EP3723497A1

EP3723497A1 - Urea supplement for animal nutrition

Info

Publication number: EP3723497A1
Application number: EP18836280.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Anca L. LAZA-KNOERR; Philippe DUMARGUE
Original assignee: Agro Innovation International SAS
Current assignee: Agro Innovation International SAS
Priority date: 2017-12-14
Filing date: 2018-12-14
Publication date: 2020-10-21
Also published as: AU2018383060A1; BR112020012053A2; CN111629603A; MA50109A1; ZA202004026B; MA50109B1; CA3086151A1; US11653678B2; WO2019115978A1; MX2020006186A; US20200296999A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a mineral dietary supplement for ruminants, comprising an urea-based organic-inorganic complex and various clays for improving the performance of the animal as a result of the delayed release of urea in the rumen. The clays comprise at least one fibrous clay and a non-fibrous clay, preferably attapulgite and montmorillonite.

Description

UREA COMPLEMENTATION FOR ANIMAL NUTRITION

The present invention relates to an organic-inorganic complex and a dietary supplement for ruminant based on urea and clays to improve the performance of the animal, such as daily weight increase or milk production. This dietary supplement may optionally contain zeolite.

PRIOR ART

The dietary nitrogen is partly in protein form and for another in non-protein form. This last fraction consists essentially of amino acids and free amides.

Urea supplementation is common in ruminants fed a diet rich in cereals. Urea is transformed by the bacteria present in the rumen, which transforms it into proteins, which are then digested by the animal that uses it as a source of amino acids.

Various inorganic compounds have been associated with urea or other nitrogen correctors to modify their properties or effects. This is particularly the case for zeolites and clays. These inorganic compounds can for example slow down the release of urea in the body, absorb the ammonia produced in excessive amounts in a diet highly dosed soluble nitrogen, or serve as a binder to shape the urea pellets.

In the present invention, it is not a question of administering urea, then a mixture of minerals intended to adsorb ammonium in the rumen, but to administer a pre-intercalated urea in a mineral complex, to ensure its gradual release, and thus avoid the excessive formation of ammonium in the rumen. Proceeding with the adsorption of urea in mineral structures makes it possible to limit or even avoid the production of ammonium, by acting upstream of this phenomenon.

Finally, the beneficial effects of clays, in particular of montmorillonite on ruminal fermentation, in particular on the volatile fatty acid profile, ammonia concentration and methanogenesis have been reported in the literature.

GB 1,533,828 has described livestock feedstuffs in the form of blocks obtained by stirring with molasses and a clay capable of absorbing the water contained in the molasses. The clay may be attapulgite, bentonite or kaolin. At the dispersion obtained, can then calcium or phosphate source minerals, vitamins, fats or urea should be added.

It has been suggested in the application CN 105475644 to supplement a lactating ewe, with a feed consisting essentially of vegetable raw materials, 1-3% urea, and 3-4% of a composite additive. The food is obtained by preparing an aqueous suspension comprising in particular sunflower seed cake, dragon fruit flower and Xueqiguo, shrimp powder, rice extract and aqueous suspension of urea. . To this suspension is then added the composite additive. The composite additive, in the form of granules, comprises attapulgite, bentonite, and a dozen other ingredients of plant origin. In this additive, the attapulgite milled and sieved at 120-150 microns undergoes acid treatment before being added to a liquor comprising water, soy enzyme hydrolyzate, minced lemongrass, powdered leaves and a rice extract. Bentonite is added to this suspension which is dried and mixed with other plant materials to obtain the composite additive in powder form. In this food, urea is not adsorbed on clays. Although attapulgite is used in this composite additive to improve bowel function, digestibility, immunity, growth, and stress reduction in the animal, the need remains to further improve the fermentation of the animal. supplemented with urea given to livestock, especially ruminants.

However, it has been surprisingly found by the inventors that urea associated with the combination of at least one fibrous clay and at least one non-fibrous clay can form a complex which modifies the fermentation kinetics in the rumen and thus improves the zootechnical performance of the animal.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Figure 1 is a snapshot of the complex of Example 1 of the invention observed by SEM.

Figure 2 and Figure 3 show profiles of the kinetics of NH ₄ ⁺ concentration in saliva at 39 ° C and pH 6.5 for 24 hours in vitro, Examples 1, 2 and 4 to 6 of complexes. of the invention, and Optigen®16 product of the prior art.

FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are graphs representing the fermentation kinetics of complex examples 1 and 2, examples of comparative complexes UA 21, UZ 21 and UM 21, and the Optigen®16 product of the prior art. Figure 6, Figure 7, Figure 8, Figure 9, and Figure 10 represent the time course of milk production and milk quality criteria, ie, milk fat content, Protein (TP), somatic cell count and urea level in a farm where the ration was supplemented with the complex of Example 1.

Figure 11, Figure 12 and Figure 13 show the evolution over time of milk production and milk quality criteria, namely butyrous (TB) and protein (TP) levels in a farm where the ration was supplemented with the complex of Example 3.

Figure 14 shows the evolution over time of milk production in a farm supplemented with either the complex of Example 7, or with a mixture of urea and mineral powders identical to that of Example 7 and used in the same proportions, the urea is not adsorbed to the mineral particles in this mixture.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The subject of the invention is thus an organic-inorganic complex, constituted or consisting essentially of urea and mineral particles, for its use in the increase of at least one zootechnical performance of a farmed animal, characterized in that said mineral particles comprise at least one fibrous clay and at least one non-fibrous clay, and that the urea is adsorbed on the clays.

According to one embodiment, the mineral particles consist of at least one fibrous clay and at least one non-fibrous clay.

According to a particular embodiment, it is preferred that the mineral particles comprise the combination of at least one fibrous clay, and at least one non-fibrous clay, of which necessarily montmorillonite.

The adsorption of urea on the surface or in the interfoliar space of the clays can be observed by any method known to those skilled in the art, in particular by scanning electron microscopy, more specifically by MEB-EDX.

In one embodiment, the organic-inorganic complex consists of or consists essentially of urea and mineral particles comprising at least one attapulgite and a non-fibrous clay, the urea being adsorbed on the surface of the mineral particles, which surface may be that of their leaflets or those of their pores.

The mineral particles may consist of at least one attapulgite and at least one non-fibrous clay. The complex advantageously increases the zootechnical performance of an animal in comparison with the simple mixture of urea and mineral powders which are sources of at least one fibrous clay and at least one non-fibrous clay, a mixture in which urea is not adsorbed on the surface of clays.

A zootechnical performance of the animal within the meaning of the invention may consist of an increase in daily weight and / or an increase in milk production.

The complex of the invention makes it possible in particular to increase the dairy performance of an animal. The quantity of milk produced can be increased to constant quality. In particular, the fat content, the protein content, the somatic cell level and the urea level can be kept constant without harming the health of the liver of the animal.

The farmed animal is for example a ruminant.

The inventors have indeed found, surprisingly, that the mixture of a non-fibrous clay and a fibrous clay associated with urea, in the form of a complex administered to a ruminant, makes it possible to considerably improve the fermentation in the rumen.

The complex also helps to fight against mycotoxins, especially aflatoxins and fumonisins. Finally, it can increase the daily weight gain of farm animals.

Finally, the complex of the invention and the complement of the invention have many advantages over the various existing urea substitution products. The complex of the invention makes it possible to achieve zootechnical performances equivalent to those of the prior art by using smaller doses of urea and aluminosilicates (clays and / or zeolites.

The mineral powders are preferably natural rocks which have been extracted from the soil, and which have possibly undergone transformations such as grinding, sieving, tribomechanical activation or calcination, each of these rocks consisting essentially of a material of interest; such as fibrous clay or non-fibrous clay, the fibrous clay being preferably attapulgite and the non-fibrous clay preferably being montmorillonite. For example, bentonite is a rock containing mainly montmorillonite.

According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the mineral particles comprise, in addition to the two clays, at least one zeolite. In this embodiment, the non-fibrous clay may be montmorillonite.

The zeolite, when present, can represent between 0% and 60% by weight of the mineral particles. In the remainder of the description, the word "zeolite" may designate the mineral or the rock containing this mineral, unless otherwise stated. For example, Heulandite is a rock comprising mainly zeolite.

It has been documented that zeolites reduce the amount of excess ammonium produced in the rumen of ruminants supplemented with urea (GB 1,356,313). Zeolites have already been associated with particular clays whose complementarity has been demonstrated in the presence of ammonium. Zeolites are indeed more selective at low concentrations of available cations, and thus bind them more efficiently than clays, while the total absorption capacity of clays in ammonium exceeds that of zeolites and prolongs absorption at higher levels. concentrations. These mechanisms have been demonstrated for clay varieties such as smectites, kaolinite and attapulgite (US 5,079,201).

The advantages of using a mixture of zeolite, fibrous clay and non-fibrous clay to adsorb urea are all the more surprising since, in the prior art, only the combination of zeolite and non-fibrous clay has been described, and that the benefits of this association result from the absorption of ammonium produced in excess in the rumen, by the mineral particles. The results of the invention are also all the more surprising that the combinations of urea and zeolite on the one hand and urea and bentonite associations on the other hand were used only to improve ruminal fermentation.

The mineral particles contained in the complex of the invention preferably comprise more than 40% by weight, preferably more than 50%, or even more than 80% by weight of the mixture of clays, or of the mixture of clays and zeolite when the latter is present, knowing that the mineral particles may include water as well as other minerals that are naturally present in the rocks used to make the complex.

In a particular embodiment, the fibrous clay or the mixture of fibrous clays can represent from 10% to 70% by weight of the sum of the masses of all the clays and the mass of the zeolite, when the latter is present ; the non-fibrous clay or the mixture of the non-fibrous clays may represent from 10% to 60% by mass of the sum of the masses of all the clays and the mass of the zeolite, when the latter is present, the total of the two percentages being greater than 40%.

In one embodiment, the mineral powders consist of the combination of at least one fibrous clay, at least one non-fibrous clay and at least one zeolite so that the total mass of the mineral particles is equal to the mass of zeolite (s), fibrous clay (s) and non-fibrous clay (s).

In one embodiment in which the complex does not comprise zeolite, the sum of the masses of the fibrous and non-fibrous clays is at least equal to a value selected from the group consisting of 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90% and 95% by mass of the total mass of fibrous and non-fibrous clays. In this embodiment, the fibrous clay is preferably attapulgite and the non-fibrous clay is preferably montmorillonite.

In one embodiment in which the complex comprises zeolite, the sum of the masses of each of the two clays and the weight of the zeolite is at least equal to a value selected from the group consisting of 50%, 60%, 70 %, 80%, 90% and 95% by mass of the total mass of the mineral particles. In this embodiment, the fibrous clay is preferably attapulgite and the non-fibrous clay is preferably montmorillonite.

In a preferred embodiment, the zeolite (or the transformed rock used as a source of zeolite as specified above) is between 30% and 60% by weight, preferably between 35% and 55% by weight, more preferably between 45% and 55% by weight, and more preferably between 48% and 52% by weight, relative to the total mass of the mineral particles of zeolite, attapulgite and non-fibrous clay. In another preferred embodiment, the zeolite (or the transformed rock used as a zeolite source as specified above) represents between 0% and 60% by weight, preferably between 0% and 50% by weight, preferably still between 0% and 40% by weight, and more preferably between 0% and 35% by weight, relative to the total mass of mineral particles of fibrous clay, of non-fibrous zeolite clay.

Attapulgite (or transformed rock used as a source of attapulgite) represents for example between 10% and 50% by weight, preferably between 15% and 45% by weight, more preferably between 20% and 30% by weight, more preferably between 23% and 28% by weight, based on the total mass of the mineral particles of fibrous clay, non-fibrous clay and zeolite.

The fibrous clay preferably represents between 10% and 65% by weight of the mass of the mineral particles.

The fibrous clay, which is preferably an attapulgite, or the mineral containing it, is for example between 0% and 70% by weight, preferably between 10% and 65% by weight, more preferably between 20% and 60% by weight. mass, more preferably between 30% and 60% by weight, based on the total mass of mineral particles of fibrous clay, non-fibrous clay and zeolite ,. The fibrous clay is preferably of natural origin. Fibrous clays within the meaning of the invention are considered clays whose leaves are discontinuous and form ribbons. The main types are sepiolite and attapulgite (also called paligorskite).

Its water content, measured by any method known to those skilled in the art, may be between 10% and 25%. One of these methods is to measure moisture by loss of mass in an oven at 105 ° C to constant weight.

It can have a particle size such that the sieve refusal of 75 microns dry is less than 20%, preferably less than 15%. Its apparent density may be of the order of 0.3 to 0.6 g / cm ³ .

The fibrous clay preferably has a specific surface area of between 80 and 140 m ² / g.

The non-fibrous clay preferably represents from 10% to 60% by weight of the mass of the mineral particles.

The non-fibrous clay, which is preferably montmorillonite, or the mineral containing it may represent between 10% and 60% by weight, preferably between 20% and 50% by weight, more preferably between 25% and 45% by weight. mass, the percentages being expressed relative to the total mass of mineral particles of fibrous clay, non-fibrous clay and zeolite.

The non-fibrous clay, which is preferably montmorillonite, or the mineral containing it may represent between 10% and 35% by weight, preferably between 15% and 30% by weight, more preferably between 22% and 28% by weight. mass, the percentages being expressed relative to the total mass, attapulgite, nonfibrous clay and zeolite.

The non-fibrous clay may be selected from montmorillonite, saponite, vermiculite and kaolinite. Bentonite can be a source of montmorillonite. In one embodiment, the montmorillonite is a bentonite preferably having a moisture content of less than 15%, a swelling greater than 10 ml / g, a particle size such that less than 20% of the particles of the bentonite have a larger size. at 90 microns, and a pH of the order of 9.5.

The non-fibrous clay preferably has a cation exchange capacity (CEC) of from 2 to 150 cmol / kg, for example from 30 to 120 cmol / kg, and preferably from 40 to 100 cmol / kg. Cation exchange capacity is defined as the ability of clay to exchange cations present in the interfoliar spaces with other cations or other organic or inorganic molecules. The non-fibrous clay may advantageously have, in addition to one of the CEC values indicated above, a specific surface area of 10 to 700 m ² / g, of 400 to 600 m ² / g, or preferably of 450 to 550 m ² / g. .

The non-fibrous clay, such as montmorillonite, may advantageously have a specific surface area ranging from 450 to 550 m ² / g, and a CEC ranging from 40 to 100 cmol / kg.

A natural lamellar zeolite, for example of sedimentary origin, is preferred. The zeolite may be derived from a rock, such as, for example, Heulandite, preferably comprising at least 70% by weight, at least 75% by weight or even at least 80% by weight of clinoptilolite.

The rock used as a source of zeolite may contain in addition to clinoptilolite, clay, feldspar, mica, cristobalite and illite.

The zeolite may be a zeolite having a crystalline structure of ZSM-5 type, ZSM-11, ZSM-12, ZSM-23, ZSM-35, ZSM-38 or ZSM 48 for example. The diameter of its crystalline structure may be of the order of 0.3-0.5 nm.

The size of the zeolite particles may range from 1 micron to 250 microns; the amount of particles having a size ranging from 5 microns to 65 microns is preferably between 50% and 75% by weight, and the proportion of particles having a size of 5 microns to 125 microns, can range from 75% to 95% in bulk or from 85% to 95% by weight. The particle size distribution of the zeolite particles can be measured by any method known to those skilled in the art.

The zeolite may be derived from Chabazites, Heulandites, Stilbites or Natrolites.

The zeolite preferably has a specific surface area of between 350 and 400 m ² / g.

The zeolite is furthermore advantageously characterized by Zeta potential values of between -18 and 35 mV as a function of the pH. The Zeta potential allows an estimation of the surface charge which conditions the adsorption rate of the organic molecules. When a zeta potential is measured as a function of pH, there is a pH value for which the zeta potential is zero. The potential decreases but does not change sign as the concentration of the adsorbed ion increases.

Its water content, measured by any method known to those skilled in the art, may be less than 8%. One of these methods is to measure the loss of mass in an oven at 105 ° C to constant weight.

Its apparent density may be of the order of 0.6-0.9 g / cm ³ . It preferably has an NH ₄ ⁺ substitution capacity of the order of 20,000 mg NH ₄ ⁺ / kg at 27,000 mg NtV / kg. Finally, its cation exchange capacity is preferably greater than 60 meq / 100 gr. The specificities of the zeolite described above may correspond either to the zeolite in the organic-inorganic complex comprising urea, or to the zeolite that is used as a starting compound for preparing the organic-inorganic complex.

In one embodiment, i) the mass ratio of urea to the mixture of attapulgite, montmorillonite and zeolite in the organic-inorganic complex of the invention or ii) the mass ratio of urea to mineral powders, is between 40/60 and 80/20, preferably between 50/50 and 70/30, more preferably of the order of 60/40. The percentage of mineral powders mentioned may be the percentage of the powders that are used to make the organic-inorganic complex, or the percentage of powders that are included in the complex, if this can be measured.

The N element concentration of the mixture of urea and minerals of the mixture is advantageously between 20% and 45% or between 30% and 40%. The N element concentration of the mixture of urea and minerals of the mixture is advantageously between 10% and 40% or between 15% and 35%.

The organic-inorganic complex used in the composition of the invention can be prepared by a method known to those skilled in the art using water.

For example, an aqueous process may comprise four steps, including a step of dissolving urea, a step of suspending at least two clays in the urea solution, a filtration step followed by a step of drying step. According to one embodiment, the urea is dissolved in water at 65% urea / 35% minimum water, at a temperature of 55 ° C.-60 ° C. with stirring so as to obtain urea solution containing at least 35% by weight of water. After complete dissolution of the urea, the clays and the zeolite are added and the mixture is stirred for 30 minutes to 1 hour at a temperature of 40 ° C-50 ° C, before a filtration and drying step. The drying can be carried out in the open air at 40 ° C.

The powders can be mixed together in one or more steps so as to obtain the powder mixture, which is then introduced into a stirred reactor. The powders can also be introduced sequentially into the reactor, possibly preparing premixes of some of these powders.

According to one embodiment, the method of manufacturing an organic-inorganic complex of the invention comprises mixing urea and mineral powders comprising a source of fibrous clay, a source of non-fibrous clay and a source. of zeolite, the source of zeolite accounting for 30% 60% by weight of the mass of the mineral powders, the source of fibrous clay representing from 10% to 50% by weight of the mass of the mineral powders, the non-fibrous clay representing from 10% to 35% by mass of the mass mineral powders, and the mass ratio between urea and mineral powders being between 40/60 and 80/20.

The complex of the invention can be shaped into granules or powder. The granules can be obtained by wet granulation using any binder known to those skilled in the art.

Another object of the invention is a dietary supplement for ruminant animals or a product for feeding ruminant animals containing the organic-inorganic complex.

In the dietary supplement, fibrous clay or fibrous clays are preferably present at a minimum content of 13% by weight, whereas non-fibrous clay or non-fibrous clays are preferably present at a minimum content of 10%. in mass.

The complement may comprise, in addition to the mixture or the organic-inorganic complex described above, other ingredients selected from the group consisting of vitamins, minerals, co-products of cereal distillation with or without solubles (DDG and DDGS), concentrated cereal solubles (CDS), prebiotic fibers, probiotics, amino acids, proteins, omega 3 fatty acids, lignans, digestive enzymes, Thymus Vulgaris essential oil, chestnut extracts, Leonardite, peat, chestnut tannins, linseed, polyphenols, saponins, preferably steroidal and / or triterpenic saponins, microalgae such as chlorella or spirulina (important source of natural nitrogen in the form of essential amino acids), macroalgae or seaweed extracts.

Spirulina preferably contains 65% by weight of proteins, 15% by weight of carbohydrates, 7% by weight of lipids (linoleic acid = 8 g / kg, gamma-linolenic acid (GLA or GLA) = 10 g / kg), 7% minerals (Calcium = 10000 mg / kg, Chromium = 3 mg / kg, Copper = 12 mg / kg, Iron = 1800 mg / kg, Magnesium = 4000 mg / kg, Manganese = 50 mg / kg, Phosphorus = 8000 mg / kg, Potassium = 14000 mg / kg, Sodium = 9000 mg / kg, Zinc = 30 mg / kg, 2% by weight of fiber, amino acids (Alanine = 47 g / kg, Arginine = 43 g / kg; Aspartic acid = 61; / kg; Cystine = 6 g / kg; Glutamic acid = 91 g / kg; Glycine = 32 g / kg; Histidine = 10 g / kg; Isoleucine = 35 g / kg; Leucine = 54 g / kg Lysine = 29 g / kg, Methionine = 14 g / kg, Phenylalanine = 28 g / kg, Proline = 27 g / kg, Serine = 32 g / kg, Threonine = 32 g / kg, Tryptophan = 9 g / kg; Tyrosine = 30 g / kg; Valine = 40 g / kg), 5% by weight of vitamins (Calcium = 10000 mg / kg, Chromium = 3 mg / kg, Copper = 12 mg / kg, Iron = 1800 mg / kg, Magnesium = 4000 mg / kg; Manganese = 50 mg / kg, Phosphorus = 8000 mg / kg, Potassium = 14000 mg / kg, Sodium = 9000 mg / kg, Zinc = 30 mg / kg, and 2% by weight of water.

The dietary supplement may comprise, in addition to the complex described above, at least one mineral compound selected from the group consisting of Ca (H ₂ PO ₄ ) ₂ , CaHPO ₄ , terrestrial limestone, marine limestone, MgO, Na ₂ SO ₄ , NaHS0 ₄ , Na ₂ CO ₃ , NaHCO 3 and CaSO.

The dietary supplement may also include sugars, fats, waxes or flours.

The dietary supplement can thus be obtained by a process of granulation or compaction of the complex, with the possible addition of an aqueous solution that may contain molasses, CDS, lignosulfonates or any other binder known to those skilled in the art.

The food supplement according to the invention can be in various forms, in particular as powder, granules or blocks. The granules can be obtained by spraying an aqueous solution containing the ingredients and the complex, or alternatively by spraying an aqueous solution containing the ingredients on the complex.

The invention also relates to a composition for feeding ruminant animals comprising a mixture consisting or consisting essentially of urea and mineral powders comprising at least one zeolite, at least one attapulgite and at least one non-fibrous clay. This mixture may be in the form of a complex in which the urea is adsorbed on the surface of the clay and zeolite particles.

The invention also relates to a method of feeding ruminants, which is to supplement the daily ration of the animal with the organic-inorganic complex described above.

The mixture may consist of urea, at least one zeolite, at least one attapulgite and at least one non-fibrous clay.

The invention also relates to a method of feeding a ruminant animal which consists in giving the animal the organic-inorganic complex or the food supplement described above.

The dietary supplement or complex may be given to the animal independently of the ration or incorporated into the ration in the form of granules or powder.

The method of nutrition of a ruminant animal may consist in giving a daily ration providing the animal with 5 to 50 g / day of zeolite, 5 to 30 g / day attapulgite, 1 to 20 g / day of montmorillonite and 50 to 180 g / day of urea. It has indeed been discovered in the context of the invention that the particular combination described above makes it possible to achieve a fermentation quality equivalent to lower urea doses, or to improve the quality of the fermentation at reduced doses. urea equivalents. The quality of the fermentation is evaluated by any method known to those skilled in the art, such as the study of the quality of milk or the study of mass gain.

In a particular embodiment, the complex or complement described above is added to the daily ration of the ruminant advantageously at a rate of 50 to 250 g of composition / mixture per kilogram of ration.

This ration may include, for example, forage of all types and in all its forms (green, dehydrated, ensiled, agglomerates), forage grasses, feed grains (barley, corn, oats, wheat, sorghum, soya, rye), legumes (peas, faba beans, lupine, soya beans, alfalfa, sainfoin, clover), roots, tubers and their by-products (beetroot, beet pulp, potato, potato pulp), cabbage, rapeseed , sunflower, vegetable waste (haulms, stalks, cereal bales, wheat bran, rye bran, corn kernels, bagasse) and starches, by-products of the agri-food industry (starch, starch , ethanol, brewery, flour mill), as well as oilseed cakes (soybean meal), syrups and ammoniacal salts.

In one embodiment, the daily ration includes hay, corn silage, grass silage, cereals, oilcake, and a soluble nitrogen source.

The ruminant animal may be selected from cattle, sheep and goats. Cattle include, in particular, cows, especially dairy cows, suckler cows, heifers, calves, calves, bullocks, antelopes, beef, beef for fattening, bulls, buffaloes, yak, gayal and banteng. Sheep include sheep, sheep, ewes, poultry and lamb. Finally, goats include in particular goat, goat, kid and ibex.

According to one embodiment, it is a dairy animal such as a cow, a sheep or a goat.

The invention is illustrated by the following examples. The physicochemical parameters which are mentioned in the present application can be measured by any method known to those skilled in the art and adapted to the technical problem solved by the invention. EXAMPLES 1 to 8: Preparation of Complexes of the Invention and Comparative Complexes a) In a first step, organic-inorganic complexes according to the invention were prepared as well as complexes of the prior art.

Their composition is detailed in Tables 1, 2 and 3.

Table 1 - Composition of complexes of the invention

Table 2 - Composition of complexes of the invention

Table 3 - Composition of Comparative Complexes

The urea was dissolved in water at a temperature of 55 ° C-60 ° C with stirring to obtain a solution of urea containing at least 35% by weight of water. After complete dissolution of the urea, zeolite (brand Zeofirst®, ACTIFEED company) and clays (Attapulgite brand Clarsol® ATC-NA, company CLARIANT, and Montmorillonite brand AGRI® Bond 400, company IMERYS) were added and the resulting mixture was stirred for 30 minutes to 1 hour at a temperature of 40 ° C-50 ° C. A filtration step and a drying step in the open air at 40 ° C for 24 hours were then performed.

An organic-inorganic complex was obtained in which the urea is located in the pores of zeolites and in the clay sheets.

A snapshot of Example 1 taken by Scanning Electron Microscopy shows it (see Figure 1). b) In a second step, an addition according to the invention was prepared in the form of granules of the following composition presented in Table 4. Table 4 - Composition of Example 8 of the invention

This product was prepared by a process of wet granulation of the mixture of the different ingredients.

EXAMPLE 9: Degradation tests in saliva

The kinetics of the concentration of NH ₄ ⁺ in saliva at 39 ° C and pH 6.5 were studied for 24 hours, Examples 1, 2 and 4 to 6 of complexes of the invention.

Their kinetics were compared to that of Soybean, Beaded Urea and Optigen®16 (Alltech supplier, fat-coated urea for rumen protection).

1.1 Experimental device

The device consists of 250 ml vials containing 200 ml of buffered artificial saliva at pH 6.5. This saliva consists of:

• Buffer substances: Na ⁺ carbonate and NH ₄ ⁺

• Macro elements: Na, P, K and Mg

• Micro elements: Ca, Mn, Co and Fe

1.2 Treatments

Each product is placed in a porous paper bag allowing the solubilization of the elements of a particle size lower than 500pm. Four repetitions of each modality are placed in the same bottle of artificial saliva. The degradation of the product is monitored over 24h (30 min, 1h, 2h, 4h, 6h and 24h) in an elliptical stirring oven (set at 39 ° C and 40 rpm). Each modality has 24 sachets containing 2g of product.

After measuring the kinetics at each point in the kinetics measurement, the sachets are recovered and dried with the freeze-dryer for 24 hours before being analyzed to determine the remaining nitrogen concentration in the product.

1.3 Exploitation of the results

The analysis of the results is carried out with SAS software according to the GLM model.

1.4 Results

A first series of results is presented in Figures 2 and 3.

In Figure 2, the points of the curve of Example 1 merge with the points of the curve of Example 2.

The following figures can be observed in both figures:

Total release after 2 hours for urea

Progressive release up to 60% for Examples 1 and 2

Release less than 50% Optigen®16.

A second set of results is presented in Figure 3.

We can conclude the following elements:

Significant effect of the attapulgite dose (p = 0.0232): 40%> 25%> 35%

Significant effect of urea dose (p <0.001): 2> 1.6> 1.5

Given the results, the optimal dose of attapulgite in the invention (interesting N concentration + protection of this N on release) is 35%. Incorporation into urea is ideally 60% to provide a product rich in N for optimal controlled release.

EXAMPLE 10 Study of Fermentation in Artificial Rumen

The effect of NhV release on ruminal fermentations was quantified by measuring the 24-hour gas production rate with Examples 1 and 2 of the invention.

They were compared with that of the comparative complex examples UA 21, UZ 21 and UM 21, that of soybean, that of pearled urea, and that of the product Optigen®16 (Alltech supplier, urea coated in a fatty film for protection in the rumen). The protocol of the artificial rumen fermentation study that was followed was as follows.

1.1 Experimental device

The device consists of 50 vials of 100mL containing 60mL of inoculum based on rumen juice and buffered saliva (1: 3). This saliva consists of:

Buffer substances: Na ⁺ carbonate and NH ₄ ⁺

Macro elements: Na, P, K and Mg

Micro elements: Ca, Mn, Co and Fe

Colored indicator

Reducing solution to verify the anaerobiosis of the environment to simulate the rumen environment

This inoculum is incubated under anaerobic conditions at 39 ° C with an N-limiting substrate (6 g of straw) to simulate physiological conditions. To compensate for the supply of soluble nitrogen and to allow the bacteria to use this substrate correctly, a readily available source of energy must be provided: corn starch, at a ratio of 1/2 (urea / starch) is 0.2 g / vial.

1.2 Treatments

Each study consists of two controls, one negative without nitrogen supplementation and one positive with urea to be able to compare the different products to be tested. A minimum of four repetitions is necessary for the statistical exploitation of the results.

To determine the fermentation rate of each modality, the gas production is monitored in real time thanks to the Ankom RF registration system.

1.3 Exploitation of the results

1.4 Results

The results are shown in Figures 4 and 5. In Figure 5, the curves of Examples 1 and 2 and the curve of the Optigen®16 product were reproduced to better visualize the differences.

The curves shown comprise, over a period of 24 hours representative of the biological rhythm of the animal, one or two peaks of fermentation. A first peak corresponds to the use N of the ration and unprotected product, which is therefore immediately available: we observe this first peak in all modalities. It occurs for example around 6 hours for Examples 1 and 2, and around 4 hours for UM 21 and UZ 21.

A second peak, when it exists, corresponds to the use of N of the protected nitrogen which is progressively released. It can be visualized at about 10 hours for Example 1, around 13 hours for Example 2, and at about 17 hours for Comparative Example UA 21.

The complexes of the invention advantageously comprise two peaks which makes it possible to prolong and make more gradual the use of nitrogen.

A single peak occurs with urea since it is unprotected: the peak corresponds to the immediate release of N.

For the products comprising protected urea, such as the product Optigen®16 and the comparative complex UM 21, the peak observed corresponds to the immediate release of N. A second peak corresponding to the delayed release of urea should be observed, but this is not the case most probably because it does not occur beyond 24 hours. Urea is too protected and its release is too delayed.

The complexes of the invention are therefore more efficient than the products for which a single peak is observed because all the urea they contain is released immediately, either because the urea is too protected to be released within a reasonable time. .

Among the products generating two fermentation peaks within 24 hours, Examples 1 and 2 of the invention and Comparative Examples UA 21 and UZ 21.

The first fermentation peak of the examples of the invention occurs later than that of the comparative examples, so that the release of N available in the early hours is quantitatively more important than it occurs on a longer duration and is more progressive (see the slopes of the curves).

In addition, the second peak of the examples of the invention takes place between 10 and 13 hours approximately. They are observed much later with the comparative examples (for example after 17 hours or 18 hours).

However, it is much more beneficial to the animal that the fermentation occurs as regularly as possible and over a period of not more than 14 hours so that its chronobiological rhythm is respected. Thus, the urea and mineral powders complexes of the invention make it possible to maintain a high and leveled fermentation kinetics over a period of the order of 12 to 14 hours. This kinetic profile had never been obtained before. It improves the zootechnical performance of the animal.

The fermentation rate is stabilized over a period of about 8 hours. It progressively increases until complete consumption of the available N, then it is maintained thanks to the relay of the protected N. In the prior art, the peaks observed are very narrow and spaced, which does not allow to maintain high kinetics over a range of 6 to 8 hours.

EXAMPLE 11 Test for Absorption of Mucotoxins by the Complex of Example 2

Absorption of mycotoxins AFB1, FBI and FB2 was studied under two pH conditions (pH = 3 and pH = 7).

4.1 Protocol

The product to be tested is mixed at a dose of 1 kg / T with a buffered solution (pH 3 and pH 7) individually contaminated with the mycotoxins described in Table 5.

Table 5 - Condition of mycotoxin absorption test

The solutions are mixed at 200 rpm for 90 minutes at 37 ° C. They are then analyzed by LC-MS / MS to determine the remaining concentration of each mycotoxin, which allows to know the amount of toxin fixed by the product. 4.2 Results

The results are summarized in Table 6 below.

Table 6 - Absorption of mycotoxins by the complex of the invention

4.3 Conclusion

The complex of Example 2 of the invention reduces the impact of Aflatoxin B1 and Fumonisins (B1 and B2) under in vitro test conditions.

EXAMPLE 12 In Vivo Study in a Dairy Cattle Farm of the Effects of the Complex of Example 1

The objective of the study was to test the product in vivo on a batch of cows for 1 month to evaluate the effect on milk production, fat content (TB), protein milk urea level.

1) Material and method:

1.1 Animals, characteristic of lots:

• 2 lots of dairy cows (Holstein breed): 9 animals in homogeneous lots (n = 20), one animal was discarded during the study.

• in cubicles, without grazing and identical milking conditions (via a robot) The start of test parameters are given in Table 7 below. Table 7 - Parameter at the beginning of the study

1.2 Food:

Control: product of the prior art

• Basic ration.

Hay, Corn silage, Grass silage, Triticale (cereal from wheat and rye cross), Soybean (70%) and rapeseed (30%) blend blend (AlimDuo® product).

• Individual supplementation to the robot:

Nitrogen corrector (AdeliaTanePro® combining soluble nitrogen and semi-protected soybean meal by a tanning process marketed by the company TRISKAUA) and Aliment VL, all at a rate of 500 g / dairy cow.

Fiso energy and iso nitrogen test):

• Basic ration

Same as the Witness:

• Individual supplementation to the robot:

Identical to that of the control described above, from which 535 g of the nitrogen corrector of the prior art (ie half) are removed, 200 g of product of Example 1 are added to 100 ml of water by drogging, and 440 g are added. triticale to the trough to fill the energy deficit following the removal of the corrector.

2) Results

2.1) Dairy production: The results obtained are shown in Figure 6.

2.2) Quality of the milk:

The results are shown in Figures 7 to 10.

Conclusion:

The complex of the invention has many advantages over the nitrogen corrector of the prior art (identified as a control in the Figures).

In this trial carried out in France in a dairy cow farm, the results obtained with the complement of the invention providing a delayed release urea are very advantageous. At lower doses:

The iso-N and iso-energy substitution of the nitrogen corrector of the AdeliaTanePro® prior art (535 g) with a mixture consisting of the protected urea of Example 1 (200 g) and triticale (400 g) makes it possible to to maintain the performance of the animal.

- Milk production is identical in both lots (p> 0.05).

- The quality of the milk remains the same in both lots: there is no loss of rate (p> 0.05) for the fat content (TB) and the protein content (TP).

- The product of Example 1 has no negative impact on the urea level of milk (p> 0.05): the results are similar to those obtained with the product of the prior art.

- There is no effect of supplementation (p> 0.05) on the somatic cell count.

EXAMPLE 13 In Vivo Study in a Dairy Cattle Farm of the Effects of the Complex of Example 3

The objective of this study was to test the dietary supplement of Example 3 in vivo on a batch of dairy cows for 60 days to evaluate its effect on milk production, milk quality (TB, TP and Cells) and the urea level of milk. 1) Material and method:

• 3 batches of dairy cows (VL):

- 7 animals in homogeneous lots (n = 21).

- In cubicles, without grazing and identical milking conditions (via a robot).

• Food :

- Basic ration: 10 kg / VL / day of a barley mixture (20%), 48 soybean meal (5%), corn (50%) and wheat bran (25%); alfalfa hay at will.

• Treatments:

- Witness: basic ration described above.

Test 1 (iso-intakes) = base ration from which soybean (500 g) was removed and 145 g of the complement of Example 3 and 500 g of corn were added.

Test 2 (non-iso-intakes) = base ration from which the soybean was removed and to which 145 g of the complement of Example 3 was added.

Results:

2.1) 60-day milk production

The results for milk production are shown in Figure 11.

There was a significant improvement in milk yield from the 13 ^th day. The results obtained on a mixed breed (Baltata Romaneasca) thus show a significant milk production gain of up to 4 L of milk / day after a period of two months of follow-up.

2.2) Milk quality

The results are shown in Figures 12 and 13.

The contribution of the complex of Example 3 without iso-input (Test 2) tends to increase the TB of the milk. No difference is observed on the TP. The significant increase in milk production did not result in a dilution of these rates. The cows have therefore produces more milk but also more fat and protein material to maintain the level of TB and TP.

EXAMPLE 14 COMPARATIVE: Mixture of urea and mineral powders according to the prior art

The objective of this study was to compare the complement of Example 7 and a mixture of urea with the same mineral powders in the same proportions, but on which the urea is not absorbed, in order to evaluate their effect. on the production of milk from a dairy farm.

1) Material and method

• 2 lots of 7 Prim'Holstein cows

• Duration of the test: 2 months

• Substitution for the batch Example 7

- Retorted food: 750g of soybean meal

- Food added: 250g Example 7

• Substitution for Base Powder + Urea

- Retorted food: 750g of soybean meal

- Food added: 150g Urea + 100g Mineral base (same proportion as Example 7)

2) Dairy production results

The results are shown in Figure 14.

A significant effect (p <0.05) of Example 7 is observed compared to the simple mixture of the powder + urea base on the milk production of the animals. After 60 days, a daily production increase equal to 1.2L of milk is obtained with Example 7 compared to the Powder + Urea Base.

Claims

An organic-inorganic complex consisting or consisting essentially of urea and mineral particles for use in increasing at least one zootechnical performance of a farmed animal, characterized in that said mineral particles comprise at least one at least one fibrous clay and at least one non-fibrous clay, and in that the urea is adsorbed on the clays.

2. Organic-inorganic complex according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the mass ratio between the urea and the mineral particles is between 30/70 and 80/20.

3. Organic-inorganic complex according to claim 1, characterized in that the fibrous clay represents between 10% and 65% by weight of the mass of the mineral particles.

4. Organic-inorganic complex according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fibrous clay is an attapulgite.

5. organic-inorganic complex according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the attapulgite has a particle size such that the sieve refusal of 75 microns dry is less than 20%.

6. Organic-inorganic complex according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the non-fibrous clay represents from 5 to 60% by weight of the mass of the mineral particles.

7. Organic-inorganic complex according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the non-fibrous clay has a cation exchange capacity (CEC) ranging from 2 to 150 cmol / kg, and a specific surface area of 10 m ² / g at 700 m ^z / g

8. organic-inorganic complex according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the non-fibrous clay is a bentonite.

9. Organic-inorganic complex according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mineral particles comprise at least one zeolite.

10. Organic-inorganic complex according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the zeolite represents between 0% and 60% by weight of the mass of the mineral particles.

11. Organic-inorganic complex according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the proportion in the zeolite of particles having a size of 5 microns to 125 microns ranges from 75% to 95% by weight or from 85% to 95% by weight. mass.

12. Organic-inorganic complex according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the farm animal is a ruminant.

13. Organic-inorganic complex according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a zootechnical performance of the animal consists of an increase in daily weight and / or an increase in milk production.

14. Feed supplement for ruminant animal comprising an organic-inorganic complex according to one of the preceding claims and at least one other ingredient selected from the group consisting of vitamins, minerals, co-products of cereal distillation with or without solubles (DDG and DDGS), concentrated cereal solubles (CDS), prebiotic fibers, probiotics, amino acids, proteins, omega 3 fatty acids, lignans, digestive enzymes, essential oil of Thymus Vulgaris , extracts of chestnut, leonardite, peat, chestnut tannins, linseeds, polyphenols, saponins, preferably steroidal and / or triterpenic saponins, microalgae such as chlorella or spirulina (important source natural nitrogen in the form of essential amino acids), macroalgae or seaweed extracts.

15. A method of feeding a ruminant animal which consists in giving the animal the organic-inorganic complex according to one of claims 1 to 13, or the dietary supplement according to claim 14.

16. A method of feeding a ruminant animal according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the animal is also given a daily ration comprising hay, corn silage, grass silage. , cereals, oilcakes, and a source of soluble nitrogen.