Bacillus isolate compositions and methods of using and producing the same
Inventors
Hargis, Billy M. • Graham, Lucas Elzie • Teague, Kyle Dean • Latorre, Juan David • Rochell, Samuel J.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12377122-B2
Publication Date
2025-08-05
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present invention provides Bacillus isolates, as well as probiotic and animal feed compositions comprising said isolates, which may be included in the diet of poultry to improve growth performance with reduced energy diets. Methods of using these compositions to improve nutritional uptake or to reduce the incidence of footpad dermatitis in poultry are also provided.
Core Innovation
The invention describes Bacillus probiotic isolates, including a Bacillus isolate designated as “Isolate 46” and a Bacillus isolate designated as “Isolate 40,” each deposited at the Agricultural Research Service Culture Collection (NRRL) under accession numbers B-67957 and B-67956, respectively. The invention relates to their use in a poultry feed composition that includes a plant-based food source and at least one of the isolates. The feed composition includes the Bacillus isolates as spores with heat stability, providing a defined spore level in total poultry feed.
The invention addresses a problem associated with plant-based food sources in poultry diets, including anti-nutritional factors derived from soybean and non-starch polysaccharides (NSP), which include materials such as cellulose, hemicellulose components, and related NSP-derived components. The invention further describes shortcomings associated with exogenous enzymes and instead uses spore-form Bacillus applied prior to pelleting. The invention is directed to compositions that can provide multiple enzyme activities for layered plant substrates, including galactosidase, cellulase, xylanase, and beta-mannase activity.
The invention discloses probiotic/feed composition formats in which the spores are introduced into dry mash or pelleted feed at a defined spore concentration range. It also includes in vitro screening of enzyme-related activities and heat stability for the Bacillus isolates. In vivo poultry results described in the disclosure include improved growth performance, improved carcass characteristics, and reduced footpad dermatitis lesion incidence when birds receive the Bacillus spore-based feed compositions, including isolate 46 and combinations involving isolate 40 and/or isolate 46.
Claims Coverage
The claim coverage centers on one independent claim defining a poultry feed composition with two specific Bacillus spore isolates (Isolate 46 and Isolate 40) at a defined spore level, combined with a plant-based food source. The inventive features focus on the isolate selection, the deposition identifiers, and the spore concentration range per gram of total feed.
Poultry feed composition with plant-based food source
A poultry feed composition comprising a plant-based food source.
Specific Bacillus spore isolates deposited at NRRL
At least one Bacillus isolate selected from a Bacillus isolate designated as “Isolate 46” deposited at NRRL under accession number B-67957, and a Bacillus isolate designated as “Isolate 40” deposited at NRRL under accession number B-67956.
Defined spore level per gram of total poultry feed
The poultry feed composition comprises between about 10^4-10^12 spores of the Bacillus isolate per gram of total poultry feed composition.
Overall, the independent claim requires a plant-based poultry feed formulation containing NRRL-deposited Bacillus spores (Isolate 46 and/or Isolate 40) at a defined spore concentration range per gram of total feed.
Stated Advantages
Improved growth performance, including body weight gain and feed conversion ratio.
Improved carcass characteristics, including hot/chilled carcass and hot fat pad.
Reduced footpad dermatitis lesion incidence in poultry.
Documented Applications
Reducing the incidence of footpad dermatitis in poultry by administering an effective amount of the poultry feed composition.
Use of Bacillus spore-based poultry feed compositions as a probiotic in poultry to improve growth performance and carcass characteristics.
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