Abstract: Feed additive compositions and methods of using the additives to improve the performance of an adult animal are disclosed. Improved performance can include reducing maintenance nutrient requirements, improving growth performance, reducing the energy required for intestinal maintenance, reducing the energy required for weight gain, reduced morbidity, increasing growth rate, improving feed conversion, improving the average daily gain (ADG), improving the efficiency of nutrient utilization, increasing volatile fatty acid production, improving energy use from volatile fatty acids, increasing ending body weight, improved intestinal health, increased relative abundance of Bifidobacterium in the intestines, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of improve efficiency, growth, and performance in an animal by orally administering to the animal an effective amount of a therapeutic clay. The methods can reduce embryonic loss, increase litter size, increase the number of live births, improve the immune status of the maternal animal, reduce the concentration of maternal fecal amino acids, reduce the concentration of maternal fecal short-chained amino acid, increasing litter birth weight in the maternal animal, increase the amount of young animal colostrum intake, reduce young animal pre-weaning mortality, reduce the number of young animals lost due to low viability, reduce the number of weaned young animals, improve the immune status of young animals at weaning, reduce the number of lightweight young animals from nursery to market, increase the number of young animals marketed per sow, and increase calculated litter weight gain.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of administering one or more Bacillus subtilis strains to swine. The Bacillus subtilis strains that are administered include 747 (NRRL B-67257), 1104 (NRRL B-67258), 1541 (NRRL B-67260), 1781 (NRRL B-67259), 2018 (NRRL B-67261), and BS1999 (NRRL B-67318). The Bacillus strains improve bacterial homeostasis in the gastrointestinal tract by inhibiting bacterial pathogens such as E. coli, Clostridium, Salmonella, and Streptococcus. Administering the Bacillus strains also improves performance such as weight gain and feed conversion. Useful combinations of Bacillus strains and methods of using one or more Bacillus strains are also provided.

Abstract: Feeding a diet supplemented with DDGS or another supplement containing UFA at a level above a threshold to animals such as swine, cattle, and poultry can have negative effects on carcass fat, certain growth parameters, and meat characteristics. However, if this diet is provided with a second supplement that contains CPFA at specified levels in the diet, the negative effects otherwise expected are wholly or at least partially countered. The invention recommends employing a supplemental source of CPFA between about 0.001% and about 0.5% of the diet by weight. Negative effects on carcass characteristics caused by ractopamine can also be countered by the addition of this amount of at least one source of CPFA in the diet.