Feeds for baby pigs, process for preparing the same and method of breeding baby pigs

Claim 2

A process for preparing a feed for baby pigs, which comprises: (a) preparing a mixture of an edible iron salt selected from at least one member of the group consisting of ferrous fumarate, iron citrate, iron DL-threonine, sodium iron citrate succinate, and iron sulfate, in an amount corresponding to 3.2 to 16.4% by weight as iron; an additional edible organic acid selected from at least one member of the group consisting of citric acid, succinic acid, gluconic acid, malic acid and fumaric acid or a salt thereof in an amount of 1 to 10% by weight, which is in solid form at room temperature; small amounts of a sweetener, a flavoring and, if desired, vitamins: and an oligosaccharide-containing base as the balance of the mixture; (b) shaping the mixture into pellets having desired shapes; and (c) heating the mixture at a temperature of at least 70° C. to produce a product having a water content of not more than 7%.

Claim 3

A process according to claim 1, wherein the mixture is molded into square rod-like pellets having a length of 2 to 15 mm and a depth and a width of 2.0 to 4.5 mm.

Claim 4

A process according of claim 1, wherein the mixture is molded into round rod-like pellets having a length of 2 to 15 mm and a diameter of 2.0 to 4.5 mm.

Claim 5

A process according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the molding is effected in step (c) by means of extruding said mixture under high pressure.

Claim 6

A process according to claim 4, wherein the pressure is in the range of 20 to 70 kg/cm 2 .

Claim 7

A process according to claim 1, wherein the shaping is effected after heating by spraying the mixture with an adhesive and causing the particles of the mixture to coagulate through self granulation.

Claim 8

A feed for baby pigs comprising at least one source of edible iron salt selected from at least one member of the group consisting of ferrous fumarate, iron citrate, iron DL-threonine, sodium iron citrate succinate, and iron sulfate, in an amount corresponding to 3.2 to 16.4% by weight as iron; at least one additional source of edible organic acid selected from at least one member of the group consisting of citric acid, succinic acid gluconic acid, malic acid and fumaric acid or a salt thereof in an amount of 1 to 10% by weight, which is in solid form at room temperature; small amounts of a sweetener, a flavoring agent and, it desired, vitamins; and an oligasaccharide-containing base material as the balance of the feed and being in the form of pellets, produced in accordance with the process of claim 16.

Claim 9

A feed according to claim 7, wherein the pellet has a square rod-like shape having a length of 2 to 15 mm and a width and depth of 2.0 to 4.5 mm.

Claim 10

A feed according to claim 7, wherein the pellet has a round rod-like form having a length of 2 to 15 mm and a diameter of 2.0 to 4.5 mm.

Claim 11

A feed according to claim 7, wherein the feed has a water content of not more than 7%.

Claim 12

A feed according to claim 7, wherein the oligosaccharide-containing base material is at least one member selected from the group consisting of lactose, maltose, skim milk, sugar powder, and whey powder.

Claim 13

A method of feeding baby pigs which comprises administering a feed in increments equivalent to a total of 0.2 to 1 g of iron per baby pig during the 3rd and 15th days after birth, said feed comprising at least one source of edible iron salt selected from at least one member of the group consisting of ferrous fumarate, iron citrate, iron DL-threonine, sodium iron citrate succinate, and iron sulfate in an amount corresponding to 3.2 to 16.4% by weight as iron; at least one additional source of edible organic acid or a salt thereof selected from at least one member of the group consisting of citric acid, succinic acid, gluconic acid, malic acid and fumaric acid in an amount of 1 to 10% by weight, which is in solid form at room temperature; small amounts of a sweetener, a flavoring agent and, if desired, vitamins; and an oligosaccharide-containing base as the balance of the feed, said feed being in the form of pellets produced in accordance with the process of claim 1.