Methods and compositions for increasing feed intake of animals using tertiary alcohols

Abstract

New methods and compositions for inducing polyphagia in growing or fattening meat producing animals such as sheep or cattle are described using as active ingredients tertiary alcohols or the corresponding carbamates, ureas, oxyureas or ureides. The active ingredients are used most usefully at sub-hypnotic quantities admixed in animal feed.

We claim: 
     
       1. The method of increasing feed intake in an immature ruminant animal subject comprising administering orally or by implant to said animal subject a quantity effective for increasing feed intake but nontoxic to the subject of a tertiary alcohol having the formula: RR'R"CX   in which:   R is lower alkyl of from 1-9 carbons or hydroxy lower alkyl of from 1-9 carbons;   R' is lower alkyl of from 1-9 carbons, fluoro, bromo or chloro;   R" is lower alkyl of from 1-9 carbons, lower alkenyl of from 2-9 carbons.Iadd., lower alkynyl of from 2-9 carbons .Iaddend.and, when R and R' are lower alkyl or hydrogen, .Iadd.R" is .Iaddend.phenyl; and   X is --OH.   
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1 in which R, R' and R" are lower alkyl of from 1-5 carbons. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim 1 in which the animal is sheep or cattle. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim 2 in which the subject animal is sheep or cattle. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim 1 in which the internal administration is orally and admixed with the animal feed. 
     
     
       6. The method of claim 5 in which the quantity of tertiary alcohol derivative is from about 10 g.-2 kg. per ton of feed. 
     
     
       7. The method of claim 5 in which the quantity of tertiary alcohol derivative is about 50 mg.-10 g. per animal subject. 
     
     
       8. A ruminant animal feed composition comprising an animal feed carrier supplemented by a quantity of active ingredient effective for increasing feed intake but nontoxic to the animal, said active ingredient being a tertiary alcohol derivative of the formula: RR'R"CX   in which:   R is lower alkyl of from 1-9 carbons or hydroxy lower alkyl of from 1-9 carbons;   R' is lower alkyl of from 1-9 carbons, fluoro, bromo or chloro;   R" is lower alkyl of from 1-9 carbons, lower alkenyl of from 2-9 carbons.Iadd., lower alkynyl of from 2-9 carbons .Iaddend.and, when R and R' are lower alkyl or hydrogen R" is phenyl; and   X is --OH.   
     
     
       9. The feed composition of claim 8 in which the said active ingredient is a tertiary alcohol of the formula: RR'R"COH   in which R, R' and R" are lower alkyl of 1-5 carbons.   
     
     
       10. The feed composition of claim 1 in which the said composition is a whole feed adapted for fattening immature ruminant animals. 
     
     
       11. The feed composition of claim 8 in which the said composition is a premix composition adapted for mixing uniformly throughout a whole animal feed adapted for fattening immature ruminant animals. 
     
     
       12. The feed composition of claim 10 in which the active ingredient is present within the range of from about 100 g. to 2 kg. per ton of feed. 
     
     
       13. The feed composition of claim 11 in which the active ingredient is present at the rate of about 1-75 percent by weight. 
     
     
       14. The feed composition of claim 9 in which the active ingredient is present within the range of from about 100 g. to 2 kg. per ton of feed.