ISSUE FOCUS 56 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE March 2025 ty but also contributes to better health and increased productivity (Reddy et al., 2024). THE ROLE OF SEAWEED IN ENHANCING ANIMAL PRODUCTION Several studies have demonstrated that incorporating different seaweed species into fish diets can enhance growth, lipid metabolism, physiological activity, stress response, disease resistance, and carcass quality across various fish species (Angell et al., 2016, Morais et al., 2020, Lomartire et al., 2021). In shrimp farming, seaweed supplementation has similarly improved weight gain, survival rates, reduced pathogenic microbes, and enhanced gene expression related to growth, immunity, and stress (Abbas et al., 2023). In poultry, seaweed serves three primary functions: improving immune status, reducing microbial load in the digestive tract, and enhancing the quality of meat and eggs. In broilers, seaweed supplementation has shown to improve growth performance, FCR, and body weight gain, while acting as a prebiotic by promoting beneficial bacteria and reducing harmful pathogens in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) (Morais et al., 2020). In laying hens, seaweed has shown to enhance egg quality, increasing shell thickness, improving yolk color, reducing cholesterol levels, boosting immune response, and decreasing Salmonella contamination, thus improving food safety (Bach et al., 2008). For pigs, seaweed and its extracts are primarily used for their prebiotic effects and health benefits, including the enhancement of immune function and the potential to replace antibiotics in pig farms (Misurcova et al., 2011). Polysaccharides such as fucoidan and laminarin have been shown to improve piglet performance, with laminarin playing a key role in improving gut health and overall performance (Gahan et al., 2009, McDonnell et al., 2010). Seaweed also offers various benefits for ruminants, such as improving growth performance, carcass marbling, and meat quality (Allen et al., 2001, Anderson et al., 2006, Braden et al., 2007), as well as enhancing milk production and quality in dairy farming. Furthermore, seaweed functions as a prebiotic, promoting gut health by reducing harmful bacteria like Escherichia coli, thus minimizing bacterial contamination in meat and milk (Bach et al., 2008). Additionally, seaweed’s anti-methanogenic properties help reduce methane emissions, contributing to more sustainable ruminant farming (Machado et al., 2016). SEAWEED APPLIED IN PRACTICE TO OPTIMIZE FEED EFFICIENCY AND REDUCE PRODUCTION COSTS In addition to the benefits already mentioned, seaweed has demonstrated a significant impact on feed efficiency. Feed efficiency is commonly defined as the body weight gain per unit of feed consumed (Patience et al., 2015). A more precise measure for evaluating feed efficiency involves calculating the FCR, which is determined by dividing the total weight of feed con-
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