Method of producing feed pellets

摘要

A method is provided for producing feed pellets loaded with a bioactive ingredient which is initially provided with a protective shell which has been coated around the bioactive ingredient. The process comprises a first step of removing the protective shell to liberate the bioactive ingredient. The resulting uncoated bioactive ingredient is mixed with a fat or oil. Finally, the resulting mixture is loaded into porous precursor feed pellets to produce feed pellets loaded with the bioactive ingredient and the fat or oil. The bioactive ingredient may be a pigment such a astaxanthin. This pigment is commercially available coated with a shell formed from inter alia gelatin and carbohydrates. This shell can be removed enzymatically using a proteolytic enzyme.