Fodder for Ruminants

The invention is directed to the use of N-acylmethionine in fodder for ruminants, e.g. cattle, sheep, goats, deer or antelope.

It is known to add aminoacids to provender. Thus, for example, methionine effects a considerable qualitative improvement in the protein component of fodder in which this aminoacid is not present in sufficient amount for the animal, i.e. in which the protein component is poor in methionine. In this case the addition of methionine causes a considerable improvement in the growth rate and in the value of the fodder. This result, however, until now has only been produced with monogastric animals.

The feeding or nutrient physiology of ruminants differs substantially from that of monogastric animals. It is known that ruminants have several stomachs. The first, by far the greatest stomach, the pauch, contains a specific microflora of bacteria and protozoa which breakdown added synthetic aminoacids before they are utilizable for the animal (J. Animal Sc. Vol. 14(1955) pages 132-136). Besides there are found in the pauch enzyme systems which can synthesize aminoacids from ammonia and fatty acids or carbon compounds. As appears from experiments it is actually possible to nourish ruminants without any nutriment protein if there is fed sufficient nonprotein nitrogen, for example, urea and carbon compounds (see, for example, Annal Sci. Fennicae A II 141 (1968), pages 3-21). For these reasons it is not expected that a qualitative improvement of the fodder of ruminants would occur by addition of aminoacids. This has been confirmed by experiments (J. Animal Sci. Vol. 9(1950661; Vol. 10(1951) 439-446 and 1052; Vol. 14(1955) 132-136).

It has now been found that N-acylmethionines of the formula: ##STR1## in which R is a saturated or unsaturated, straight or branched chain hydrocarbon radical, are suitable for use for fodder. Surprisingly the addition of this kind of compound as a fodder additive results in a considerable improvement, for example, in the growth of wool in sheep. Preferred are N-acyl-methionines that have 7 to 21 carbon atoms in the carbon radical. Examples of the preferred additives are N-stearoyl-methionine, N-oleoylmethionine, N-decanoyl-methionine, N-isodecanoyl methionine, N-pelargonoyl-methionine, N-lauroyl-methionine, N-palmitoylmethionine, N-arachidoyl-methionine, N-behenoyl-methionine, N-delta-9-decylenoyl-methionine, N-palmitoleoyl-methionine, N-linoleoyl-methionine, N-myristoyl-methionine, N-eleostearoylmethionine, N-cetoleoyl-methionine, N-octenoyl-methionine and N-capryloyl-methionine. Other but less preferred N-acyl compounds are N-acetyl-methionine, N-pivaloyl-methionine, N-acryloylmethionine, N-propionyl methionine, N-caproyl-methionine, N-butyryl-methionine, N-valeroyl-methionine and N-isovaleroylmethionine.

In addition to sheep, as stated, the N-acyl-methionine can be added to the fodder of other ruminants such as cattle, goats, deer and antelope, for example.

The N-acyl-methionine compounds used in the invention can be made by known methods, for example, by reaction of methionine with the corresponding acid chloride, e.g. stearoyl chloride, oleoyl chloride, decanoyl chloride, capryloyl chloride, caproyl chloride or acetyl chloride in the presence of alkali, e.g. sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide.

The N-acyl-methionines can be added directly to fodder. Generally they are admixed with customary fodders or provender or they can be used with premixtures such as vitamin and mineral mixtures or they can be used with urea-fodder.

The amount of N-acyl-methionine employed can vary within wide ranges. Usually based on the entire amount of fodder for one day the amount of N-acyl-methionine being such as to provide methionine is about 0.01 to 5% based on the dry material of the fodder, preferably about 0.03 to 1%.

Unless otherwise indicated, all parts and percentages are by weight.

The experimental animals were 12 male sheep (Merinos). As the base fodder there was used for each animal daily 1000 to 1300 grams of a mixture of 10.8% grass meal, 44.9% oat shell meal, 42.9% tapioca, 0.86% urea and 0.54% mineral mixture for cattle. In a preliminary period of 5 weeks all of the animals were supplied exclusively with this base fodder. In a subsequent preminary period of 5 weeks they were foddered in three different groups containing 4 animals each:

Group I animals 1 to 4, only base fodder.

Group II animals 5 to 8, daily addition of 5.0 grams of methionine to the base fodder.

Group III animals 9 to 12, daily addition of 13.9 grams of N-stearoyl-methionine to the base fodder.

At the end of the preliminary and the main periods the yield of wool on each animal was determined on an indicated shearing of fleece before beginning the experiment. The results are set forth in the following table:

The process was the same as in example 1 except that in the primary period the 4 animals in Group III were given daily 13.9 grams of N-oleoyl-methionine instead of N-stearoyl-methionine as the base fodder additive.

The process was the same as in example 1 except that in the primary period the 4 animals in Group III were given daily 10.2 grams of N-decanoyl-methionine instead of N-stearoylmethionine as the fodder additive