ISSUE FOCUS 58 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE October 2024 “A considerable body of literature exists to demonstrate the range of bioactive compounds in seaweed, and their applications in animal feed. As strong evidence has accumulated in recent years for the prebiotic effects of seaweed polysaccharides, animal producers are realising the potential benefits of enhancing populations of beneficial gut bacteria on intestinal health and animal performance.” Macroalgae (seaweed) are an important source of functional ingredients for animal nutrition, due to their diverse nutritional composition, and their high content of bioactive compounds such as polysaccharides, pigments, peptides and polyphenols. Various published reviews have summarised the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, prebiotic and antimicrobial properties of macroalgae (Xie et al., 2023, Gonzalez Meza et al., 2023, Morais et al., 2020), demonstrating the wide range of applications in animal feed. A SUSTAINABLE SOURCE OF BIOACTIVE INGREDIENTS Utilising blends of whole seaweeds in animal diets enables producers to realise the benefits of the variety of bioactive compounds in macroalgae, whilst also reducing the environmental footprint of animal feed. Seaweed requires no fresh water, land use or fertiliser for growth, and so compares very favourably to terrestrial feed ingredients (Duarte et al., 2017). In cases where wild seaweed is harvested from algal blooms, the environmental impact is even more favourable, due to the recycling of nutrients derived from land-based agricultural run-off. MULTIPLE MODES OF ACTION TO SUPPORT GUT HEALTH The use of seaweed polysaccharides as prebiotics in animal nutrition has been comprehensively described in the literature (Makkar et al., 2015, O’Sullivan et al., 2010). Furthermore, studies have demonstrated the prebiotic effects of whole seaweed blends, positively influencing the profile of the gut microbiome in swine (Hutchinson 2023), and the cecal microbiome of broilers (Sands, 2022) to enhance gut health and animal performance. The improvements in intestinal health achieved as a result of seaweed supplementation have also been shown to be cost effective. Feed costs per kg of liveweight gain were reduced in nursery pigs supplemented with a blend of whole seaweeds, compared to those supplemented with a number of other gut health additives, including phytogenic ingredients and yeast cell wall extracts (Hutchinson, 2023). Recent research has identified further benefits of macroalgae supplementation on gut health, beyond the strong prebiotic effects detailed above. Initial in vitro studies conducted by Ocean Harvest Technology confirmed the potential for OceanFeedTM SEAWEED SUPPORTS IMPROVED INTESTINAL HEALTH AND RESILIENCE Dr. Ian Hutchinson Technical Director Ocean Harvest Technology
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