Abstract: At least one compound defined by one of the following formulae: ##STR1## where X represents Cl, Br, ##STR2## NHSO.sub.2 CH.sub.3, ##STR3## or --SCH.sub.3, and n is 1 or 2; andCH.sub.3 SO.sub.2 NHCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CN (II)have been administered to animals to improve the efficiency of food utilization by these animals. These compounds can be administered orally by combining the compounds with feed compositions and fed to animals such as ruminants with a developed rumen function as well as other animals that ferment fibrous material and vegetable matter in the cecum or colon. These compounds effect the rumen metabolism to increase the production of propionate relative to other volatile fatty acids, particularly acetate and to inhibit methanogenesis.

Abstract: The astringency of an oral composition containing biologically active zinc ions may be reduced by the addition of glycine to the composition, and adjustment of the pH to about 4.5 to 9.4. In addition, zinc may be kept in a biologically active solution at this pH by the addition of glycine. The zinc-glycine combination serves as an anticalculus-antiplaque-antimalodor agent in oral compositions.

Abstract: At least one compound defined by one of the following formulae: ##STR1## where X represents Cl, Br, ##STR2## or--SCH.sub.3, and n is 1 or 2; andCH.sub.3 SO.sub.2 NHCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CN (II)have been administered to animals to improve the efficiency of food utilization by these animals. These compounds can be administered orally by combining the compounds with feed compositions and fed to animals such as ruminants with a developed rumen function as well as other animals that ferment fibrous material and vegetable matter in the cecum or colon. These compounds effect the rumen metabolism to increase the production of propionate relative to other volatile fatty acids, particularly acetate and to inhibit methanogenesis.

Abstract: The astringency of an oral composition containing biologically active zinc ions may be reduced by the addition of glycine to the composition, and adjustment of the pH to 4.5 to 8. In addition, zinc ions may be kept in a biologically active solution at this pH by the addition of glycine. The zinc-glycine combination serves as an anticalculus-antiplaque agent in oral compositions.

Abstract: The astringency of an oral mouthwash composition containing biologically active zinc ions may be reduced by the addition of glycine to the composition, and adjustment of the pH to 4.5 to 8. In addition, zinc ions may be kept in a biologically active solution at this pH by the addition of glycine. The zinc-glycine combination serves as an anticalculus-antiplaque agent in oral compositions.