METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING PEPSIN RESISTANT AMYLASSES FOR USE IN FOOD AND FOOD SUPPLEMENTS

A method of identifying a pepsin resistant amylase enzyme for use in a feed supplement comprising: i) providing an enzyme to amylase; ii) mixing said amylase with corn-based feed and buffer solution comprising a pepsin concentration of 9000 U / ml at pH 3.40 ° C, 500 rpm for at least 120 minutes and analyzing the amylase activity of said amylase in comparison with a control sample; wherein said control sample differs in that no pepsin is present during incubation; and iii) selecting an amylase enzyme that substantially maintains amylase activity under the test conditions. Claim 13: A feed supplement for monogastric animals characterized in that it comprises a pepsin-resistant amylase and at least one physiologically acceptable carrier that It is selected from the group consisting of maltodextrin, limestone (calcium carbonate), cyclodextrin, wheat or a wheat component, sucrose, starch, Na2SO4, Talc, PVA, sorbitol, benzoate, sorbate, glycerol, sucrose, propylene glycol, 1,3 -propanediol, glucose, parabens, sodium chloride, citrate, acetate, phosphate, calcium, metabisulfite, formate and mixtures thereof. Claim 15: The feed supplement according to claim 13 or claim 14 characterized in that the pepsin resistant amylase has an amino acid sequence: i) as described in SEQ ID No. 1 or SEQ ID No. 3; ii) as described in SEQ ID No. 1 or SEQ ID No. 3 except for one or more additions / insertions, deletions or substitutions; iii) that it has at least 85% identity with SEQ ID No. 1; or at least 70% identity with SEQ ID No. 3; iv) which is produced by expression of a nucleotide sequence comprising the sequence of SEQ ID No. 2 or SEQ ID No. 4; v) which is produced by expression of a nucleotide sequence that differs from SEQ ID No. 2 or SEQ ID No. 4 due to the degeneracy of the genetic code; vi) which is produced by expression of a nucleotide sequence that differs from SEQ ID No. 2 or SEQ ID No. 4 by one or more additions / insertions, deletions or substitutions of nucleotides; or vii) which is produced by expression of a nucleotide sequence that has at least 70% identity with SEQ ID No. 2 or SEQ ID No. 4. Claim 33: A method of preparing a forage for a monogastric animal characterized in that it comprises mixing supplement for feed according to any of claims 13 to 24 with one or more feed materials. Claim 43: The forage according to claim 41 or claim 42 characterized in that the a-amylase has an amino acid sequence: i) as described in SEQ ID No. 3; ii) as described in SEQ ID No. 3 except for one or more additions / insertions, deletions or substitutions; iii) that it has at least 70% identity with SEQ ID No. 3; or iv) that is produced by expression of a nucleotide sequence comprising the sequence of SEQ ID No. 4; v) which is produced by expression of a nucleotide sequence that differs from SEQ ID No. 4 due to the degeneracy of the genetic code; vi) which is produced by expression of a nucleotide sequence that differs from SEQ ID No. 4 by one or more additions / insertions, deletions or substitutions of nucleotides; or vii) which is produced by expression of a nucleotide sequence that has at least 70% identity with SEQ ID No. 4. Claim 57: An amylase for use in a feed and / or forage supplement characterized in that said amylase substantially maintains amylase activity in the presence of 100,000 U / ml pepsin. Claim 58: The amylase of claim 57 characterized in that the amylase has the amino acid sequence: i) as described in SEQ ID No. 3, or ii) as described in SEQ ID No. 3 except for one or more additions / insertions, eliminations or substitutions; iii) that it has at least 70% identity with SEQ ID No. 3; or iv) that is produced by expression of a nucleotide sequence comprising the sequence of SEQ ID No. 4; v) which is produced by expression of a nucleotide sequence that differs from SEQ ID No. 4 due to the degeneracy of the genetic code; or vi) that is produced by expression of a nucleotide sequence that differs from SEQ ID No. 4 by one or more additions / insertions, deletions or substitutions of nucleatides; or vii) which is produced by expression of a nucleotide sequence that has at least 70% identity with SEQ ID No. 4. Claim 63: Use of a feed supplement comprising a pepsin resistant amylase characterized in that it is to improve animal performance and / or increase energy absorption and / or efficacy of feed and / or to improve the digestibility of a raw material in a feed (for example digestibility of nutrients, such as starch digestibility) and / or to improve feed conversion ratio (FCR) and / or to improve weight gain in an animal.