ISSUE FOCUS 46 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE October 2025 FROM ANTIBIOTICS TO NATURAL STRATEGY Across global animal production, one of the greatest challenges is finding reliable solutions to maintain animal health and performance without relying on antibiotics or pharmacological levels of zinc oxide. For decades, these tools played a central role in controlling intestinal disease and supporting growth, but their widespread use has contributed to the rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) — now recognized as a major global health threat (Magnusson, 2020). With regulators, retailers, and consumers demanding change, producers urgently need effective, natural, and sustainable alternatives. At the center of this challenge is gut health. The gastrointestinal tract is not only the main site for digestion and nutrient absorption; it is also a critical barrier against pathogens and a key regulator of immune function (Kogut & Arsenault, 2016). When intestinal integrity is compromised or microbial balance disrupted, the consequences are clear: Reduced feed efficiency, higher disease incidence, and costly interventions (Ducatelle et al., 2018). The industry’s focus is therefore shifting toward a preventive approach: Strengthening animals before problems occur rather than relying on treatments afterward. This has opened the door for functional feed ingredients capable of modulating the micro- “Whilst many feed additives are designed to address the challenges of gut health in livestock, seaweed deserves far greater recognition as a sustainable and natural resource. Belonging to three main groups—green, red and brown—seaweeds are exceptionally rich in both the quantity and diversity of bioactive compounds, making them a unique yet underutilised asset in animal nutrition.” Seaweed Blends: A NATURAL ROUTE TO RESILIENT GUT HEALTH IN LIVESTOCK Declan Hanniffy Marine Technology Specialist Ocean Harvest Technology Rafaela Kava Senior Global MarComm & Product Manager Ocean Harvest Technology
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