# US 8,540,981 B1 · Bacillus strains useful against calf pathogens and scours > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,540,981 B1 - Document ID: US8540981B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 12/498,734 - Filed: 2009-07-07 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2008-07-07 - Assignees: Dupont Nutrition Biosciences Aps - Applicants: Christopher A. Wehnes; Keith J. Mertz; Mari Ellen Davis; Alexandra Helena Smith; Thomas G. Rehberger - Inventors: Christopher A. Wehnes; Keith J. Mertz; Mari Ellen Davis; Alexandra Helena Smith; Thomas G. Rehberger - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540981B1 ## CPC - C12N 1/205: Bacterial isolates - A23K 10/18: of live microorganisms - A23K 50/10: for ruminants - A23K 50/60: for weanlings - A23V 2002/00: Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs - A23V 2200/3204: Probiotics, living bacteria to be ingested for action in the digestive tract - C12R 2001/125: Bacillus subtilis {; Hay bacillus; Grass bacillus} - C12N: MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA (microbiological testing media C12Q1/00) - A23K: FODDER - A23V: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND LACTIC OR PROPIONIC ACID BACTERIA USED IN FOODSTUFFS OR FOOD PREPARATION - C12R: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES C12C - C12Q, RELATING TO MICROORGANISMS ## Abstract The present invention relates to a composition including Bacillus subtilis strains 3A-P4 ATCC Accession No. PTA-6506, 22C-P1 ATCC Accession No. PTA-6508, and LSSA01 NRRL Accession No. NRRL B-50104. The present invention also relates to a method of administering an effective amount of a composition comprising Bacillus subtilis strains 3A-P4 ATCC Accession No. PTA-6506, 22C-P1 ATCC Accession No. PTA-6508, and LSSA01 NRRL Accession No. NRRL B-50104 to a calf. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising administering an effective amount of a composition comprising Bacillus subtilis strains 3A-P4 ATCC Accession No. PTA-6506, 22C-P1 ATCC Accession No. PTA-6508, and LSSA01 NRRL Accession No. NRRL B-50104 to a calf. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the composition is administered with a milk replacer at a rate of about 2×109 CFU/calf/day, the CFU being a total microbial count of all of the Bacillus subtilis strains. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the composition is administered with an electrolyte solution at a rate of about 3×109 CFU/dose, the CFU being a total microbial count of all of the Bacillus subtilis strains. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the composition is administered until the calf is no longer scouring or until dehydration in the calf no longer persists. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein, when compared to calves not administered the composition, administration of the composition to the calf provides at least one of controlling pathogens in the calf and controlling scours in the calf. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein administration of the composition improves weight gain of the calf when compared to calves not administered the composition. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein administration of the composition inhibits at least one of Clostridium, E. coli, and Salmonella pathogens in the calf when compared to calves not administered the composition. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the pathogens are Clostridium pathogens. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the pathogens are C. perfringens type A pathogens. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein administration of the composition reduces treatments in the calf when compared to calves not administered the composition. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein administration of the composition reduces total treatment expenditures for the calf when compared to calves not administered the composition. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein administration of the composition reduces fecal shedding of presumptive Clostridium in the calf when compared to calves not administered the composition. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein administration of the composition enhances immune development in the calf when compared to calves not administered the composition. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein, when compared to calves not administered the composition, administration of the composition provides at least one of increasing weight gain in the calf and reducing injectible treatment expenditures. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising modifying the Bacillus strains in the composition administered to the calf based on a change in pathogenic strains to which the calf is exposed. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the composition is administered from birth. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein, when compared to calves not administered the composition, administration of the composition provides at least one of reducing presumptive C. perfringens shedding, increasing weight gain, reducing medication costs, reducing inflammatory response, and maturing the immune system by stimulating the immune system. ### Claim 18 A method of providing a benefit to a calf, the method comprising: orally administering an effective amount of a composition comprising Bacillus subtilis strains 3A-P4 ATCC Accession No. PTA-6506, 22C-P1 ATCC Accession No. PTA-6508, and LSSA01 NRRL Accession No. NRRL B-50104 to the calf, wherein the benefit is selected from at least one of increased weight gain and decreased injectible treatment expenditures when compared to calves not administered the composition, and wherein the composition is administered with a milk replacer at a rate of about 2×109 CFU/calf/day, the CFU being a total microbial count of all of the Bacillus subtilis strains, thereby providing the benefit to the calf. ### Claim 19 A method of providing a benefit to a calf, the method comprising: orally administering an effective amount of a composition comprising Bacillus subtilis strains 3A-P4 ATCC Accession No. PTA-6506, 22C-P1 ATCC Accession No. PTA-6508, and LSSA01 NRRL Accession No. NRRL B-50104 to the calf, wherein the benefit is selected from at least one of reducing presumptive C. perfringens shedding, increasing weight gain, reducing medication costs, reducing inflammatory response, and maturing the immune system by stimulating the immune system when compared to calves not administered the composition, and wherein the composition is administered with an electrolyte solution at a rate of about 3×109 CFU/dose, the CFU being a total microbial count of all of the Bacillus subtilis strains, thereby providing the benefit to the calf.