Agents for promoting fattening of animals and method of promoting fattening

Abstract

Agents for promoting fattening of animals which contain as the active ingredient(s) at least one member selected from among acids originating in hexoses, non-toxic salts thereof and intramolecular esterification products thereof; and a method of promoting fattening by using these agents.

1 - 17 . (canceled)  
   
   
       18 . A composition comprising at least one compound selected from the group consisting of gluconic acid, allonic acid, talonic acid, mannoic acid, galactonic acid, idalic acid, gularic acid, mannaric acid, glucaric acid, glucono delta lactone, and glucono gamma lactone, and non-toxic salts thereof, and at least one enterobacterium selected from the group consisting of  Megasphaera  and  Mitsuokella.    
   
   
       19 . The composition of  claim 18 , comprising gluconic acid.  
   
   
       20 . The composition of  claim 18 , comprising glucono delta lactone.  
   
   
       21 . The composition of  claim 18 , comprising at least one non-toxic salt of gluconic acid selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal salt, an alkaline earth metal salt, and a transition metal salt.  
   
   
       22 . The composition of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one non-toxic salt of gluconic acid is selected from the group consisting of sodium gluconate, potassium gluconate, calcium gluconate, magnesium gluconate, copper gluconate, iron gluconate, and zinc gluconate.  
   
   
       23 . The composition of  claim 18 , comprising sodium gluconate.  
   
   
       24 . The composition of  claim 18 , comprising calcium gluconate.  
   
   
       25 . The composition of  claim 18 , comprising Megasphaera.  
   
   
       26 . The composition of  claim 18 , comprising  Megasphaera elsdenii.    
   
   
       27 . The composition of  claim 18 , comprising  Mitsuokella.    
   
   
       28 . The composition of  claim 18 , comprising  Mitsuokella multiacidus.    
   
   
       29 . The composition of  claim 18 , further comprising at least one additive selected from the group consisting of at least one antibacterial agent, at least one antifungal agent, at least one antihelminthic agent, at least one antioxidant, at least one dye, at least one flavoring, at least one seasoning, and at least one enzyme.  
   
   
       30 . The composition of  claim 18 , further comprising an at least one vehicle selected from the group consisting of lactose, sucrose, glucose, corn starch, gelatin, starch, water, glycerin, fatty oil, and sorbitol.  
   
   
       31 . The composition of  claim 18 , formulated as a liquid.  
   
   
       32 . The composition of  claim 18 , formulated as a solid.  
   
   
       33 . The composition of  claim 18 , further comprising at least one feed selected from the group consisting of corn, rice, barley, wheat, milo, soybean refuse, cereal bran, defatted rice bran, fish meal, skim milk, dry whey, oil, fat, alfalfa, meal, northern-sea meal, soybean oil, soybean fat, dried pure beef tallow, wheat flour, rapeseed oil, rapeseed fat, feather meal, animal oil, animal fat, calcium phosphate, corn gluten meal, molasses, corn germ meal, calcium carbonate, tricalcium phosphate, sodium chloride, choline chloride, at least one vitamin, at least one minor inorganic salt, and at least one living microorganism.