Pellets containing active ingredients protected against degradation in the rumen of ruminants

A method of medicinal or nutritional supplementation of ruminants comprising:

• adding to pellet feed for ruminants pellets containing granules of a protected active principle, each of the granules having an average diameter of 0.3 to 5 mm and comprising an admixture including
• (a) an active principle selected from the group consisting of vitamins, amino acids and drugs and a protective agent which protects the active principle from degradation prior to contact in the abomasum, and
• (b) a binding agent capable of being solubilized, crosslinked or melted, said pellets being of a size, density and shape such that said pellets can be homogeneously maintained in admixture with the pellet feed,
• whereby the active principle is not degraded prior to contact in the abomasum.

A method of forming a pellet for medicinal or nutritional supplementation of ruminants comprising the steps of:

• (1) making a mixture including
• (a) granules of a protected active principle, each of the granules having an average diameter of 0.3 to 5 mm and comprising an active principle selected from the group consisting of vitamins, amino acids and drugs and a protective agent comprising a pH-sensitive copolymer or an enzymatically-degradable agent which protects the active principle from degradation in the rumen, and
• (b) a binding agent capable of being solubilized, crosslinked or melted;
• and
• (2) forming the mixture, in the absence of steam, into a pellet containing said granules of protected active principle and said binding agent,
• said pellet being of a size, density and shape such that a plurality of said pellets can be homogeneously maintained in admixture with ruminant pellet feed.

Pellets for use in the nutritional or medicinal supplementation of ruminants, said pellets having been produced by a process comprising the steps of:

• (1) making a mixture containing
• (a) granules of a protected active principle, each of the granules having an average diameter of 0.3 to 5 mm and comprising an active principle selected from the group consisting of vitamins, amino acids and drugs and a protective agent which protects the active principle from degradation in the rumen, and
• (b) a binding agent capable of being solubilized, crosslinked or melted;
• and
• (2) forming the mixture into pellets containing said granules of protected active principle and binding agent without degradation of the protected active principle,
• said pellets being of a size, density and shape such that said pellets can be homogeneously maintained in admixture with ruminant pellet feed.

Pellets for use in the nutritional or medicinal supplementation of ruminants comprising:

• granules of protected active principle, each of the granules having an average diameter of 0.3 to 5 mm and comprising:
• (i) an active principle selected from the group consisting of vitamins, amino acids and drugs, and (ii) a protective agent for protecting the active principle against degradation in the rumen and subsequently releasing the active principle in the abomasum or the intestine;
• and
• a binding agent capable of being solubilized, crosslinked or melted;
• wherein said pellets have been obtained by mixing the granules of protected active principle and the binding agent, said pellets being cylindrically shaped, 4-20 mm long and 4-10 mm in diameter, whereby said pellets can be homogeneously maintained in admixture with ruminant pellet feed.

Pellets for use in the nutritional or medicinal supplementation of ruminants comprising:

• granules of protected active principle, each of the granules having an average diameter of 0.3 to 5 mm and comprising an active principle selected from the group consisting of vitamins, amino acids and drugs, and a protective agent which protects the active principle from degradation in the rumen of ruminants;
• an active ingredient unprotected against degradation in the rumen;
• and
• a binding agent admixed with said granules of protected active principle and said active ingredient, wherein said binding agent is a binding agent capable of being solubilized, crosslinked or melted;
• wherein said pellets are of a size, density and shape such that said pellets can be homogeneously maintained in admixture with ruminant pellet feed.