Composition preventing necrotic enteritis in galloanserans

Abstract

The present invention refers to the use of a glycerol ester composition of at least one short chain fatty acid for preventing and/or alleviating necrotic enteritis in the gastric tract of galloanserans. The glycerol ester composition comprises at least 75% by weight of glyceryl tributyrate, below 25% by weight of glyceryl dibutyrate and below 8% by weight of glyceryl monobutyrate. The present invention also refers to the use of said composition for modulating the gut flora of galloanserans.

1 . A glycerol ester composition comprising at least 75% by weight of glyceryl tributyrate, below 25% by weight of glyceryl dibutyrate and below 8% by weight of glyceryl monobutyrate, for use in prevention and/or alleviation of necrotic enteritis in the gastric tract of galloanserans. 
     
     
         2 . A glycerol ester composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said necrotic enteritis is caused by  Clostridium perfringens.    
     
     
         3 . A glycerol ester composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said galloanserans are galliformes. 
     
     
         4 . A glycerol ester composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said galloanserans are anseriforms. 
     
     
         5 . A glycerol ester composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said glycerol ester composition comprises at least 80% by weight of glyceryl tributyrate, below 20% by weight of glyceryl dibutyrate and below 5% by weight of glyceryl monobutyrate. 
     
     
         6 . A glycerol ester composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said glycerol ester composition comprises at least 85% by weight of glyceryl tributyrate, below 15% by weight of glyceryl dibutyrate and below 4% by weight of glyceryl monobutyrate. 
     
     
         7 . A glycerol ester composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said glycerol ester composition comprises at least 90% by weight of glyceryl tributyrate, below 10% by weight of glyceryl dibutyrate and below 2.5% by weight of glyceryl monobutyrate. 
     
     
         8 . A glycerol ester composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the amount of free butyric acid in said glycerol ester composition is below 1% by weight. 
     
     
         9 . A glycerol ester composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the amount of free butyric acid in said glycerol ester composition is below 0.5% by weight. 
     
     
         10 . A glycerol ester composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the amount of free butyric acid in said glycerol ester composition is below 0.2% by weight. 
     
     
         11 . A glycerol ester composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said glycerol ester composition is adsorbed on a carrier, such as a silica carrier, thereby allowing said glycerol ester composition to be distributed as a dry product. 
     
     
         12 . A glycerol ester composition according to  claim 11 , wherein said carrier comprises porous silica particles with an average particle size of 20-70 μm. 
     
     
         13 . A glycerol ester composition according to  claim 11 , wherein said glycerol ester composition is adsorbed on silica particles in a weight ratio of 50-80% glycerol ester and 20-50% silica particles. 
     
     
         14 . A glycerol ester composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said glycerol ester composition is fed to said galloanserans in an amount of between 0.05 to 1.5% by weight of the galloanserans' daily feed ration. 
     
     
         15 . A glycerol ester composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said glycerol ester composition is fed to said galloanserans in an amount of between 0.1 to 1.0% by weight of the galloanserans' daily feed ration. 
     
     
         16 . A glycerol ester composition according to  claim 14 , wherein said amount of said glycerol ester composition is administered over time intervals of 5-10 days and wherein said amount is decreased over a 1-5 week period. 
     
     
         17 . A glycerol ester composition according to  claim 16 , wherein the decrease of said amount is 20-50% of the amount given during the previous interval. 
     
     
         18 . A glycerol ester composition according to  claim 15 , wherein said amount of said glycerol ester composition is administered over time intervals of 5-10 days and wherein said amount is decreased over a 1-5 week period. 
     
     
         19 . A glycerol ester composition according to  claim 3 , wherein said galloanserans are galliformes selected from the group consisting of chicken, turkey, grouse and pheasant. 
     
     
         20 . A glycerol ester composition according to  claim 4 , wherein said galloanserans are anseriforms selected from the group consisting of ducks, goose and swan.