Abstract: Disclosed is a composition comprising a gluconic acid and/or one or more gluconic acid derivatives and a controlled release agent, wherein the controlled release agent allows partial, substantial, or substantially complete ruminal bypass of the composition. The composition may be used as a ruminant feed or feed supplement, particularly for increasing milk fat production in a lactating ruminant, for improving the health status of the hindgut of a ruminant, for increasing the production of butyrate in the hindgut of a ruminant, and/or for increasing somatic growth of a ruminant.

Abstract: Aqueous compositions and methods using the compositions for preventing or minimizing live body weight loss in livestock animals subjected to a prolonged period of feed deprivation, e.g., such as during the period before slaughter or during a period surrounding transportation from one location to another location (e.g., before, during and/or after), and/or for minimizing carcass weight loss or carcass yield loss, and/or meat quality deterioration and/or for preventing or minimizing deterioration of the well-being or health of livestock animals subjected to a prolonged period of feed deprivation, e.g., such as during the period before slaughter or during a period surrounding transportation from one location to another location (e.g., before, during and/or after).

Abstract: Aqueous compositions and methods using the compositions for preventing or minimizing live body weight loss in livestock animals subjected to a prolonged period of feed deprivation, e.g., such as during the period before slaughter or during a period surrounding transportation from one location to another location (e.g., before, during and/or after), and/or for minimizing carcass weight loss or carcass yield loss, and/or meat quality deterioration and/or for preventing or minimizing deterioration of the well-being or health of livestock animals subjected to a prolonged period of feed deprivation, e.g., such as during the period before slaughter or during a period surrounding transportation from one location to another location (e.g., before, during and/or after).

Abstract: Disclosed is a composition comprising a gluconic acid and/or one or more gluconic acid derivatives and a controlled release agent, wherein the controlled release agent allows partial, substantial, or substantially complete ruminal bypass of the composition. The composition may be used as a ruminant feed or feed supplement, particularly for increasing milk fat production in a lactating ruminant, for improving the health status of the hindgut of a ruminant, for increasing the production of butyrate in the hindgut of a ruminant, and/or for increasing somatic growth of a ruminant.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an animal feed suitable for feeding mammals, birds and fish, comprising an alkyl ester of a fatty acid, wherein said fatty acid has a chain length of 5-12 carbon atoms, and wherein the dosage of said ester in said animal feed is 50 ppm by weight or higher, based on the total weight of said animal feed.

Abstract: The invention relates to products and methods for increasing the productivity in farming by improving the fertility of healthy farming mammals. More in particular, the invention relates to products and methods for improving the fertility of animals by reducing placental insufficiency. According to the invention, this is obtained by providing a product which is enriched in L-arginine. The arginine products of the invention may be applied to improve fertility, which may be used in improving the yield in viable offspring of an animal livestock.

Abstract: The invention relates to a ruminant feed supplement for the treatment of milk fever. According to the invention rice bran that has been subjected to a ruminal bypass treatment is used in the feed of dairy cows. The ruminal bypass treatment may for instance be selected from the chemical cross-linking, physical cross-linking, coating, or combinations thereof. The invention further relates to the use of rice bran for the manufacture of a composition for the prophylactic treatment of parturient paresis in ruminants, wherein the rice bran has been subjected to a ruminal bypass treatment.

Abstract: The invention relates to a ruminant feed supplement for the treatment of milk fever. According to the invention rice bran that has been subjected to a ruminal bypass treatment is used in the feed of dairy cows. The ruminal bypass treatment may for instance be selected from the chemical cross-linking, physical cross-linking, coating, or combinations thereof. The invention further relates to the use of rice bran for the manufacture of a composition for the prophylactic treatment of parturient paresis in ruminants, wherein the rice bran has been subjected to a ruminal bypass treatment.

Abstract: The invention relates to products and methods for increasing the productivity in farming by improving the fertility of healthy farming mammals. More in particular, the invention relates to products and methods for improving the fertility of animals by reducing placental insufficiency. According to the invention, this is obtained by providing a product which is enriched in L-arginine. The arginine products of the invention may be applied to improve fertility, which may be used in improving the yield in viable offspring of an animal livestock.

Abstract: An assembly for penetrating the uterus of an animal during a non-surgical procedure comprising a probe having an elongated body with a longitudinal axis and a probing member extending at least laterally outwardly at the forward end of the probe body, a channel extending between an inlet opening at a distance from the probing member and an outlet opening near the probing member, wherein the channel comprises at least one bend or curve, such that the axis of the channel near the outlet opening encloses an angle different from 180° with the longitudinal axis of the probe body, the probe being adapted to be inserted, forward end first, inside the cervix of the animal, and manipulatable to gently maneuver the probing member in a forward direction through the cervix to a position in which the probing member and the outlet opening are within or adjacent the body of the uterus.

Abstract: The invention relates to a gene located on chromosome 1 in chickens, which in birds is involved in so called autosomal dwarfism. The most likely candidate gene has a homolog in mice and men and is called HMGI-c. The sequence of the cDNA and genomic DNA of the gene is provided, as well as uses of said sequence or parts or derivatives thereof, as well as methods of using sequences from this gene or flanking sequences, or microsatellite markers in close vicinity to this gene in methods for selecting for one of the two alleles of this gene. Specifically provided are breeding methods using discrimination between dwarf fenotypes and non dwarf fenotypes, which are a result of the allele variation within this gene.