Administration of 2-mercaptoimidazole compounds to meat-producing ruminants

Claim 1

THE METHOD OF ENHANCING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A 2-MERCAPTOIMIDAZOLE COMPOUND WHEN ORALLY ADMINISTERED TO MEAT-PRODUCING RUMINANTS FOR PROMOTING GROWTH AND FEED UTILIZAITON, SAID COMPOUND BEING ELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF 2-MERCAPTOIMIDAZOLE AND 1-ALKYL 2-MERCAPTOIMIDAZOLES WHEREIN THE ALKYL GROUP CONTAINS FROM 1 TO 5 CARGON ATOMS, CHARACTERIZED BY FEEDING TO SAID RUMINANTS DURING A FIRST PHASE OF SAID 2-MERCAPTOIMIDAZOLE ADMINISTRATION A DIET AVERAGING LESS THAN 1500 I.U. OF VIATAMIN A ACTIVITY PERPOUND OF TOTAL RATION, SAID VIATAMIN A ACTIVITY BEING PRESENT PRIMARILY IN THE FORM OF CAROTENE, SAID FIRST PHASE FEEDING BEING COUTINUED FOR AT LEAST 30 DAYS, AND THEREAFTER FEEDING TO SAID RUMINANTS DURING A SECOND PHASE OF SAID 2-MERCAPTOIMIDAZOLE ADMINISTRATION A DIET CONTAINING SUPPLEMENTARY VITAMIN A IN THE FORM OF TRUE VITAMIN A IN AN AMOUNT RANGING FROM 100 TO 1500 I.U. PER POUND OF TOTAL RATION.

Claim 2

THE METHOD OF ENHANCING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A 2-MERCAPTOIMIDAZOLE COMPOUND WHEN ORALLY ADMINISTERED TO MEAT-PRODUCING RUMINANTS FOR PROMOTING GROWTH AND FEED UTILIZAITON, SAID COMPOUND BEING ELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF 2-MERCAPTOIMIDAZOLE AND 1-ALKYL 2-MERCAPTOIMIDAZOLES WHEREIN THE ALKYL GROUP CONTAINS FROM 1 TO 5 CARGON ATOMS, CHARACTERIZED BY FEEDING TO SAID RUMINANTS DURING A FIRST PHASE OF SAID 2-MERCAPTOIMIDAZOLE ADMINISTRATION A DIET AVERAGING LESS THAN 1500 I.U. OF VIATAMIN A ACTIVITY PERPOUND OF TOTAL RATION, SAID VIATAMIN A ACTIVITY BEING PRESENT PRIMARILY IN THE FORM OF CAROTENE, SAID FIRST PHASE FEEDING BEING COUTINUED FOR AT LEAST 30 DAYS, AND THEREAFTER FEEDING TO SAID RUMINANTS DURING A SECOND PHASE OF SAID 2-MERCAPTOIMIDAZOLE ADMINISTRATION A DIET CONTAINING SUPPLEMENTARY VITAMIN A IN THE FORM OF TRUE VITAMIN A IN AN AMOUNT RANGING FROM 100 TO 1500 I.U. PER POUND OF TOTAL RATION.