Summary The present invention is directed towards the use of at least one compound of formula (I) as antioxidant, preferably in feed and feed ingredients,

wherein R ¹ , R ² and R ³ are independently from each other H or Ci- ₄ -alkyl.

The compounds of the present invention are efficient as antioxidants, preferably in feed and feed ingredients. The compounds of the present invention are especially efficient as antioxidants in feed comprising protein(s) and/or unsaturated fatty acid (derivative)s and in feed

ingredients comprising protein(s) and/or unsaturated fatty acid

(derivative)s.“Derivatives” are e.g. the monoglycerides, diglycerides and triglycerides as well as Ci- ₆ -alkyl esters such as the methyl and ethyl esters. Background of the invention

Unmodified fish meal can spontaneously combust from heat generated by oxidation of the polyunsaturated fatty acids in the fish meal. In the past, factory ships have sunk because of such fires. Strict rules regarding the safe transport of fish meal have been put in place by authorities and the International Maritime Organization (IMO). According to IMO, fishmeal must be stabilized with antioxidants to prevent spontaneous combustion during overseas transport and storage. The shipping regulations of the United Nations for the Transport of Dangerous Goods (UN-TDG) currently only allow ethoxyquin and BHT as antioxidants to stabilize fish meal for marine transport. But authorization of ethoxyquin has now been suspended in the European Union due to safety and health concerns.

BHT must be added in higher quantities to achieve the same efficacy as ethoxyquin. Furthermore, BHT is currently under safety evaluation by ECHA and its re-registration as feed additive is pending in Europe.

Therefore, there is a need to replace ethoxyquin and BHT as an antioxidant.

Detailed description of the invention This need is fulfilled by the present invention, which is directed to the use of at least one compound of formula (I) as antioxidant,

wherein R ¹ , R ² and R ³ are independently from each other H or Ci- ₄ -alkyl; and with the preferences for the substituents R ¹ to R ³ as given below.

The asterisk ^* marks the chiral/stereogenic center. The term“compound of formula (I)” encompasses all possible isomers having any configuration at said center.

The compounds of formula (I) with the preferences as given below are not only suitable for stabilizing fish meal, but they are also suitable for stabilizing feed ingredients and feed. Preferences for feed ingredients and feed are given below.

Compounds of formula (I)

“alkyl” in the context of the present invention encompass linear alkyl and branched alkyl.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention in compound of formula (I) R ¹ , R ² and R ³ are independently from each other H or Ci- ₂ -alkyl.

More preferably in compound of formula (I) R ¹ , R ² and R ³ are independently from each other H or methyl.

Especially preferred is a mixture of the following compounds of formulae (1 ) (= alpha-tocotrienol), (2) (= beta-tocotrienol), (3) (= gamma-tocotrienol) and (4) (= delta-tocotrienol), whereby all possible diastereomers and enantiomers are included,

More preferred is a mixture comprising

from 17 to 30 weight-%, preferably from 29 to 27 weight-%, of compound of formula (1 ) (= alpha-tocotrienol), and

from 2 to 6 weight-%, preferably from 3 to 4.5 weight-%, of compound of formula (2) (= beta-tocotrienol), and

from 35 to 56% weight-%, preferably from 38 to 53 weight-%, of compound of formula (3) (= gamma-tocotrienol), and

from 6 to 20 weight-%, preferably from 8 to 18 weight-%, of compound of formula (4) (= delta-tocotrienol),

all amounts based on the total weight of the mixture,

whereby the total amount of the compounds of formulae (1 ) to (4) is 100%.

Most preferred is a mixture comprising

from 29 to 27 weight-% of compound of formula (1 ), and

from 3 to 4.5 weight-% of compound of formula (2), and

from 38 to 53 weight-% of compound of formula (3), and

from 8 to 18 weight-% of compound of formula (4),

all amounts based on the total weight of the mixture,

whereby the total amount of the compounds of formulae (1 ) to (4) is 100%.

Such a mixture is e.g. commercially available as“Tocopherol free

Tocotrienol concentrate (min. 97%)” from DAVOS Life Science, Singapore.

Use as antioxidants, feed and feed ingredients

The compounds of the present invention are efficient as antioxidants, preferably in feed and feed ingredients. Non-limiting examples of feed are pet food, feed for aquatic animals, feed for terrestrial animals such as poultry and pigs, and feed for insects.

Non-limiting examples of feed ingredients are poultry meal, fish meal, insect meal and PUFA-containing oil.

“PUFA(s)” means polyunsaturated fatty acid(s) such as docosahexaenoic acid (“DHA”) and/or eicosapentaenoic acid (“EPA”) and/or docosapentaenoic acid (“DPA”) and/or oleic acid and/or stearidonic acid and/or linoleic acid and/or alpha-linolenic acid (“ALA”) and/or gamma-linolenic acid and/or arachidonic acid (“ARA”) and/or the esters of all of them, whereby the term“esters” encompasses monoglycerides, diglycerides and triglycerides as well as Ci- ₆ - alkyl esters such as especially the methyl esters and the ethyl esters, whereby the triglycerides are often dominant.

DHA, EPA, ALA and stearidonic acid are omega-3 fatty acids, whereas linoleic acid, gamma-linolenic acid and ARA are omega-6 fatty acids.

The term “DPA” encompasses two isomers, the omega-3 fatty acid clupanodonic acid (7Z,10Z,13Z,16Z,19Z-docosapentaenoic acid) and the omega-6 fatty acid osbond acid (4Z,7Z,10Z,13Z,16Z-docosapentaenoic acid).

In accordance with the invention, the polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) is preferably DHA and/or EPA and/or DPA and/or any ester thereof, more preferably the polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) is preferably DHA and/or EPA and/or any ester thereof.

Examples of PUFA-containing oils are

- marine oil, such as preferably fish oil,

- microbial biomass containing polyunsaturated fatty acids and/or their esters (“microbial oil”), preferably containing high amounts of docosahexaenoic acid (“DHA”) and/or eicosapentaenoic acid (“EPA”) and/or docosapentaenoic acid (“DPA”) and/or their esters, and - oil containing high amounts of PUFAs and/or their esters, preferably containing high amounts of docosahexaenoic acid (“DHA”) and/or eicosapentaenoic acid (“EPA”) and/or docosapentaenoic acid (“DPA”) and/or their esters, extracted from microbial biomass, such as fungae (“fungal oil”) or algae (“algal oil”), and

- plant oil with relatively high amounts of PUFAs and/or their esters, (“PUFA-containing plant oil”), such as e.g. canola seed oil, linseed/flaxseed oil, hempseed oil, pumpkin seed oil, evening primrose oil, borage seed oil, blackcurrent seed oil, sallow thorn/sea buckthorn oil, chia seed oil, argan oil and walnut oil.

Further objects of the present invention

Thus, in addition, the present invention is

(1 ) directed to the use of the compounds of formula (I) as antioxidants in feed, such as especially feed for aquatic animals, feed for terrestrial animals such as poultry, pigs and pets, and feed for insects; as well as

(2) directed to the use of the compounds of formula (I) as antioxidants in feed ingredients, such as especially poultry meal, fish meal, insect meal and PUFA-containing oil, and

(3) directed to feed, such as especially feed for aquatic animals, feed for terrestrial animals such as poultry, pigs and pets, and feed for insects, comprising such compounds of formula (I) and

(4) directed to feed ingredients, such as especially poultry meal, fish meal, insect meal and PUFA enriched oil, comprising such compounds of formula

(I)·

Thus, the present invention is directed to feed for aquatic animals comprising such compounds of formula (I) with the preferences as given above. The present invention is also directed to feed for insects and terrestrial animals, e.g. pigs, poultry and pets, comprising such compounds of formula (I) with the preferences as given above.

Aquatic animals in the context of the present invention encompass farmed Crustacea such as shrimp and carnivorous species of farmed fish such as salmons, rainbow trout, brown trout (Salmo trutta) and gilthead seabream.

Thus, the feed for aquatic animals comprising the compounds of formula (I) are especially fed to the aquatic animals as cited above.

I. Feed ingredients

Feed ingredients are broadly classified into cereal grains, protein meals, fats and oils, minerals, feed additives, and miscellaneous raw materials, such as roots and tubers.

Further antioxidants

The compounds of formula (I) can be used in combination with one or more other antioxidants as described below.

In an embodiment of the present invention the feed ingredients of the present invention additionally comprise a mixture of 2-tert-butyl-4-methoxyphenol and 3-tert-butyl-4-methoxyphenol, which is known under the name“BHA” (butylated hydroxyanisole).

In a further embodiment of the present invention the feed ingredients of the present invention additionally comprise ascorbyl palmitate and/or carnosic acid.

In another embodiment of the present invention the feed ingredients of the present invention additionally comprise BHA and ascorbyl palmitate. Instead of ascorbyl palmitate other esters of ascorbic acid such as the esters of ascorbic acid with linear C12-20 alkanols, preferably the esters of ascorbic acid with linear C14-18 alkanols, may also be used, so that further embodiments of the present invention are directed to feed ingredients that additionally comprise esters of ascorbic acid with linear C12-20 alkanols, preferably esters of ascorbic acid with linear C _14-18 alkanols, more preferably ascorbyl palmitate, whereby optionally BHA may also be present.

The feed ingredients themselves are described in more detail below.

1. PUFA-containing oils

In the context of the present invention the term“PUFA-containing oil” encompasses

- marine oil, such as especially fish oil,

- microbial biomass containing polyunsaturated fatty acids (“PUFAs”), especially docosahexaenoic acid (“DHA”) and/or eicosapentaenoic acid (“EPA”) and/or docosapentaenoic acid (“DPA”) and/or their esters (“microbial oil”);

- oil containing high amounts of PUFAs, especially containing high amounts of DHA and/or EPA and/or DPA and/or their esters extracted from microbial biomass as e.g., fungi (“fungal oil”) or algae (“algal oil”);

- Plant oil with high amounts of PUFAs and/or their esters (“PUFA- containing plant oil”), such as e.g. canola seed oil, linseed/flaxseed oil, hempseed oil, pumpkin seed oil, evening primrose oil, borage seed oil, blackcurrent seed oil, sallow thorn/sea buckthorn oil, chia seed oil, argan oil and walnut oil.

The term“DHA” does not only encompass the acid but also derivatives thereof such as monoglycerides, diglycerides and triglycerides as well as Ci _-6 -alkyl esters such as the methyl and ethyl esters. The same applies for“EPA” and “DPA” and all the other PUFAs. Fish oil and algal oil are common feed ingredients. Instead of fish oil and algal oil also the other PUFA-containing oils named above may be used as feed ingredients, i.e.:

- microbial biomass containing PUFAs (“microbial oil”)

- oil containing high amounts of PUFAs extracted from microbial

biomass, such as especially fungal oil, and

- plant oil with high amounts of PUFAs.

The above-mentioned feed ingredients may not only be used as alternative of fish oil and algal oil, but also in addition.

Examples of PUFA-containing oils that are used as feed ingredients are given below in more detail.

Marine oil

Examples of suitable marine oils include, but are not limited to, Atlantic fish oil, Pacific fish oil, or Mediterranean fish oil, or any mixture or combination thereof.

In more specific examples, a suitable fish oil can be, but is not limited to, pollack oil, bonito oil, pilchard oil, tilapia oil, tuna oil, sea bass oil, halibut oil, spearfish oil, barracuda oil, cod oil, menhaden oil, sardine oil, anchovy oil, capelin oil, herring oil, mackerel oil, salmonid oil, tuna oil, and shark oil, including any mixture or combination thereof.

Other marine oils suitable for use herein include, but are not limited to, squid oil, cuttle fish oil, octopus oil, krill oil, seal oil, whale oil, and the like, including any mixture or combination thereof.

For stabilizing marine oil an amount of at least one compound of formula (I) ranging from 10 to 500 ppm, preferably ranging from 30 to 300 ppm, more preferably ranging from 100 to 250 ppm, based on the total amount of the marine oil, is usually sufficient. The same applies for the other PUFA- containing oils such as microbial oil, algal oil, fungal oil and PUFA-containing plant oil. A commercially available example of marine oil is the fish oil “MEG-3” (Bleached 30S TG Fish oil) from DSM Nutritional Products, LLC (US) whose specification and composition is shown in Tables I and II below:

Table I

The peroxide value is defined as the amount of peroxide oxygen per 1 kilogram of oil. Traditionally this is expressed in units of milliequivalents or meq/kg.

Winterization is part of the processing of fish oil, and it is performed to remove solid fat in the oil. The“cold test” is performed to check if any solid fat is present and precipitated in the oil when cooled to 0°C within a specific period of time. In this fish oil (Product Code: FG30TG), any such precipitation is checked for 3 hours at 0°C.

Table

“TG” = triglyceride;

“A%” =“area %” = area percentage by GC based on 24 peak analysis (meaning the 24 highest peaks have been analyzed)

Oil containing high amounts of PUFAs, especially containing high amounts of DHA and/or EPA and/or DPA and/or their esters, extracted from microbial biomass as e.g.. fungi (“fungal oil”) or algae (“algal oil”) Algal oil

“Algal oil” is an oil containing high amounts of DHA and/or EPA and/or DPA and/or their esters extracted from algae as microbial source/biomass.

An example of algal oil is the commercially available“Algal oil containing EPA+DPA” from DSM Nutritional Products, LLC (US) whose composition is shown in the Table III below:

Table III

A further example of a crude oil containing high amounts of DHA and/or EPA extracted from microbial sources as e.g., algae, is the oil extracted from Algae Schizochytrium Biomass, whose specification is given in the following Table IV. Table IV

Microbial biomass containing polyunsaturated fatty acids (“PUFAs”). especially docosahexaenoic acid and/or eicosapentaenoic acid and/or docosapentaenoic acid (“DPA”) and/or their esters

The biomass preferably comprises cells which produce PUFAs hetero- trophically. According to the invention, the cells are preferably selected from algae, fungi, particularly yeasts, bacteria, or protists. The cells are more preferably microbial algae or fungi.

Suitable cells of oil-producing yeasts are, in particular, strains of Yarrowia, Candida, Rhodotorula, Rhodosporidium, Cryptococcus, Trichosporon and Lipomyces. Oil produced by a microorganism or obtained from a microbial cell is referred to as“microbial oil”. Oil produced by algae and/or fungi is referred to as an algal and/or a fungal oil, respectively.

As used herein, a "microorganism" refers to organisms such as algae, bacteria, fungi, protist, yeast, and combinations thereof, e.g., unicellular organisms. A microorganism includes but is not limited to, golden algae (e.g., microorganisms of the kingdom Stramenopiles); green algae; diatoms; dinoflagellates (e.g., microorganisms of the order Dinophyceae including members of the genus Crypthecodinium such as, for example,

Crypthecodinium cohnii or C. cohnii ); microalgae of the order

Thraustochytriales ; yeast ( Ascomycetes or Basidiomycetes ); and fungi of the genera Mucor, Mortierella, including but not limited to Mortierella alpina and Mortierella sect, schmuckeri, and Pythium, including but not limited to Pythium insidiosum.

In one embodiment, the microorganisms of the kingdom Stramenopiles may in particular be selected from the following groups of microorganisms:

Hamatores, Proteromonads, Opalines, Developayella, Diplophrys,

Labrinthulids, Thraustochytrids, Biosecids, Oomycetes,

Hypochytridiomycetes, Commotion, Reticulosphaera, Pelagomonas,

Pelagococcus, Ollicola, Aureococcus, Parmales, Diatoms, Xanthophytes, Phaeophytes (brown algae), Eustigmatophytes, Rophidophytes, Synurids, Axodines (including Rhizochromulinales, Pedinellales, Dictyochales), Chrysomeri dales, Sarcinochrysidales, Hydrurales, Hibberdiales, and

Chromulinales.

In one embodiment, the microorganisms are from the genus Mortierella, genus Crypthecodinium, genus Thraustochytrium, and mixtures thereof. In a further embodiment, the microorganisms are from Crypthecodinium Cohnii. In a further embodiment, the microorganisms are from Mortierella alpina. In a still further embodiment, the microorganisms are from

Schizochytrium sp. In yet an even further embodiment, the microorganisms are selected from Crypthecodinium Cohnii, Mortierella alpina,

Schizochytrium sp., and mixtures thereof.

In a still further embodiment, the microorganisms include, but are not limited to, microorganisms belonging to the genus Mortierella, genus Conidiobolus, genus Pythium, genus Phytophthora, genus Penicillium, genus Cladosporium, genus Mucor, genus Fusarium, genus Aspergillus, genus Rhodotorula, genus Entomophthora, genus Echinosporangium, and genus Saprolegnia.

In an even further embodiment, the microorganisms are from microalgae of the order Thraustochytriales, which includes, but is not limited to, the genera Thraustochytrium (species include arudimentale, aureum, benthicola, globosum, kinnei, motivum, multirudimentale, pachydermum, proliferum, roseum, striatum); the genera Schizochytrium (species include aggregatum, limnaceum, mangrovei, minutum, octosporum); the genera Ulkenia (species include amoeboidea, kerguelensis, minuta, profunda, radiate, sailens, sarkariana, schizochytrops, visurgensis, yorkensis); the genera Aurantiacochytrium; the genera Oblongichytrium; the genera Sicyoidochytium; the genera Parientichytrium; the genera Botryochytrium; and combinations thereof. Species described within Ulkenia will be considered to be members of the genus Schizochytrium. In another embodiment, the microorganisms are from the order Thraustochytriales. In yet another embodiment, the microorganisms are from Thraustochytrium.

In still a further embodiment, the microorganisms are from Schizochytrium sp.

In certain embodiments, the oil can comprise a marine oil. Examples of suitable marine oils are the ones as given above.

The biomass according to the invention preferably comprises cells, and preferably consists essentially of such cells, of the taxon

Labyrinthulomycetes ( Labyrinthulea , net slime fungi, slime nets), in particular, those from the family of Thraustochytriaceae . The family of the Thraustochytriaceae ( Thraustochytrids ) includes the genera Althomia, Aplanochytrium, Aurantiochytrium, Botryochytrium, Elnia, Japonochytrium, Oblongichytrium, Parietichytrium, Schizochytrium, Sicyoidochytrium, Thraustochytrium, and Ulkenia. The biomass particularly preferably comprises cells from the genera Aurantiochytrium, Oblongichytrium, Schizochytrium, or Thraustochytrium, more preferably from the genus Schizochytrium.

In accordance with the invention, the polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) is preferably DHA and/or EPA and/or their esters as defined above.

The cells present in the biomass are preferably distinguished by the fact that they contain at least 20 weight-%, preferably at least 30 weight-%, in particular at least 35 weight-%, of PUFAs, in each case based on cell dry matter.

In a very preferred embodiment of the current invention, cells, in particular a Schizochytrium strain, is employed which produces a significant amount of EPA and DHA, simultaneously, wherein DHA is preferably produced in an amount of at least 20 weight-%, preferably in an amount of at least 30 weight-%, in particular in an amount of 30 to 50 weight-%, and EPA is produced in an amount of at least 5 weight-%, preferably in an amount of at least 10 weight-%, in particular in an amount of 10 to 20 weight-% (in relation to the total amount of lipid as contained in the cells, respectively).

Preferred species of microorganisms of the genus Schizochytrium, which produce EPA and DHA simultaneously in significant amounts, as mentioned before, are deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-10208, PTA-10209, PTA-10210, or PTA-10211 , PTA-10212, PTA-10213, PTA-10214, PTA-10215.

DHA and EPA producing Schizochytrium strains can be obtained by consecutive mutagenesis followed by suitable selection of mutant strains which demonstrate superior EPA and DHA production and a specific EPA:DHA ratio. Any chemical or nonchemical (e.g. ultraviolet (UV) radiation) agent capable of inducing genetic change to the yeast cell can be used as the mutagen. These agents can be used alone or in combination with one another, and the chemical agents can be used neat or with a solvent.

Methods for producing the biomass, in particular, a biomass which comprises cells containing lipids, in particular PUFAs, particularly of the order

Thraustochytriales, are described in detail in the prior art (see e.g. WO 91 / 07498, WO 94/08467, WO 97/37032, WO 97/36996, WO 01 /54510). As a rule, the production takes place by cells being cultured in a fermenter in the presence of a carbon source and a nitrogen source, along with a number of additional substances like minerals that allow growth of the

microorganisms and production of the PUFAs. In this context, biomass densities of more than 100 grams per litre and production rates of more than 0.5 gram of lipid per litre per hour may be attained. The process is preferably carried out in what is known as a fed-batch process, i.e. the carbon and nitrogen sources are fed in incrementally during the

fermentation. When the desired biomass has been obtained, lipid

production may be induced by various measures, for example by limiting the nitrogen source, the carbon source or the oxygen content or combinations of these.

In a preferred embodiment of the current invention, the cells are grown until they reach a biomass density of at least 80 or 100 g/l, more preferably at least 120 or 140 g/l, in particular at least 160 or 180 g/l (calculated as dry-matter content). Such processes are for example disclosed in US

7,732,170.

Preferably, the cells are fermented in a medium with low salinity, in particular, so as to avoid corrosion. This can be achieved by using chlorine- free sodium salts as the sodium source instead of sodium chloride, such as, for example, sodium sulphate, sodium carbonate, sodium hydrogen carbonate or soda ash. Preferably, chloride is used in the fermentation in amounts of less than 3 g/l, in particular, less than 500 mg/l, especially preferably less than 100 mg/l.

PUFA-containing plant oils: Plant oils with relatively high amounts of

PUFAs, especially with high amounts of DHA and/or EPA such as e.g., canola seed oil

The plant cells may, in particular, be selected from cells of the families Brassicaceae, Elaeagnaceae and Fabaceae. The cells of the family

Brassicaceae may be selected from the genus Brassica, in particular, from oilseed rape, turnip rape and Indian mustard; the cells of the family

Elaeagnaceae may be selected from the genus Elaeagnus, in particular, from the species Oleae europaea ; the cells of the family Fabaceae may be selected from the genus Glycine, in particular, from the species Glycine max.

Examples:

- Canola seed oil with a content of DHA of at least 9% by weight, of at least 12% by weight, of at least 15% by weight, or of at least 20% by weight, based on the total weight of the canola seed oil;

- Canola seed oil with a content of EPA of at least 9% by weight, of at least 12% by weight, of at least 15% by weight, or of at least 20% by weight, based on the total weight of the canola seed oil. Examples of PUFA-containing plant oils containing high amounts of other PUFAs than EPA and/or DHA and/or DPA and/or their esters are linseed/flaxseed oil, hempseed oil, pumpkin seed oil, evening primrose oil, borage seed oil, blackcurrent seed oil, sallow thorn/sea buckthorn oil, chia seed oil, argan oil and walnut oil.

2. Other feed ingredients Poultry meal/Chicken meal

Poultry meal is a high-protein commodity used as a feed ingredient. It is made from grinding clean, rendered parts of poultry carcasses and can contain bones, offal, undeveloped eggs, and some feathers. Poultry meal quality and composition can change from one batch to another.

Chicken meal, like poultry meal, is made of "dry, ground, rendered clean parts of the chicken carcass" according to AAFCO and may contain the same ingredients as poultry meal. Chicken meal can vary in quality from batch to batch. Chicken meal costs less than chicken muscle meat and lacks the digestibility of chicken muscle meat.

Poultry meal contains preferably not less than 50 weight-% of crude protein, not less than 5 weight-% of crude fat, not more than 5 weight-% of crude fiber, not more than 40 weight-% of ash and not more than 15 weight-% of water, each based on the total weight of the poultry meal, whereby the total amount of all ingredients sums up to 100 weight-%.

More preferably poultry meal contains from 50 to 85 weight-% of crude protein, and from 5 to 20 weight-% of crude fat, and from 1 to 5 weight-% of crude fiber, and from 5 to 40 weight-% of ash, and from 5 to 15 weight-% of water, each based on the total weight of the poultry meal, whereby the total amount of all ingredients sums up to 100 weight-%.

For stabilizing poultry meal an amount of at least one compound of formula (I) ranging from 10 to 1000 ppm, preferably ranging from 30 to 700 ppm, more preferably ranging from 100 to 500 ppm, based on the total amount of the poultry meal, is usually sufficient.

The same amounts also apply for chicken meal.

Fish meal Fish meal contains preferably not less than 50 weight-% of crude protein, and not more than 20 weight-% of crude fat, and not more than 10 weight-% of crude fibers, and not more than 25 weight-% of ash, and not more than 15 weight-% of water, each based on the total weight of the fish meal, whereby the total amount of all ingredients sums up to 100 weight-%.

More preferably fish meal contains from 50 to 90 weight-% of crude protein and from 5 to 20 weight-% of crude fat, and from 1 to 10 weight-% of crude fibers, and from 5 to 25 weight-% of ash, and from 5 to 15 weight-% of water, each based on the total weight of the fish meal, whereby the total amount of all ingredients sums up to 100 weight-%.

For stabilizing fish meal an amount of at least one compound of formula (I) ranging from 10 to 2000 ppm, preferably ranging from 100 to 1500 ppm, more preferably ranging from 300 to 1000 ppm, based on the total amount of the fish meal, is usually sufficient.

Fish meal is a commercial product made from fish that is used primarily as a protein supplement in compound feed, especially for feeding farmed fish, Crustacea, pigs and poultry, and companion animals such as cats and dogs.

A portion of the fish meal is made from the bones and offal left over from processing fish used for human consumption, while the larger percentage is manufactured from wild-caught, small marine fish. It is powder or cake obtained by drying the fish or fish trimmings, often after cooking, and then grinding it. If the fish used is a fatty fish it is first pressed to extract most of the fish oil.

The uses and need of fish meal are increasing due to the rising demand for fish, because fish has the best feed conversion rate of all farmed animals, can be produced well in developing countries and has a small size, i.e. can be slaughtered for preparing a meal, so that there is no need to store the fish. Furthermore, there are no religious constraints concerning the consumption of fish, fish is a source of high quality protein and it is easy to digest.

Fish meal is made by cooking, pressing, drying, and grinding of fish or fish waste to which no other matter has been added. It is a solid product from which most of the water is removed and some or all of the oil is removed. About four or five tons of fish are needed to manufacture one ton of dry fish meal.

Of the several ways of making fish meal from raw fish, the simplest is to let the fish dry out in the sun. This method is still used in some parts of the world where processing plants are not available, but the end-product is of poor quality in comparison with ones made by modern methods.

Currently, all industrial fish meal is usually made by the following process:

Cooking: A commercial cooker is a long, steam -jacketed cylinder through which the fish are moved by a screw conveyor. This is a critical stage in preparing the fishmeal, as incomplete cooking means the liquid from the fish cannot be pressed out satisfactorily and overcooking makes the material too soft for pressing. No drying occurs in the cooking stage.

Pressing: A perforated tube with increasing pressure is used for this process. This stage involves removing some of the oil and water from the material and the solid is known as press cake. The water content in pressing is reduced from 70% to about 50% and oil is reduced to 4%.

Drying: If the fish meal is under-dried, moulds or bacteria may grow. If it is over-dried, scorching may occur and this reduces the nutritional value of the meal.

The two main types of dryers are: Direct: Very hot air at a temperature of about 500°C is passed over the material as it is tumbled rapidly in a cylindrical drum. This is the quicker method, but heat damage is much more likely if the process is not carefully controlled.

Indirect: A cylinder containing steam-heated discs is used, which also tumbles the meal.

Grinding: This last step in processing involves the breakdown of any lumps or particles of bone.

The fish meal has to be transported long distances by ship or other vehicles to the various locations, where it is used.

Unmodified fish meal can spontaneously combust from heat generated by oxidation of the polyunsaturated fatty acids in the fish meal. Therefore, it has to be stabilized by antioxidants. Especially advantageous for this purpose are the compounds of formula (I) of the present invention.

Insect meal

Insect meal has a high content of protein and is therefore, a valuable source of protein.

In general any insect may be manufactured to meal, but insects of special interest in the context of the present invention encompass black soldier flies (Hermetia species, commonly called BSF), mealworms (Tenebrio molitor), lesser mealworms (Alphitobius diaperinus), house cricket (Acheta domesticus, grasshoppers (Locusta migratoria), buffaloworms (Alphitobius diaperinus), cockroaches and domestic flies, whereby black soldier flies (Hermetia species, commonly called BSF), mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) and lesser mealworms (Alphitobius diaperinus) are more preferred.

For stabilizing insect meal an amount of at least one compound of formula (I) ranging from 10 to 1000 ppm, preferably ranging from 30 to 700 ppm, more preferably ranging from 100 to 500 ppm, based on the total amount of the insect meal, is usually sufficient.

II. Feed

The compounds of formula (I) are not only suitable for stabilizing feed ingredients such as poultry meal, fish meal, insect meal and PUFA- containing oil, but also effective antioxidants for feed.

Feed (or‘feedingstuff’) means any substance or product, including additives, whether processed, partially processed or unprocessed, intended to be used for oral feeding to animals.

Feed in the context of the present invention is feed for aquatic animals and for terrestrial animals, as well as feed for insects.

For stabilizing feed an amount of at least one compound of formula (I) ranging from 10 to 500 ppm, preferably ranging from 30 to 300 ppm, more preferably ranging from 100 to 250 ppm, based on the total amount of the feed, is usually sufficient.

Further antioxidants

The compounds of formula (I) can be used in combination with one or more other antioxidants as described below.

In an embodiment of the present invention the feed of the present invention additionally comprises a mixture of 2-tert-butyl-4-methoxyphenol and 3-tert- butyl-4-methoxyphenol, which is known under the name“BHA” (butylated hydroxyanisole).

In a further embodiment of the present invention the feed of the present invention additionally comprises ascorbyl palmitate and/or carnosic acid. In another embodiment of the present invention the feed of the present invention additionally comprises BHA and ascorbyl palmitate.

Instead of ascorbyl palmitate other esters of ascorbic acid such as the esters of ascorbic acid with linear C12-20 alkanols, preferably the esters of ascorbic acid with linear C14-18 alkanols, may also be used, so that further embodiments of the present invention are directed to feed that additionally comprises esters of ascorbic acid with linear C12-20 alkanols, preferably esters of ascorbic acid with linear C14-18 alkanols, more preferably ascorbyl palmitate, whereby optionally BHA may also be present.

The feed itself is described in more detail below.

Feed for poultry

The feed for poultry differs from region to region. In the following Tables V and VI typical examples for diets in Europe and Latin America are given. These diets include cereals such as wheat, rye, maize/corn, minerals such as NaCl, vegetable oils such as soya oil, amino acids and proteins.

Table V: European diet

Table VI: Latin American diet

Pet food

Pet foods are formulated to meet nutrient specifications using combinations of multiple ingredients to meet the targeted nutrient specification. Poultry meal e.g. is an ingredient that is commonly found in Dog and Cat foods.

The nutrient specifications for a complete and balanced dog or cat food will meet or exceed the guidelines provided by AAFCO (American Association of Feed Control Officials). The ingredient composition of pet-food can include any legal feed ingredient so number of combinations are not quite infinite but close. Some examples of ingredient used in dog and cat foods can be found in Table VII below:

Table VII:

For stabilizing pet food an amount of at least one compound of formula (I) ranging from 10 to 500 ppm, preferably ranging from 30 to 300 ppm, more preferably ranging from 100 to 250 ppm, based on the total amount of the pet food, is usually sufficient.

Feed for fish

A typical example of feed for fish comprises the following ingredients, whereby all amounts are given in weight-%, based on the total weight of the feed for fish:

- Fish meal in an amount ranging from 5 to 15 weight-%, preferably fish meal in said amount comprising the compounds of formula (I) of the present invention;

- fish hydrolysates in an amount ranging from 0 to 5 weight-%;

- vegetable proteins in an amount ranging from 30 to 45 weight-%;

- binders, mainly starch, in an amount ranging from 9 to 12 weight-%; - micro-ingredients such as vitamins, choline, minerals, mono calcium phosphate (“MCP”) and/or amino acids in an amount ranging from 3 to 6 weight-%;

- marine oil in an amount ranging from 5 to 10 weight-%, preferably marine oil in said amount comprising the compounds of formula (I) of the present invention;

- vegetable oil in an amount ranging from 20 to 25 weight-%, preferably vegetable oil in said amount comprising the compounds of formula (I) of the present invention;

and whereby the amount of all ingredients sum up to 100 weight-%.

For stabilizing feed for fish an amount of at least one compound of formula (I) ranging from 10 to 1000 ppm, preferably ranging from 30 to 700 ppm, more preferably ranging from 100 to 500 ppm, based on the total amount of the feed for fish, is usually sufficient.

The invention is now further illustrated in the following non-limiting examples. Examples

Example 1 : Antioxidant activities in pet food, poultry meal and fish meal

The tocotrienol mixture“Tocopherol free Tocotrienol concentrate (min. 97%)” from DAVOS Life Science, Singapore was tested in pet food, poultry meal and fish meal and the corresponding antioxidant efficacy values (“EV”) were determined subsequently.

Determination of the antioxidant efficacy value“EV”

Oxidative stability was assessed using an Oxipres (Mikrolab Aarhus A/S, Hojbjerg, Denmark). The ML OXIPRES® is designed to monitor the oxidation of heterogeneous products. Consumption of oxygen results in a pressure drop which is measured by means of pressure transducers. The samples are heated to accelerate the process and shorten the analysis time (Mikrolab Aarhus 2012).

Sample weights were 50 g. They were loaded into the Oxipres vessels and placed inside the stainless-steel pressure vessel and sealed. The pressure vessels were purged with pure oxygen and filled to an initial oxygen pressure of 5 bar and maintained at 70° C during measurement (D. Ying, L. Edin, L. Cheng, L. Sanguansri, M. A. Augustin, LWT - Food Science and Technology 2015, 62, 1 105-1 11 1 :“Enhanced oxidative stability of extruded product containing polyunsaturated oils.”).

The oxygen pressure was recorded as function of time. After sample load and temperature rise the pressure in the device is increasing within 10 hours up to the starting pressure. Thereafter it is decreasing. Consequently, the starting pressure is considered as being the pressure after 10 hours. The analysis ends after 130 hours at 70°C. The oxygen consumption‘0 ₂ ’ of the tested sample is calculated as follows: Pressure after 130 hours in Oxipres

02 consumption (as %) = 1— [ Pressure after 10 hours in Oxipres ]

Table 1 : Oxipres performance of the three matrices

A factor of protection called‘EV’ (Efficacy Value) was developed to quantify with a relative number (relative to BHT) the antioxidant effect of the tested candidates. EV was calculated as follows:

1

EV AOX candidate— ~7 TZ 7 7^ 7 C

(02 consumptlon AOX candidates / 02 consumption BHT)

EV, being relative to BHT (3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxy-toluene) (EV = 1 ),

makes it possible to compare the antioxidant compounds in a defined feed application. Here pet food, poultry meal and fish meal have been used as feed application with the composition as given in the following table 2.

Table 2

The tocotrienol mixture was mixed into matrix 1 , 2 and 3 (pet food, poultry meal, fish meal) in an equimolar ratio compared to BHT. Batches of 200 g feed were produced in order to handle a minimum of 30 mg of antioxidant. First, a 1% pre-dilution of the antioxidant with the feed material was made. Then this pre-dilution was added to the final batch, mixed, sieved (1 .25 mm sieve) and mixed using a turbula® mixer. Thereafter 55 g of the final batch were packed into polyethylene bags, and stored at 4°C until start of the Oxipres assay. Spare sample were stored at 4°C.

The results are shown in the following Tables 3-5.

An efficacy value > 0.7 is considered as acceptable, an efficacy value equal or greater to the one of alpha-tocopherol as good, and an efficacy value equal or greater to the one of BHT as very good.

The results in pet food are shown in the following table 3. The tocotrienol mixture showed a slightly higher efficacy value than alpha-tocopherol. Table 3 The results in poultry meal are shown in the following table 4. The tocotrienol mixture showed a higher efficacy value than alpha-tocopherol.

Table 4

The results in fish meal are shown in the following table 5. Though the tocotrienol mixture showed a lower efficacy value than alpha-tocopherol, it was still acceptable.

Table 5

Example 2: Antioxidant activities in fish oil and algal oil

The antioxidant activity of the tocotrienol mixture“Tocopherol free

Tocotrienol concentrate (min. 97%)” from DAVOS Life Science, Singapore was evaluated in both fish and algal oil in comparison with mixed natural tocopherols (MNT). Fish oil did not contain any antioxidants (= blank oil) whereas algal oil contained about 1.5 mg/g of MNT. Thus, the blank oil, i.e. oil without any antioxidant, (= fish oil) and oil containing“MNT” (= algal oil) have been used as benchmark. Any compound better in antioxidant activity than the blank oil indicates that it has antioxidant activity. The comparison with MNT gives an indication about the amount of the antioxidant effect, relative to the activity of MNT.

“MNT” are mixed natural tocopherols commercially available as e.g., “Tocomix 70 IP” from AOM (Buenos Aires, Argentina). Tocomix 70 IP comprises d-alpha-tocopherol, d-beta-tocopherol, d-gamma-tocopherol and d-delta-tocopherol, whereby the total amount of tocopherols is at least 70.0 weight-% and the amount of non-alpha tocopherols is at least 56.0 weight-%. Oxidative Stability

The tocotrienol mixture was evaluated primarily for its oxidative stability by the Oil Stability Index (OSI) measurements. Four different levels of the tocotrienol mixture (0.5, 1 , 2 and 3 mg/g) were used in 5 g of natural fish oil (Product code: FG30TG) and two different levels of the tocotrienol mixture (0.5 and 2 mg/g) were used in 5 g of algal oil, each used in the Oxidative Stability Instrument at 80°C with the air flow rate of around 5.5 psi. All samples were run in duplicate. The results are shown in Tables 6 and 7.

Table 6: Oxidative stability of FG30TG fish oil with the tocotrienol mixture (SD = standard deviation)

Table 7: Oxidative stability of crude algal oil with the tocotrienol mixture (SD = standard deviation)

The tocotrienol mixture showed an oxidative stability at all concentration levels used, whereby the effect in fish oil is only slightly lower than that of MNT. In algal oil the effect of the tocotrienol mixture was even slightly better than that of MNT at the low level.

There was no considerable change in the level of polymers generated after the oxidation of fish oil at different concentrations of the tocotrienol mixture (see Table 8 below). Thus, fish oil containing the tocotrienol mixture showed only slightly higher levels of polymers than MNT which again shows that the tocotrienol mixture is nearly as strong as MNT as an antioxidant.

Table 8: Polymers generated after oxidative stability of FG30TG fish oil with the tocotrienol mixture

The Protection Factors (PF) for the tocotrienol mixture in oil were calculated in percentage as:

100% x (OSI of the sample with antioxidant - OSI of the sample without antioxidant)

PF (%) = - - - - - - - -

OSI of the sample without antioxidant The results are shown in Tables 9 and 10. Table 9: Protection Factor of the tocotrienol mixture in fish oil (22-25°C)

Table 10: Protection Factor of the tocotrienol mixture in crude algal oil

Storage stability

A storage stability study for fish oil (XBUFG30TG) containing 2 different levels of the tocotrienol mixture (0.5 and 2 mg/g) was performed to compare the variation of primary and secondary oxidation products generated during storage at ambient temperature as a result of oxidation of the oil in the presence of these compounds.

Hereby, accurately weighed amounts of the tocotrienol mixture (0.5 mg/g and 2 mg/g) were added, each individually, to 60 g of fish oil samples in glass amber bottles, thoroughly mixed under nitrogen and stored at ambient temperature storage for 2 weeks. All sample bottles were left open to air, away from light. The tocotrienol mixture was readily soluble in fish oil. The primary oxidation products, hydroperoxides, were determined in terms of peroxide value (PV), and the secondary oxidation products were measured and determined as anisidine reactive substances or p-anisidine value (p-AV). Conjugated dienoic acid (CD) levels which are also indicative of the primary oxidation were also determined. Peroxide values (PV), p- anisidine values (p-AV) and conjugated dienes as percentage dienoic acid were determined at different times for up to 2 weeks.

Thus, storage stability of fish oil containing 2 different levels of the tocotrienol mixture (0.5 mg/g and 2 mg/g) was determined at ambient temperature storage. The variation of the peroxide values during storage is shown in Table 1 1 whereas Tables 12 and 13 show the variation of p-AV and conjugated dienes, respectively.

Table 1 1 : Variation of PV [meq/kg] with the tocotrienol mixture in fish oil FG30TG

Table 12: Variation of p- AV (p-anisidine value) with the tocotrienol mixture in fish oil FG30TG

Table 13: Variation of CD (conjugated dienoic acid in %) with the tocotrienol mixture in fish oil FG30TG

All fish oil samples containing the tocotrienol mixture have lower levels of PV (see Table 1 1 ) than those of the samples which did not contain any tocotrienol mixture indicating their antioxidant effect against the oxidation of PUFA in fish oil. All samples containing the tocotrienol mixture had lower levels of p— AV (see Table 12) than those of the samples which did not contain this tocotrienol mixture indicating the protection of PUFA in fish oil against oxidation. There was no change in the values of conjugated dienes at all during the study period (Table 13).

Conclusion

The tocotrienol mixture shows antioxidant activity in both fish and algal oil.