ISSUE FOCUS 30 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE May 2022 In pigs, adding seaweed polysaccharides in the form of a seaweed blend to the diets of piglets over 35 days post-weaning, led to an improvement (P<0.01) or positive shift in the Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio from a low of 5% to an average of 12% in the control and control with seaweed groups, respectively. The inclusion of seaweed also increased (P<0.5) the abundance of Ruminoccocaceae and Lachnospiraceae and decreased Prevotellaceae compared to the control group. At macro level, feed conversion ratio or feed efficiency was significantly improved (P=0.01) in the pigs consuming diets containing the seaweed blend. In a trial with horses maintained at the same stable and allowed free access to hay over 12 weeks, a seaweed blend was added at 45 g per horse per day into their energy supplement. Faecal samples were collected from 5 horses at the beginning and end of the 12-week trial period. The relative abundance at bacterial family level revealed shifts in key fibre-degrading, butyrate producing families, the Ruminococcaceae and Lachnospiraceae. On the other hand, the relative abundance of Streptococcaceae and Akkermansiaceae, families that appear to increase in horses with laminitis were relatively reduced in horses consuming the seaweed blend. CONCLUDING REMARKS The GI microbiota which has been associated with nutrient availability and maintenance of the normal physiological status of the GI tract can be influence by the provision of prebiotic fibre. The prebiotic effect of unique, seaweed polysaccharides, that are not found in land-based plants, have been demonstrated in trials revealing positive impacts on the beneficial, butyrate-producing GI microbiota. Research has demonstrated that butyrate serves a key role in energy provision to the intestinal epithelium, modulating the immune response and affects several key metabolic pathways in the body. Initial data with whole seaweed blends suggests, seaweed polysaccharides are highly effective as prebiotics in animals. Ongoing research with seaweed seeks to further understand and optimize the prebiotic effect of seaweed polysaccharides in animals. Figure 3: The relative abundance at Phyla level in broiler chickens consuming a wheat and soybean meal-based diet for 42 days. About Dr Jason Sands Jason is Head of Nutrition at Ocean Harvest Technology Ltd. In this role Jason is responsible for leading research to develop technical documentation, strengthen the OceanFeed brand and support OHT’s sales and distribution teams by providing technical guidance for the OceanFeed range of products. Prior to Joining OHT, Jason worked various research and technical roles with public, academic and private companies. Jason holds a Bachelor and Master of science degrees in Animal Science from Tuskegee University and The University of Tennessee, respectively, and a PhD in Animal Nutrition from Purdue University.
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