Abstract: Methods to prevent ketosis or minimize the effects of ketosis in ruminant animals are provided. This methods include feeding to the animal biotin in combination with a mixture of at least two essential oil compounds selected from the group consisting of thymol, eugenol, meta-cresol, vaniline and guajacol. The methods usefully prevent and/or inhibit ketosis of calving ruminant animals and the subsequent need for veterinary treatment. In a preferred embodiment of a feeding concept for dairy cattle, especially calving dairy cattle, biotin is used in an amount sufficient to provide a daily dosage of 10 mg to 20 mg per head to which it is to be administered. It is at present contemplated that the essential oils are administered in amounts (total dosage ranges of essential oils) of 1 to 1.5 g per head per day.

Abstract: Methods to prevent ketosis or minimize the effects of ketosis in ruminant animals are provided. This methods include feeding to the animal biotin in combination with a mixture of at least two essential oil compounds selected from the group consisting of thymol, eugenol, meta-cresol, vaniline and guajacol. The methods usefully prevent and/or inhibit ketosis of calving ruminant animals and the subsequent need for veterinary treatment. In a preferred embodiment of a feeding concept for dairy cattle, especially calving dairy cattle, biotin is used in an amount sufficient to provide a daily dosage of 10 mg to 20 mg per head to which it is to be administered. It is at present contemplated that the essential oils are administered in amounts (total dosage ranges of essential oils) of 1 to 1.5 g per head per day.

Abstract: The present invention is made for the prevention of ketosis or minimizing the effects of ketosis in ruminant animals. This purpose is achieved by feeding to the animal biotin in combination with a mixture of at least two essential oil compounds selected from the group consisting of thymol, eugenol, meta-cresol, vaniline and guajacol. The present invention is useful because it is capable of preventing and/or inhibiting ketosis of calving ruminant animals and the subsequent need for veterinary treatment. In a preferred embodiment of a feeding concept for dairy cattle, especially calving dairy cattle, biotin being used in an amount sufficient to provide a daily dosage of 10 mg to 20 mg per head to which it is to be administered. It is at present contemplated that the essential oils are administered in amounts (total dosage ranges of essential oils) of 1 to 1.5 g per head per day.

Abstract: The present invention is made for the purpose of improving beef quality and upgrading its fat marbling standard (which is called beef marbling standard, or BMS). The fat marbling state is generally called “Shimofuri” in Japanese. This purpose is achieved by feeding to the animal biotin in combination with a mixture of at least two essential oil compounds selected from the group consisting of thymol, eugenol, meta-cresol, vanillin and guaiacol. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, biotin is used in an amount sufficient to provide a daily dosage of 0.01 mg to 0.3 mg per kg body weight and the essential oils are administered in amounts (total dosage ranges of essential oils) of 0.5 to 4 mg per kg body weight per day. In terms of the quality of the meat, the combined use of biotin and the essential oils as defined above shows significant differences in the fat marbling (Shimofuri), luster, firmness and texture of the meat compared to the meat of non-treated animals.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of at least one bacterial amylase in feed for ruminant animals of the subfamily Bovinae in particular for improving milk yield, apparent digestibility of the diet fed, feedstuff dry matter disappearance, weight gain, and/or Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR). Examples of bovine animals are dairy cows and beef cattle. The invention also relates to the use of such amylases in feed and feed additives such as premix, concentrates and total mixed ration (TMR). The amylase may be used in combination with cellulase for improving milk yield and/or back fat thickness. Preferred amylases are derived from Bacillus halmapalus, licheniformis, and stearothermophilus and are preferably homologous to Bacillus stearothermophilus amylase.

Abstract: The present invention is made for the prevention of ketosis or minimizing the effects of ketosis in ruminant animals. This purpose is achieved by feeding to the animal biotin in combination with a mixture of at least two essential oil compounds selected from the group consisting of thymol, eugenol, meta-cresol, vaniline and guajacol. The present invention is useful because it is capable of preventing and/or inhibiting ketosis of calving ruminant animals and the subsequent need for veterinary treatment. In a preferred embodiment of a feeding concept for dairy cattle, especially calving dairy cattle, biotin being used in an amount sufficient to provide a daily dosage of 10 mg to 20 mg per head to which it is to be administered. It is at present contemplated that the essential oils are administered in amounts (total dosage ranges of essential oils) of 1 to 1.5 g per head per day.

Abstract: The present invention is made for the purpose of improving beef quality and upgrading its fat marbling standard (which is called beef marbling standard, or BMS). The fat marbling state is generally called “Shimofuri” in Japanese. This purpose is achieved by feeding to the animal biotin in combination with a mixture of at least two essential oil compounds selected from the group consisting of thymol, eugenol, meta-cresol, vaniline and guajacol. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, biotin is used in an amount sufficient to provide a daily dosage of 0.01 mg to 0.3 mg per kg body weight and the essential oils are administered in amounts (total dosage ranges of essential oils) of 0.5 to 4 mg per kg body weight per day. In terms of the quality of the meat, the combined use of biotin and the essential oils as defined above shows significant differences in the fat marbling (Shimofuri), luster, firmness and texture of the meat compared to the meat of non-treated animals.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of at least one bacterial amylase in feed for ruminant animals of the subfamily Bovinae in particular for improving milk yield, apparent digestibility of the diet fed, feedstuff dry matter disappearance, weight gain, and/or Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR). Examples of bovine animals are dairy cows and beef cattle. The invention also relates to the use of such amylases in feed and feed additives such as premix, concentrates and total mixed ration (TMR). The amylase may be used in combination with cellulase for improving milk yield and/or back fat thickness. Preferred amylases are derived from Bacillus halmapalus, licheniformis, and stearothermophilus and are preferably homologous to Bacillus stearothermophilus amylase.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for pigmenting a food or foodstuff comprising combining in a source of feed, a carotenoid ester of formula I: wherein R is methyl, C3-16-alkyl, C3-16-alkenyl, or C5-8-cycloalkyl. Further embraced by the invention are the carotenoid-enriched feeds, e.g., for poultry, fish, or crustacea, premixes for incorporation in such feeds, and beadlets containing the carotenoid ester for incorporation in such premixes. A further aspect of the present invention is carotenoid esters of formula I.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for pigmenting a food or foodstuff comprising combining in a source of feed, a carotenoid ester of formula I: 1