dust-free form particularly suited for use as animal feed additives. A liquid organic acid is applied to an inert, absorbent carrier. A solid base is then added during stirring. The acid is slowly released from the carrier preventing the fast reactions that lead to the formation of clumps. The exothermic reaction releases heat which assists in reducing the moisture content of the product.

Abstract: An increase in specific antioxidant activity of extracts from rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis) is obtained by the use of a blend of tetrafluoroethane and acetone in the extraction process. A blend of tetrafluoroethane, acetone and methanol improves total yield. A tetrafluoroethane and acetone blend has higher efficacy but comparatively lower yields. The methods yield a liquid and oily antioxidant extract that is readily mixed with a liquid product such as soybean oil for addition to animal feeds and human food. The methods simultaneously yield pharmaceutical grade essential oils in high yields.

Abstract: An increase in specific antioxidant activity of extracts from rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis) is obtained by the use of a blend of tetrafluoroethane and acetone in the extraction process. A blend of tetrafluoroethane, acetone and methanol improves total yield. A tetrafluoroethane and acetone blend has higher efficacy but comparatively lower yields. The methods yield a liquid and oily extract that is readily mixed with a liquid product such as soybean oil for addition to animal feeds and human food.

Abstract: An increase in specific antioxidant activity of extracts from rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis) is obtained by the use of a blend of tetrafluoroethane and an organic solvent in the extraction process. A blend of tetrafluoroethane, acetone and methanol improves total yield. A tetrafluoroethane and acetone blend has higher efficacy but comparatively lower yields. The methods yield a liquid and oily antioxidant extract that is readily mixed with a liquid product such as soybean oil for addition to animal feeds and human food. The methods simultaneously yield pharmaceutical-grade essential oils in high yields.

Abstract: A liquid preservative solution and method for extending the shelf life of tortillas and like products made from corn flour or wheat flour is proposed. The preservative solution contains propionic acid, phosphoric acid and a substance for inhibiting the growth of yeast or bacteria. In a preferred embodiment the yeast and bacteria inhibiting substance is benzoic acid. The preservative solution is antimicrobial in nature, and delays spoiling by retarding or preventing the growth of mold, bacteria, and yeast. The preservative solution has a fresh slightly sweet after-taste.

Abstract: A poultry feed composition including protein, vitamins and minerals, and a source of carbohydrates from the group consisting of soybean meals and corn supplemented with an &agr;-galactosidase-based enzyme blend that catalyzes the degradation of the galactoside. The addition of the &agr;-galactosidase-based enzyme blend increases the ratio of gain to feed, increases the amount of white meat, increases the mass and yield of the carcass, or decreases the amount of fat deposited during growth of a chicken fed the feed composition, relative to the chicken fed on an identical feed composition absent the &agr;-galactosidase-based enzyme blend.

Abstract: Chromium, preferably in the form of chromium propionate, is used as an animal feed supplement. The addition of chromium to a diet containing a balanced level of dietary energy results in an increase in animal growth performance relative to the level of dietary energy and/or improved meat quality.

Abstract: This invention relates to the in situ process for converting non-free-form xanthophylls to free xanthophylls in the biological material of the plant. The method, more particularly, relates to a method that would liberate xanthophylls by transesterification of acyl-xanthophylls in plant materials which is used as a natural food colorant.

Abstract: A poultry feed composition including protein, vitamins and minerals, and a source of carbohydrates from the group consisting of soybean meals and corn supplemented with an &agr;-galactosidase that catalyzes the degradation of the galactoside. The addition of the &agr;-galactosidase increases the ratio of gain to feed, increases the amount of white meat, or decreases the amount of fat deposited during growth of a chicken fed the feed composition, relative to the chicken fed on an identical feed composition absent the &agr;-galactosidase.

Abstract: A method for protecting the activity and bioavailability of heat- and/or oxygen-labile compounds during processing, particularly processing by extrusion of a food product containing the heat- and/or oxygen-labile compounds. Beadlets are formed wherein the heat- and/oxygen-labile compound is protected by a shell of calcium alginate and an ancillary polymeric compound, such as gelatin. The beadlets are added to a food product prior to extrusion and protect the active compound against heat degradation during the extrusion process. The beadlets also provide a protected form of the compound that decreases oxidation. In an alternative embodiment, oxidizing agents and/or free radical initiators to be added to a product containing labile compounds are coated with the protective material to protect the labile compounds from degradation by the oxidizing agents and/or free-radical initiators.

Abstract: The present invention describes the method of extraction and the effect of a crude protein extract from the seed tissue of two botanical species, Tagetes and Capsicum, on the survival of two economically important gram-negative bacteria Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli.

Abstract: Conversion of crude lecithin is performed by incubating the lecithin with a lipase-phospholipase mixture in a water/polyol environment. The incubation is carried out at about 40-50.degree. C. and a pH of about 7 to about 8 while stirring continuously. The reaction simultaneously produces lysolipid, lysophospholipid, monoglycerides, and diglycerides. The conversion rate of lecithin is more than 80% based on the ratio of LPC/PC (lysophosphatidylcholine/phosphatidylcholine). Calcium chloride can be added to the reaction mixture to capture released fatty acids.

Abstract: This invention relates to the in sito process for converting non-free form xanthophylls to free xanthophylls in the biological material of the plant. The method, more particularly, relates to a method that would liberate xanthophylls by transesterification of acyl-xanthophylls in plant materials.