Food additive for ruminants based on eugenol and cinnamaldehyde

Abstract

The invention concerns a composition based on a mixture of eugenol and cinnamaldehyde, as food additive for feeding ruminants. The composition may be incorporated in a food additive or a salt block. The eugenol and the cinnamaldehyde may be natural or identical natural constituents. Administering the composition of the food additive increases meat production and milk production.

1 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A method for increasing the efficiency of food utilization by ruminant animals comprising:
 adding a mixture comprising eugenol from a first source and cinnamaldehyde from a second source different from the first source to a feed ration of an animal in an appropriate amount to increase the digestibility of the feed ration, wherein the mixture is predominantly the eugenol; and   feeding the feed ration to the animal.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein a ratio of the respective amounts by weight of the eugenol from the first source and the cinnamaldehyde from the second source is between 1 and 1.8. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the mixture of the eugenol from the first source and the cinnamaldehyde from the second source is present in a ratio of about 1 ppm to 20 ppm of the eugenol and the cinnamaldehyde in relation to dry matter of the feed rations of the animal. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the mixture of the eugenol from the first source and the cinnamaldehyde from the second source is at least one of adsorbed and absorbed on a particulate solid support. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the mixture of the eugenol from the first source and the cinnamaldehyde from the second source is at least one of adsorbed and absorbed at a ratio of at least 5% by weight on a particulate solid support, the particulate solid support containing a substrate selected from the group consisting of silicas, cellulose, salts, calcium carbonates, alginates, sawdust, gum, and hydrogenated fats. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the mixture of the eugenol from the first source and the cinnamaldehyde from the second source is incorporated into the feed ration of the animal. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the feed ration comprises:
 at least 50% cereals; and   at least 20% of flour mill by-products.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the feed ration comprises:
 0.1% to 1% by weight of a vitamin mixture;   20% to 80% by weight of mineral salts;   20% to 80% by weight of protein; and   20% to 80% by weight of flour mill by-products.   
     
     
         27 . A method of increasing milk production, in a dairy cow comprising:
 mixing a combination comprising eugenol and cinnamaldehyde with a feed, wherein the amount, of the eugenol and the cinnamaldehyde in the mixture is predominantly the eugenol; and   feeding the feed to the dairy cow such that the dairy cow receives between 20 to 400 mg of the combination of the eugenol and the cinnamaldehyde per day.   
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 27 , further comprising placing the combination of the eugenol and the cinnamaldehyde on a solid, particulate substrate. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 27 , wherein the combination of the eugenol and the cinnamaldehyde is liquid. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the feed comprises;
 at least 50% cereals; and   at least 20% of flour mill by-products.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the feed comprises:
 0.1% to 1% by weight of a vitamin mixture;   20% to 80% by weight of mineral salts;   20% to 80% by weight of protein; and   20% to 80% by weight of flour mill by-products.