The present invention relates to tablets comprising 3-nitrooxypropanol or derivatives thereof, gluten and a non-enzymatically browned bypass protein having particle size of at most 2000 pm.

The temperature of the air surrounding the earth is increasing, a process referred to as global warming. One of the main focuses to reduce this warming effect is to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases are emitted from several different sources, both natural and artificial; however, the two sources with the most emphasis are the agricultural and fossil fuel industries. Within agriculture, ruminants and in particular cattle are the major contributors to the biogenic methane formation, and it has been estimated that the prevention of methane formation from ruminants would almost stabilize atmospheric methane concentrations.

Methane production in ruminants is due to the presence of methanogenic archaea in the rumen, which however need energy, nitrogen and minerals to grow. Thus, the number of methanogenic archaea in the rumen and concomitantly the methane emission generally slowly increases after feeding.

3-Nitrooxypropanol and structural analogues thereof have been reported to inhibit the growth of methanogenic archaea and thus significantly reducing the methane production in ruminants (WO-2012084629-A1). So far, 3-nitrooxypropanol is supplemented to ruminants as 10% 3-nitrooxypropanol on silicon dioxide (silica), a product form which instantly releases the active into the aqueous rumen fluid and thus has to be dosed in regular time intervals to obtain efficient methane reduction. Such a dosage regime is however not feasible for grazing animals.

Thus, several slow release forms of 3-nitrooxypropanol have been developed, such as the gluten-based tablets disclosed in WO-20197740-A1. Said gluten-based tablets, however, are very hard, which results in a high refusal rate by the animals, which is highly unwanted as it complicates appropriate dosing.

Thus, there is an ongoing need to develop slow release tablets comprising 3-nitrooxypropanol or derivatives thereof, which exhibit a tablet hardness well accepted by the ruminants. Furthermore, such tablets should exhibit a slow-release of the active into the rumen fluid represented by an efficient reduction of methane emissions during rumination to also allow an efficient treatment of grazing animals.

Surprisingly, it has now been found that the addition of non-enzymatically browned bypass protein having a particle size of at most 2000 pm to gluten-based tablets comprising 3-nitrooxypropanol results in a significantly reduced tablet hardness, even after coating and thus significantly increases the animal acceptance. Furthermore the overall methane reduction obtained after supplementation is improved over tablets not comprising said non- enzymatically browned bypass protein.

Thus, in a first embodiment the present invention relates to compressed tablets (I) comprising

(i) at least 0.01 wt-%, based on the total weight of the tablet, of a compound of formula

(I) formula (I) wherein n is an integer from 2 to 46

R ¹ is H, Ci-C ₆ alkyl, phenyl, -OH, -NH ₂ , -CN, -COOH, -0(C=0)R ⁸ , -NHC(=0)R ⁸ , SO2NHR ⁸ , or -ONO2, and

R ⁸ is Ci-C ₆ alkyl, phenyl, pyridyl such as preferably 2-pyridyl with the proviso that when n is > 3 the hydrocarbon chain may be interrupted by -O- or -NH-

(ii) from 10 to 50 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the tablet, of gluten, and

(iii) from 10 to 50 wt-%, based on the total weight of the tablet, of a non-enzymatically browned bypass protein having particle size of at most 2000 pm.

Tablets exhibiting a hardness of less than 75N are generally too soft (instable) to be used in animal feed for the supplementation of a compound of formula (I) such as 3- nitrooxypropanol. Tablets having a hardness of > 175N, however have a high animal refusal rate.

Thus, advantageously, the tablets according to the present invention exhibit a tablet hardness (sometimes also referred to as tablet breaking force (USP <1271 >) or resistance to crushing strength (Ph. Eur. 2.9)) selected in the range of 75 to 175 N, more preferably in the range of 80 to 150 N, most preferably in the range of 80 to 125 N as these ranges are particularly well accepted by the animals. Further preferred ranges are 75 to 160 N, 75 to 150 N, 75 to 140 N, 75 to 130 N, 80 to 140 N and 80 to 130 N. The most preferred hardness acceptability range by animals, such as in particular dairy cows or cattle is in the range from 75 to 130 N, i.e. also in the range from 80 to 125 N. The tablet hardness is measured using a ST 50 tester (SOTAX) measuring the force needed to break the tablet axially.

Particular advantageous compounds of formula (I) in all embodiments of the present invention are compounds of formula (II) wherein n is an integer between 3 and 9 and R ¹ is OH, COOH or -0N0 ₂ .

Even more advantageous compounds of formula (I) are 3-nitrooxypropanol (CAS-No: 100502-66-7), 9-nitrooxynonanol, 5-nitroxy pentanoic acid (CAS 74754-56-6), 6-nitroxy hexanoic acid (CAS 74754-55-5), Bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amine dinitrate (CAS 20830-49-3), 1 ,4-bis-nitrooxybutane (CAS 3457-91-8) and 1 ,5-bis-nitrooxypentane (CAS 3457-92-9). Most preferred in all embodiments of the present invention is 3-nitrooxypropanol.

The compounds according to the present invention are known and either commercially available or can be prepared in analogy to the processes as e.g. disclosed in WO- 2012084629-A1.

The amount of the compound of formula (I) in the tablets according to the present invention is preferably selected in the range from 0.01 to 25 wt.-%, more preferably in the range from 0.05 to 25 wt.-%, most preferably in the range from 0.075 to 20 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the tablet. Further particular suitable ranges are selected in the range from 1 to 25 wt.-%, from 5 to 25 wt.-%, from 1 to 20 wt.-% and from 5 to 20 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the tablet.

Non-enzymatically browned bypass proteins (also referred to as rumen-protected protein or rumen undegradable protein (RUP)) are well known to a person skilled and are commonly used to optimise feed efficiency. Such proteins are generally prepared by mixing a reducing carbohydrate with crushed cereal grain, heating the mixture to form a reaction product of the starch and the reducing carbohydrate, and then drying. Suitable cereal grains are wheat, barley, oats, flour, triticale, maize (corn), sorghum, rice, soybean, vicia faba (also called horse beans or broad beans), rapeseeds and rye. In a preferred embodiment, the cereal grains are dehulled and optionally further milled to obtain the respective meal before browning.

Heat treatment combined with a reducing carbohydrate to prepare non-enzymatically browned bypass protein is e.g. described in EP-283969-A2 or WO-2005025323-A1 . The protein and a reducing sugar are mixed in quantities suitable for the Maillard reaction. The mixture is then heated at a temperature, pH and time sufficient to cause early Maillard reactions, but not advanced Maillard reactions. Preferably, the sugar is xylose obtained by mixing sulfite liquor with the respective cereal grain or protein meal. Alternatively, the sugar can be sprayed onto the cereal grain or protein meal.

In all embodiments of the present invention the non-enzymatically browned bypass protein is preferably derived from high protein soybean meal, e.g. obtainable from dehulled, sol- vent-extracted soybeans or from horse beans ( Vicia Faba).

A particularly suited non-enzymatically browned bypass protein in all embodiment of the present invention is non-enzymatically browned soybean meal, which is preferably obtained by heating soybean meal at about 37 to 125 °C for about 30 to 40 minutes after mixing with xylose (e.g. in the form of sulphite liquor, a by-product of the wood pulping industry). The moisture of the xylose / soybean meal mixture is preferably adjusted in the range from 15 to 20 %. Such non-enzymatic browned soybean meal is e.g. commercially available under the tradename Soy Pass® e.g. from LignoTech USA.

A further particular suitable non-enzymatically browned bypass protein in all embodiment of the present invention is non-enzymatically browned Horse bean meal, which is, for example, commercially available from Danis, Belgium.

The amount of the non-enzymatically browned bypass protein in the tablet according to the present invention is preferably selected in the range from 15 to 45 wt.-%, more preferably in the range from 20 to 45 wt.-% or in the range from 25 to 40 wt.-%, and most preferably in the range from 25 to 35 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the tablet. ln all embodiments of the present invention, the particle size of the non-enzymatically browned bypass protein as defined herein is preferably at most 2000 pm, more preferably at most 600 pm. The particle size according to the present invention is obtained by sieving the respective enzymatically browned bypass protein with a sieve excluding particles having a particle size of > 2000 pm, respectively particles having a particle size of > 600 pm. Such sieves are well known to a person skilled in the art and commercially available.

Gluten is the protein found in many grains and cereals such as wheat, corn, oats, rye and barley. The term "gluten" as used herein refers to gluten from any available source and to mixtures of gluten from various sources. Preferably, in all embodiments of the present invention wheat gluten, more preferably vital wheat gluten (CAS 93384-22-6) is used. The vital wheat gluten preferably has a protein content of at least 65 %, preferably at least 70 %, such as at last 75 %. Vital wheat gluten is e.g. obtainable as Viten ^® (wheat gluten supra vital) at Roquette or GluVital™ at Cargill.

The amount of gluten in the tablets according to the present invention is preferably selected in the range from 15 to 40 wt.-%, more preferably in the range from 15 to 35 wt.-%, most preferably in the range from 15 to 29 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the tablet as this results in a particularly well acceptable hardness range. Further suitable ranges include 10 to 29 wt.-%, 18 to 29 wt.-% and 20 to 29 wt.-%.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the weight-ratio of the non-enzymatically browned bypass protein to the gluten is selected in the range from 5:1 to 0.5 to 1 (i.e. 5 parts of the protein to 1 part of gluten to 0.5 parts of protein to 1 part of gluten), more preferably in the range from 4:1 to 0.75:1 , most preferably in the range from 2.5:1 to 1:1 .

The at least one compound of formula (I) can be incorporated into the tablet as such or in the form of a powderous formulation, i.e. after having been absorbed onto a suitable carrier. In a preferred embodiment, the compound of formula (I) is incorporated into the tablets according to the present invention in the form of a powderous formulation, i.e. absorbed onto a carrier.

Thus, in a further embodiment, the present invention relates to compressed tablets (II) with all the preferences and definitions as given herein wherein the compound of formula (I) is incorporated into the tablet in the form of a powderous formulation comprising the compound of formula (I) and a carrier. The term carrier as used herein refers to any carrier material suitable to absorb active ingredient to be supplemented to animals (including humans). Particular suitable carriers to adsorb compounds of formula (I) encompass silica, maltodextrin, limestone, cyclodextrin, wheat as well as mixtures thereof. Particularly preferred in all embodiments is the use of silica (silicone dioxide) as carrier, most preferably of precipitated silica.

Even more advantageously, in all embodiments of the present invention, said powderous formulation consists essentially of a compound of formula (I), an edible diluent and a carrier.

The term edible diluent as used herein refers to any edible liquid, solvent or oil which is suitable to dilute the compound of formula (I) before absorption onto the carrier and remains adsorbed on the carrier as well.

Particularly suitable edible diluents are propylene glycol, corn oil, rapeseed oil, sunflower oil, middle chain triglyceride (MCT) and glycerol as well as mixtures thereof. The most preferred edible diluent in all embodiments of the present invention is propylene glycol.

The preparation of such powderous formulation is well known to a person skilled in the art. An exemplary preparation method includes dilution of the compound of formula (I) in the edible diluent and spraying the resulting solution onto the carrier or admixed it with the carrier.

It is also possible that the compound of formula (I) is, optionally in the presence of an edible diluent, diluted in an organic solvent suitable for the preparation of food or feed products such as e.g. dichloromethane, sprayed onto or admixed with the carrier followed by evaporation of the organic solvent.

In a particular advantageous embodiment, the powderous formulation comprising the compound of formula (I) consists essentially of silica, propylene glycol and the compound of formula (I).

The term ‘consisting essentially of as used in the context of the invention means that the addition of the wt-% of the ingredients (i) to (iv) add up to 100 wt.-%. However, it cannot be excluded that small amounts of impurities may be present such as e.g. in amounts of less than 5 wt.-%, preferably less than 3 wt.-% which are introduced via the respective raw materials or processes used. More preferably, in all embodiments of the present invention, the powderous formulation consists essentially of a.) 10 to 40 wt.-% of the compound of formula (I), b.) 10 to 40 wt.-% of propylene glycol and c.) 40 to 60 wt.-% of silica.

Most preferably all embodiments of the present invention, the powderous formulation consists essentially of a'.) 25 to 40 wt.-% of a compound of formula (I), b'.) 10 to 25 wt.-% of propylene glycol and c'.) 45 to 55 wt.-% of silica.

Silica (also referred to as silicon dioxide) is a well-known carrier in the feed and food industry and refers to white microspheres of amorphous silica. Particular suitable silica according to the present invention is amorphous precipitated silica e.g. available as Ibersil D-250 at IQE Group, Sipernat 2200 at Evonik or Tixosil 68 at Solvay.

Preferably, the amount of the powderous formulation comprising the compound of formula (I) to be incorporated into the tablets according to the present invention is selected in the range from 15 to 55 wt.-%, preferably in the range from 20 to 50 wt.-%, such as in the range from 25 to 50 wt.-%, based on the compressed tablet.

The tablets according to the present invention are compressed powders, which depending on the process of production as well as the storage conditions, may comprise some water. Generally, the water content of the tablets according to the present invention is below 12 wt %. Therefore, a further embodiment of the present invention relates to tablets according to the present invention having a moisture content of maximum 12 wt.-%, preferably maximum of 10 wt.-%, more preferably maximum 8 wt.-%, most preferably maximum of 6 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the tablets.

The tablets according to the present invention may furthermore contain additional (active) ingredients, excipients, and/or auxiliary agents (in the following referred to as additives) suitable to produce compressed tablets and for feed application. Such additives are well known to a person skilled in the art. The amount of these additives in the tablets according to the present invention can vary and depends on the compressed tablets to be produced. Advantageously, the (total) amount of further additive(s) present in the tablets according to the present invention is selected in the range from 0.1 to 5 wt.-%, preferably in the range from 0.1 to 2.5 wt.-%, more preferably in the range from 0.5 to 1.5 wt.-% based on the total weight of the tablet. It is well understood, that the term additive as used herein shall not encompass the ingredients of the powderous formulation, the gluten, the non-enzymatically browned protein and water.

Thus, in a particular advantageous embodiment, the present invention relates to compressed tablets (III) with all the preferences and definitions as given herein, consisting essentially of

(i) 15 to 55 wt-%, preferably 20 to 50 wt.-%, more preferably 25 to 50 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the tablet, of a powderous formulation comprising the compound of formula (I), with all the definitions and preferences as defined herein, and

(ii) 15 to 45 wt.-%, preferably 20 to 45 wt.-%, more preferably 25 to 40 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the tablet, of a non-enzymatically browned soybean meal and/ or non-enzymatically browned horse bean meal having a particle size of at most 2000 pm, and

(iii) 15 to 40 wt.-%, preferably 15 to 35 wt.-%, more preferably 15 to 29 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the tablet, of gluten, and

(iv) 0.1 to 5 wt-%, preferably 0.1 to 2.5 wt.-%, more preferably 0.5 to 1.5 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the tablet, of at least one additive, and

(v) 0 to 10 wt-%, more preferably 0 to 8 wt.-%, most preferably 0 to 6 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the tablet, of water.

Particularly suitable additives to be used in the tablets according to the present invention encompass lubricants, dyes, flavours, sweeteners, minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants without being limited thereto.

A particularly suitable additive to be used in the tablets according to the present invention is fumed silica which is e.g. commercially available as Aerosil from Degussa, which is preferably present in an amount of about 0.5 to 1 .5 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the tablet as it significantly facilitate the compressibility of the powder and thus the tablet formation.

Thus, in a particular advantageous embodiment, the present invention relates to compressed tablets (IV) with all the preferences and definitions given herein, consisting essentially of (ί') 25 to 50 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the tablet, of a powderous formulation consisting essentially of 10 to 40 wt.-% of 3-nitrooxypropanol, 10 to 40 wt.-% of propylene glycol and 40 to 60 wt.-% of silica, and (ii’) 15 to 45 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the tablet, of a non-enzymatically browned soybean meal and/ or non-enzymatically browned horse bean meal having a particle size of at most 2000 pm, and (iii’) 15 to 29 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the tablet, of gluten, and (iv’) 0.5 to 1 .5 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the tablet, of fumed silica, and (v’) 0 to 10 wt-%, based on the total weight of the tablet, of water.

In a further particular advantageous embodiment, the present invention relates to compressed tablets (V) with all the preferences and definitions given herein, consisting essentially of

(i") 25 to 50 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the tablet, of a powderous formulation consisting essentially of 25 to 40 wt.-% of 3-nitrooxypropanol, 10 to 25 wt.-% of propylene glycol and 45 to 55 wt.-% of silica, and (ii”) 25 to 40 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the tablet, of a non-enzymatically browned soybean meal and/ or non-enzymatically browned horse bean meal having a particle size of at most 2000 pm, and (iii”) 15 to 29 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the tablet, of gluten, and (iv”) 0.5 to 1 .5 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the tablet, of fumed silica, and (v”) 0 to 6 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the tablet, of water.

In a further particular advantageous embodiment, the present invention relates to compressed tablets (VI) with all the preferences and definitions given herein, consisting essentially of

(i') 25 to 50 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the tablet, of a powderous formulation consisting essentially of 10 to 40 wt.-% of 3-nitrooxypropanol, 10 to 40 wt.-% of propylene glycol and 40 to 60 wt.-% of silica, and (ii’) 15 to 45 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the tablet, of a non-enzymatically browned soybean meal and/ or non-enzymatically browned horse bean meal having a particle size of at most 600 pm, and (iii’) 15 to 29 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the tablet, of gluten, and (iv’) 0.5 to 1.5 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the tablet, of fumed silica, and (v’) 0 to 10 wt-%, based on the total weight of the tablet, of water. In a most preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to compressed tablets (VII) with all the preferences and definitions given herein, consisting essentially of

(i") 25 to 50 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the tablet, of a powderous formulation consisting essentially of 25 to 40 wt.-% of 3-nitrooxypropanol, 10 to 25 wt.-% of propylene glycol and 45 to 55 wt.-% of silica, and (ii”) 25 to 40 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the tablet, of a non-enzymatically browned soybean meal and/ or non-enzymatically browned horse bean meal having a particle size of at most 600 pm, and (iii”) 15 to 29 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the tablet, of gluten, and (iv”) 0.5 to 1 .5 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the tablet, of fumed silica, and (v”) 0 to 6 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the tablet, of water.

The tablets according to the present invention are generally prepared by admixing the components (i) to (iii), followed by - if present - the addition of (iv). Water is generally not added into the tablets according to the present invention but incorporated via the used raw materials (i.e. via the residual moisture content thereof).

The choice of the shape, volume and weight size of the compressed tablets according to the present invention will of course depend on the desired application. The shape of the compressed tablet can for example be sphere like, oblong or egg-like. The tablets of the present invention can be in the form of a pellet, a grain, a granule or any other type of particle, in so far it relates to compressed material.

Usually the tablets according to the present invention are several millimetres to several centimetres in size (such as 1 to 3 cm).

The weight of the tablet might vary according to the intended use and can e.g. range from 0.5 g to 2 g.

The tablets according to the present invention can be produced according to standard methods in the art by compressing the admixed ingredients a using a compression force of at least 5 KN to 100 kN.

Thus, the present invention also relates to a process for the production of compressed tablets according to the present invention, wherein a mixture consisting essentially of the components (i) to (iii) and optionally (iv) with all the definitions and preferences as given herein are compressed using a compression force of at least 5 KN, preferably in the range from 10 to 50 kN, more preferably in the range from 10 to 40 kN, most preferably in the range from 10 to 30kN.

The compressed tablet according to the present invention can additionally be coated with one or more customary coatings in the art such as wax, fats, oils or cellulose derivatives. If present, such coating (total) is generally applied in amounts of 1 to 50 wt.-% based on the total weight of the (uncoated) tablet, more preferably in the range of 5 to 30 wt.-%, most preferably in the range of 5 to 25 wt.-%, such as in particular in the range from 10 to 25 wt.-%.

Usually, the thickness of the coating is at least 50 pm, preferably at least 100 pm. Even more preferably, the thickness of the coating does not exceed 500 pm. Most preferably, the thickness of the coating layer is selected in the range of 100 pm to 500 pm.

The coating is usually applied by drum coating. In drum coating, the core material is rotating in an air stream and the coating material is sprayed either as melt or as solution or suspen sion on the core particles.

With more than one coating layer, onion like structures can be obtained.

Particularly suitable waxes to be used as coating in the context of the present invention are natural waxes (i.e. plant or animal derived) which are typically esters of fatty acids and long chain alcohols as well as synthetic waxes, which are generally long-chain hydrocarbons.

Particularly suitable fats to be used as coating in the context of the present invention are fats which are soluble in organic solvents but largely insoluble in water such as hydrogenat ed fats (or saturated fats) which are generally triesters of glycerol and fatty acids. Suitable fats can have natural or synthetic origin. It is possible to hydrogenate a (poly)unsaturated fat to obtain a hydrogenated (saturated) fat.

Particularly suitable cellulose derivatives to be used as coating in the context of the present invention are ethylcellulose, methylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (Hypromellose), hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxymethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxyethylmethyl- cellulose, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, carboxylmethylcellulose, carboxymethyl- sul- foethylcellulose and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose acetate succinate as well as mixtures thereof. Particularly preferred coatings according to the present invention are glycerine monostearate, carnauba wax, candelilla wax, sugarcane wax, shellac (also referred to as shellac wax, shellac ammonium salt or shellac ammonium solution), palmitic acid, stearic acid hydrogenated cottonseed oil, hydrogenated palm oil and hydrogenated rapeseed oil as well as mixtures thereof.

In all embodiments of the present invention, the coating is preferably selected from the group consisting of ethylcellulose, shellac and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) as well as mixtures thereof.

More preferably, in all embodiments of the present invention, the coating is selected from the group consisting of ethylcellulose and shellac, optionally in combination with hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC).

In all embodiments of the present invention, the coating is even more preferably selected from the group consisting of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and shellac as well as mixtures thereof.

A particular suitable hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) according to the present invention exhibits a methoxyl substitution of 15 to 30% and a hydroxypropyl substitution of 4 to 12 % and a viscosity in the range of 4 to 60 (mPa.s 2% in water at 20°C), which is e.g. commercially available under the tradename Methocel E15, E19, E50 and F50 by Dupont.

Shellac is preferably used as an aqueous solution of an ammonium shellac salt which is e.g. commercially available under the tradename SBB Aguagold at SSB, Bremen

The most preferred coating in all embodiments according to the present invention consists of an inner shellac coating and an outer hydroxypropyl methylcellulose coating as such a coating, next to an optimal tablet hardness, further leads to a particularly pronounced overall in-vivo reduction in the methane emission. In said coating, the amount of shellac is preferably selected in the range from 5 to 30 wt.-%, more preferably in the range from 10 to 25 wt.-%, and the amount of HMPC is selected in the range from 0.25 to 10 wt.-%, preferably 0.5 to 7.5 wt.-%, most preferably 1 to 5 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the tablet. Further suitable ranges in said coating encompass an amount of shellac selected in the range from 5 to 20 wt.-%, more preferably in the range from 5 to 15 wt.-%, and an amount of HMPC selected in the range from 1 to 5 wt.-%, even more preferably in the range of 1 to 3 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the tablet. Thus, particular preferred embodiments en- compass an inner shellac coating of 5 to 20 wt.-% and an outer HMPC coating of 1 to 5 wt.- %, such as an inner shellac coating of 5 to 15 wt.-% and an outer HPMC coating of 1 to 5 wt.-%.

In contrast to other coatings and as outlined in the examples, said shellac/ HPMC coating does not significantly alter the tablet hardness, which alteration is highly undesirable.

Additionally, the use of lower shellac concentrations, i.e. shellac concentrations in the range from 5 15 wt.%, such as preferably in the range from 5 to 12.5 wt.-%, in particular in the range from 5 to 10 wt.-%, in the presence of an outer HMPC coating in the range from 1 to 5 wt.-%, preferably 1.5 to 3 wt.-% is particularly advantageous, as it reduces the release into aqueous media.

The tablets according to the present invention may be administered as such or may be admixed with customary feed compositions for ruminants.

As regards feed compositions for ruminants such as cows, as well as ingredients thereof, the ruminant diet is usually composed of an easily degradable fraction (named concentrate) and a fiber-rich less readily degradable fraction (named hay, forage, silage or roughage).

Hay is made of dried grass, legume or whole cereals. Grasses include among others timothy, ryegrasses, fescues. Legumes include among others clover, lucerne or alfalfa, peas, beans and vetches. Whole cereals include among others barley, maize (corn), oat, sorghum. Other forage crops include sugarcane, kales, rapes, and cabbages. Also root crops such as turnips, swedes, mangels, fodder beet, and sugar beet (including sugar beet pulp and beet molasses) are used to feed ruminants. Still further crops are tubers such as potatoes, cassava and sweet potato. Silage is an ensiled version of the fiber-rich fraction (e.g. from grasses, legumes or whole cereals) whereby material with a high-water content is treated with a controlled anaerobic fermentation process (naturally-fermented or additive treated).

Concentrate is largely made up of cereals (such as barley including brewers grain and distillers grain, maize, wheat, sorghum), but also often contain protein-rich feed ingredients such as soybean, rapeseed, palm kernel, cotton seed and sunflower. Cows may also be fed total mixed rations (TMR), where all the dietary components, e.g. forage, silage, concentrate, and slow-release delivery composition according to the present invention are mixed before serving.

The present invention also relates to the use of tablets according to the present invention and with all the definitions and preferences as given herein to reduce the refusal rate thereof by ruminants.

In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a method to reduce the refusal rate of gluten-based tablets comprising a compound of formula (I) with all the definitions and preferences as given herein by ruminants, said method encompassing the step of incorporating a non-enzymatically browned bypass protein having particle size of at most 2000 pm into said tablets. Even more preferably, the thus obtained tablets exhibit a tablet hardness selected in the range of 75 to 175 N, more preferably in the range of 80 to 150 N, most preferably in the range of 80 to 125 N. Further preferred ranges are 75 to 160N, 75 to 150 N, 75 to 140 N, 75 to 130 N, 80 to 140 N and 80 to 130 N. It is well understood, that all preferences and definitions as outlined herein also apply to the use and methods.

The present invention also relates to the use of a tablet according to the present invention and with all the definitions and preferences as given herein to reduce the overall methane emission in grazing ruminants.

In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a method to reduce the methane emission in grazing ruminants, said method encompassing the administration of a tablet according to the present invention with all the definitions and preferences as given herein to said ruminants and optionally appreciating the effect. Advantageously, the tablet is administered only once or twice a day.

The invention is illustrated by the following Examples. All temperatures are given in °C and all parts and percentages are related to the weight.

Examples

1a: Preparation of a powderous formulation (Form (I))

50g of 60 wt.-% 3-nitrooxypropanol solution in propyleneglycol was added under gentle agitation to 50g silica which was placed on a beaker at RT (±20°C). After 5 minutes agitation, the adsorption is completed and a free -flowing powder is obtained. The powderous formulations are then allowed to stay at RT for another hour before use. 1b: Preparation of non-enzymatically browned bypass protein with a defined particle size Before incorporation into the powder mixture as outlined below, the respective non- enzymatically browned bypass protein was sieved with a sieve excluding particles having a particle size of > 2000 pm (PS 2000 pm), respectively particles having a particle size of > 600 pm (PS 600pm).

1c: Preparation of tablets (uncoated):

300 g powder mixtures were prepared by admixing the respective ingredients as outlined in table 2 (all amounts in wt.-%) step by step in a 1L plastic container. The powder mixtures were then mixed using a mixer equipped with cutting rotor 10min at 63rpm and then sieved through a 1.25 mm sieve, then mixed again during 10 min at 63 rpm, then sieved again through a 1.25 mm sieve and finally mixed for another 10 min at 63 rpm. Following mixing as outlined above, the loose powder mixture was compressed using a tablet press Korsch XP1 to produce oblong 0.5g tablets using a compression force of 20kN.

1d: Preparation of tablets (coated)

General method: 250g of tablets (tablets I-3, respectively R-2 according to table 1) were placed in a drum coater (Glatt) at an inlet temperature of 30°C, and the coating drum was rotated at a rate of 5 revolutions. min ^-1 . Then, a water-based solution of shellac (SSB Aquagold) respectively an ethanol based solution of ethylcellulose (Ashland, 10 %) was sprayed onto the tablets at a spraying pressure of 1 2bar and a spraying rate fix to 5g.min ^_1 . When the total weight of 10 tablets was increased by 5, 10 respectively 20 wt.-%, optionally a water-based solution of HPMC (4wt.%- Methocel E19 - Dow Chemicals) was additionally sprayed onto the tablets at a spraying pressure of 1 2bar and a spraying rate fix to 5g.min ^_1 . The (second) coting process with HMPC was considered to be finished when the total weight of 10 tablets was further increased by 2 wt.%. After the coating processes, the coated tablets were stored in an aluminium bag.

The tablet hardness of the coated and uncoated tables was determined with a ST 50 tester (SOTAX). by measuring the force needed to break a tablet axially. The hardness measurement presented are average values of 5 measurements.

The results are outlined in table 1a and 1b. Table 1a: Tablet Hardness of uncoated tablets

Proxysoy 563 (Danis) ² Vicia Faba 534 (Danis) ³ Gluten Powder (Roquette) Too hard => high animal refusal rate

Too soft => not suitable for supplementation to ruminants

Table 1b: Tablet Hardness of coated tablets 1-3

* time until 50% of the active is released in an aqueous model system

As can be retrieved from table 1b, the use of ethylcellulose alone and, even more pronounced, in combination with HPMC led to a significant increase in the hardness, while surprisingly the coating with shellac and HPMC did not affect the hardness to a similar extend and makes it thus particularly suitable as a coating for the tablets.

To test the acceptability of the tablets having a hardness of > 75 N by ruminants, tablets with varying tablet hardness were admixed into ruminant feed and the refusal rate was determined by counting the tablets not consumed. It has been found, that tablets having a tablet hardness of more than 175 N are generally not very well accepted (i.e. the animal refuses to eat) and are thus not suitable for the supplementation of 3-nitrooxypropanol to the animals, while a tablet hardness in the range of 75 to 130 N, such as in particular 80 to 125 N is particularly well accepted.

1e: Release study: In vivo cow trial using animals fed slow release tablets and measuring methane emissions

Coated tablets prepared as outlined above using the tablet and coatings as indicated in table 2 have been prepared and tested.

Twenty dry (non-pregnant, non-lactating) cows were separated randomly into five treatment groups. All animals were kept in covered cattle yards and were fed fresh cut pasture twice a day at 08:00 and 16:00 at close to ad libitum intake to avoid refusals. The pasture was cut daily. All animals were offered 2 additional meals of 1.0 kg (as-fed basis) of a hay-based supplement at 08:00 and 16:00 just before their fresh pasture allocation. The supplement consisted of a mix of 500 g/kg chaffed hay, 290 g/kg of cracked barley, 100 g/kg soybean meal, 100 g/kg molasses and 10 g/kg of a mineral premix. The animals were adapted to their cut and carry grass diets for 14 days before they were put first into metabolic crates for 2 days followed by entry into respiration chambers (Pinares-Patifio and Waghorn, 2012: Technical Manual on Respiration Chamber Designs. Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Wellington, New Zealand) for two consecutive days where dry matter intake (DMI), CH4 and hydrogen (H2) emissions were measured continuously in order to determine their baseline GHG emissions. There were four respiration chambers specifically designed for cattle, and the 20 animals were put through the chambers in 5 measurement groups of 4, with one animal per chamber over a period of 2 weeks.

After the baseline measurements, four of the 20 cows were designated negative control animals. These did not receive any formulation in their supplement feed for the rest of the study. The remaining twelve animals were fed 0.55 g 3-NOP, the positive control, in the supplement feed at each feeding while in the covered yards. After a two-week adaptation to 3-NOP, the methane measurement periods were repeated where one cow (from the negative control group) received no formulations. A second cow received 3-NOP (0.55 g, positive control). Two cows received the test formulations in the form of tablets (0.55g active substance) These cows receiving the test formulations in chambers also received the formulations during the 2 days in metabolic crates prior to entering the respiration chambers. Dry matter intake and test formulation intake were recorded during the time in crates and chambers.

Results demonstrated that supplementation with 3-NOP either as the positive control or as the active slow release prototype tablets resulted in a significant reduction in methane emissions, while the tablets comprising the browned soypass protein in the solid core showed the best results (see table 2).

Table 2 °based on baseline

As can be retrieved, the addition of the browned soypass protein to the solid core significantly improved the overall methane emission, while the shellac/ HMPC coated tablet gave the best results.