Animal feed products containing percarbonate and methods of feeding same

Abstract

Methods of feeding livestock animals involve feeding the livestock animals a milk replacer comprising percarbonate. The milk replacer has a pH of about 5.8 and the concentration of percarbonate is effective to reduce bacterial growth within the milk replacer product. The milk replacer can also include at least one added organic acid.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of feeding young animals, the method comprising:
 feeding the young animals a milk replacer comprising percarbonate and an organic acid and having a pH of about 5.8,   wherein the milk replacer exhibits reduced growth of Salmonella over a period of about 2 to about 8 hours.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the young animals comprise dairy calves, chicks, piglets, or foals. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the percarbonate is present in the milk replacer at a concentration of about 0.5 lbs. per ton to about 20 lbs. per ton by dry weight of the milk replacer. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the milk replacer comprises a non-milk protein. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the young animals are fed the milk replacer between birth and about 7 weeks of age. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the young animals are fed a daily dose of the milk replacer. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising feeding the young animals a starter feed ad libitum. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the milk replacer does not contain lactoperoxidase. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising admixing the percarbonate with a mixture of milk replacer powder and water to form the milk replacer. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the mixture is contaminated with Salmonella. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising admixing the organic acid with a mixture of milk replacer powder and water to form the milk replacer. 
     
     
         12 . A milk replacer composition comprising:
 an admixture comprising a milk replacer powder, an organic acid, and a concentration of percarbonate,   wherein, upon mixing with water, the admixture forms an aqueous milk replacer product having a pH of about 5.8 and exhibiting reduced growth of Salmonella over a period of about 2 to about 8 hours.   
     
     
         13 . The milk replacer composition of  claim 12 , wherein the concentration of percarbonate is about 0.5 lbs. per ton to about 20 lbs. per ton by dry weight of the milk replacer powder. 
     
     
         14 . The milk replacer composition of  claim 12 , wherein the milk replacer powder comprises at least one non-milk protein. 
     
     
         15 . The milk replacer composition of  claim 14 , wherein the non-milk protein accounts for about 50 wt % to about 65 wt % of a total protein content of the milk replacer powder. 
     
     
         16 . The milk replacer composition of  claim 12 , wherein the milk replacer powder does not contain lactoperoxidase. 
     
     
         17 . The milk replacer composition of  claim 12 , further comprising at least one organic acid. 
     
     
         18 . The milk replacer composition of  claim 12 , wherein the milk replacer powder does not contain a supplemental palatant composition. 
     
     
         19 . The milk replacer composition of  claim 12 , wherein the milk replacer powder comprises a fat content of about 8 wt % to about 31 wt % by dry weight. 
     
     
         20 . The milk replacer composition of  claim 12 , wherein the milk replacer powder comprises a protein content of about 18 wt % to about 30 wt % by dry weight.