A composition useful in oral immunisation of animals such as poultry comprises dry free-flowing particles each consisting of a solid beadlet of lipid-continuous emulsion containing from about 25% to about 50% by weight water in a lipid, such as hardened palm kernel oil, having a slip point in the range 35.degree. to 45.degree. C., each beadlet having an average diameter of about 2 to 3 millimeters and containing at least 1 viable encysted protozoan, such as a sporulated oocyst of a species of coccidium infective to poultry, each beadlet having a protective coating of animal feed, cement and/or gypsum, the protective coating having an average thickness of about 0.2 to 2 mm.
A therapeutic formulation in the form of a beadlet, suitable for oral administration and adapted to provide immediate and sustained release of therapeutic material. Each beadlet comprises an extruded-spheronized inner core containing at least one medicament e.g. a slow release vitamin, an outer layer containing at least one medicament e.g. a fast release vitamin and a controlled release coating between the inner core and the outer layer which coating controls the release of the inner core medicament.
A method for orally administering medicaments to a plurality of animal drinking stations, and an apparatus for accomplishing the method. A medicament reservoir is separately connected to each of the drinking stations via tubes each of an identical predetermined diameter. Medicament is allowed to flow through each of the tubes to each drinking station. Substantially identical rate of medicament flow to each drinking station is insured by the identical predetermined diameter of each of the tubes.
A granular feed nutrient supplement is formed by pelletizing a mixture of minerals, vitamins and other nutrients along with a carrier such as cornmeal or the like and optionally a lubricant such as fat and/or a binder. The pellets are rolled to a desired size and combined with bulk feed. The size of the formed granules are maintained close to the average particle size of the bulk feed thereby ensuring that the granules remain suspended in the feed and do not separate. Preferably the density of the granules is close to (.+-.30%) the density of the feed.
The invention relates to a method of vaccinating a domesticated bird against coccidiosis comprising administering in ovo an effective immunizing dose of live Eimeria sporocysts or oocysts, or a mixture thereof.
The invention relates to a method of vaccinating a domesticated bird against coccidiosis comprising administering in ovo an effective immunizing dose of live Eimeria sporozoites or merozoites, or a mixture thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the domesticated bird that is vaccinated is a chicken or turkey.