Brookings, South Dakota Patent of the Year – 2024/2025
Novita Nutrition LLC has been awarded the 2024/2025 Patent of the Year for its innovative approach to animal feed analysis. Their invention, detailed in U.S. Patent No. 12111302, titled ‘Diagnostic assay for rumen undegraded protein detection’, introduces a rapid, on-site method to measure the digestibility of proteins in livestock feed.
Understanding protein digestibility is crucial for optimizing animal nutrition. Traditional methods to assess rumen undegraded protein (RUP) are often time-consuming and require specialized laboratory equipment. Novita Nutrition’s assay streamlines this process, enabling quicker and more cost-effective evaluations.
The method involves extracting total protein from a feed sample and separating it using gel electrophoresis. Specific staining techniques highlight glycosylated proteins, which are indicative of RUP content. By analyzing the intensity of these stained proteins, the assay accurately determines the percentage of RUP in the feed.
This advancement allows farmers and feed producers to make informed decisions about feed formulations, ensuring animals receive the appropriate balance of nutrients. Improved protein utilization can lead to better animal health, increased productivity, and reduced feed costs.
Novita Nutrition’s innovation not only enhances the efficiency of feed analysis but also contributes to sustainable livestock farming practices. By providing a tool for precise nutritional assessment, they are helping to meet the growing demand for responsible and effective animal agriculture.