Process for producing a pufa-containing biomass which has high cell stability

Abstract

According to the invention, it was found that culturing of PUFA-producing cells in a content of sulphate makes it possible to obtain a biomass having high cell stability and thus PUFAs protected against oxidation in a sustained manner, which biomass can in addition be advantageously further processed into a feedstuff.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A PUFA-containing biomass, comprising a sulphate content, based on the dry biomass, of 25 to 60 g/kg, and wherein the biomass contains cells of the taxon Labyrinthulomycetes. 
     
     
         17 . The PUFA-containing biomass of  claim 16 , wherein said biomass has a sulphate content, based on the dry biomass, of 25 to 40 g/kg. 
     
     
         18 . The PUFA-containing biomass of  claim 16 , wherein said biomass has a sulphate content, based on the dry mass, of 25 to 30 g/kg. 
     
     
         19 . The PUFA-containing biomass of  claim 16 , wherein the cells of the taxon Labyrinthulomycetes (Labyrinthulea, slime nets) are of the family Thraustochytriaceae. 
     
     
         20 . The PUFA-containing biomass of  claim 19 , wherein the cells are of a genus selected from the group consisting of:  Althomia; Aplanochytrium; Elnia; Japonochytrium; Schizochytrium; Thraustochytrium; Aurantiochytrium; Oblongichytrium;  and  Ulkenia.    
     
     
         21 . The PUFA-containing biomass of  claim 20 , wherein the cells are of the species  Aurantiochytrium limacinum.    
     
     
         22 . A feedstuff, comprising a PUFA-containing biomass, wherein said PUFA-containing biomass has a sulphate content, based on the dry mass, of 25 to 60 g/kg, and wherein the biomass contains cells of the taxon Labyrinthulomycetes. 
     
     
         23 . The feedstuff of  claim 22 , comprising the following properties:
 a) a total protein content of 30 to 60% by weight;   b) a total fat content of 15 to 35% by weight;   c) a total starch content of at most 25% by weight;   d) a content of biomass of 2 to 22% by weight.   
     
     
         24 . The feedstuff of  claim 23 , wherein the biomass comprises cells of a genus selected from the group consisting of:  Althomia; Aplanochytrium; Elnia; Japono - chytrium; Schizochytrium; Thraustochytrium; Aurantiochytrium; Oblongichytrium;  and  Ulkenia.    
     
     
         25 . The feedstuff of  claim 24 , wherein the biomass comprises cells of the species  Aurantiochytrium limacinum.    
     
     
         26 . The feedstuff of  claim 23 , comprising one or more of the following properties:
 e) a polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content of 2 to 12% by weight;   f) an omega-3 fatty acid content of 1 to 6% by weight;   g) a DHA content of 0.5 to 3% by weight.   
     
     
         27 . The feedstuff of  claim 23 , comprising at least two of the following properties:
 e) a polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content of 2 to 12% by weight;   f) an omega-3 fatty acid content of 1 to 6% by weight;   g) a DHA content of 0.5 to 3% by weight.   
     
     
         28 . The feedstuff of  claim 23 , comprising all of the following properties:
 g) a polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content of 2 to 12% by weight;   f) an omega-3 fatty acid content of 1 to 6% by weight;   g) a DHA content of 0.5 to 3% by weight.   
     
     
         29 . The feedstuff of  claim 22 , comprising the following properties:
 a) a total protein content of 40 to 50% by weight;   b) a total fat content of 20 to 30% by weight;   c) a total starch content of 5 to 15% by weight;   d) a content of Thraustochytriaceae biomass of 10 to 16% by weight.   
     
     
         30 . The feedstuff of  claim 29 , comprising one or more of the following properties:
 e) a polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content of 3 to 10% by weight;   f) an omega-3 fatty acid content of 2 to 4.5% by weight;   g) a DHA content of 1.2 to 2.2%.   
     
     
         31 . The feedstuff of  claim 29 , comprising at least two of the following properties:
 e) a polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content of 3 to 10% by weight;   f) an omega-3 fatty acid content of 2 to 4.5% by weight;   g) a DHA content of 1.2 to 2.2%.   
     
     
         32 . The feedstuff of  claim 29 , comprising all of the following properties:
 e) a polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content of 3 to 10% by weight;   f) an omega-3 fatty acid content of 2 to 4.5% by weight;   g) a DHA content of 1.2 to 2.2%.   
     
     
         33 . The feedstuff of  claim 32 , wherein the biomass comprises cells of a genus selected from the group consisting of:  Althomia; Aplanochytrium; Elnia; Japono - chytrium; Schizochytrium; Thraustochytrium; Aurantiochytrium; Oblongichytrium;  and  Ulkenia.    
     
     
         34 . The feedstuff of  claim 32 , wherein the biomass comprises cells of the species  Aurantiochytrium limacinum.    
     
     
         35 . A method for farming animals, comprising feeding said animals the feedstuff of  claim 22 .