Enzyme Granules for Animal Feed

Abstract

The present invention is related to feed granules comprising a feed enzyme and a zinc salt of an organic acid.

1 . A granule suitable for feed comprising an enzyme and a zinc salt of an organic acid. 
   
   
       2 . The granule of  claim 1 , wherein the granule is steam treated. 
   
   
       3 . The granule of  claim 1 , wherein the enzyme and the zinc salt of an organic acid are present as a mixture in the granule. 
   
   
       4 . A granule in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the granule comprises a core and a layer surrounding the core. 
   
   
       5 . The granule of  claim 4 , wherein the enzyme and the zinc salt of an organic acid is present in the core of the granule. 
   
   
       6 . The granule of  claim 4 , wherein the enzyme and the zinc salt of an organic acid is present in the layer surrounding the core. 
   
   
       7 . A granule in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein the amount of zinc salt of an organic acid added is between 0.01-15% w/w based on the enzyme core. 
   
   
       8 . A granule in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein the amount of zinc salt of an organic acid added is between 0.05-10% w/w on the enzyme core. 
   
   
       9 . A granule in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the zinc salt of an organic acid is selected from the group consisting of zinc salts of citrate, malate, maleate, malonate, methionate, succinate, lactate, formate, acetate, butyrate, propionate, benzoate, tartrate, ascorbate, gluconate, chelates of zinc or combinations thereof. 
   
   
       10 . The granule according to  claim 9 , wherein the chelates of zinc is selected from the group consisting of zinc methionine chelate, zinc lysine chelate and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       11 . The granule according to  claim 9 , wherein the zinc salt of an organic acid is selected from the group consisting of zinc acetate, zinc citrate and zinc methionine. 
   
   
       12 . A granule in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the enzyme is selected from the group consisting of amylases, phosphotases, phytases, cellulases, β-glucanases, hemicellulases, proteases, peptidases, galatosidases, pectinases, esterases, lipases, glucose oxidase and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       13 . A granule in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the enzyme is selected from the group consisting of amylases, proteases, beta-glucanases, phytases, xylanases, phospholipases, glucose oxidases and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       14 . A granule in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the enzyme is food grade. 
   
   
       15 . A granule in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the zinc salt of an organic acid is food grade. 
   
   
       16 . A granule in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the granules have a particle size below 700 μm. 
   
   
       17 . A granule in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the size of the granule is between 210 and 390 μm. 
   
   
       18 . A granule in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the enzyme is thermo labile. 
   
   
       19 . A granule in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the granule comprises a salt coating. 
   
   
       20 . A granule in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the granule comprises a polymer coating. 
   
   
       21 . A granule in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the granule comprises a wax coating. 
   
   
       22 . A granule in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the granule comprises a lactic acid source. 
   
   
       23 . A process of preparing a granule in accordance with  claim 1 , comprising the steps of:
 a) preparing a core comprising a zinc salt of an organic acid and an enzyme   b) coating the core with a coating material.   
   
   
       24 . The process according to  claim 23 , wherein the granule is prepared in a mixer, a fluid bed, a fluidized spray dryer, a spray fluidizer, a spray dryer or an extruder. 
   
   
       25 . The process according to  claims 23 , wherein the zinc salt of an organic acid is added to the process as a liquid. 
   
   
       26 . The process according to  claims 23 , wherein the zinc salt of an organic acid is added as a powder. 
   
   
       27 . The process according to  claim 23 , wherein the core comprises an inert particle. 
   
   
       28 . A feed composition comprising feed components and the granule of  claim 1 . 
   
   
       29 . The feed composition of  claim 28 , wherein the feed components are selected from the group consisting of vegetable protein, fat-soluble vitamins, water soluble vitamins, trace minerals, macro minerals and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       30 . A pelletized feed composition comprising a granule of  claim 1 . 
   
   
       31 . A steam treated feed composition comprising a granule of  claim 1 . 
   
   
       32 . A method for feeding animals comprising administering the feed composition of  claim 28  to an animal. 
   
   
       33 . A method for manufacturing a feed composition comprising the steps of:
 i. mixing feed components with any of the granules of  claim 1 ,   ii. steam treating said composition (i), and   iii. pelleting said composition (ii).   
   
   
       34 . (canceled)