ISSUE FOCUS 48 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE October 2025 seaweed-based blends (OceanFeed™ Swine) was shown to increase IgG concentrations in colostrum, supporting stronger passive immunity transfer to piglets, while also improving sow reproductive outcomes by increasing the number of total piglets born and piglets born alive, reducing mortality, and supporting better sow condition (Figure 2A and 2B). These findings are consistent with results reported in previous research, confirming the reliability of these benefits across different settings (Bouwhuis et al., 2017; Ruiz et al., 2018; Corino et al., 2019). SEAWEED AS A NATURAL APPROACH Whilst many feed additives are designed to address gut health challenges, seaweed deserves far greater recognition as a sustainable and natural resource. Belonging to three main groups—Chlorophyta, Phaeophyta, and Rhodophyta—seaweeds are exceptionally rich in both the quantity and diversity of bioactive compounds, making them a unique yet underutilised asset in animal nutrition. Their value has been recognised for millennia, with evidence of human consumption dating back 10,000 years and use in animals for more than 5,000 years. Despite their global availability along coastlines, their application in modern feed remains limited. According to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) estimates, global seaweed production reached around 35.8 million tonnes in 2019, yet only a small fraction is directed toward feed applications (Cai, 2021), highlighting both a challenge and an untapped opportunity for the industry. Seaweeds provide a remarkable spectrum of bioactive compounds not found in terrestrial plants, including unique polysaccharides such as ulvan and fucoidan with prebiotic, immune-modulating and antimicrobial functions; polyphenols like phlorotannins with strong antioxidant and antimicrobial activity; and carotenoids such as fucoxanthin with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. In addition, seaweeds supply peptides, lectins, minerals, trace elements, and vitamins, positioning them among the most diverse natural reservoirs of functional bioactives available for animal nutrition. • Green seaweeds (Chlorophyta): Rich in heteropolysaccharides such as glucuronic acid, which aids liver detoxification, and rhamnose, which acts as a prebiotic. Ulva species are especially notable for ulvan—a sulphated polysaccharide with immunomodulatory, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. • Red seaweeds (Rhodophyta): Contain sulphated galactans that promote beneficial gut bacteria, strengthen the intestinal barrier, and deliver anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial effects, while also offering higher crude protein content. IgG Content (mg/mL) Litter Size Total Born Born Alive 16.0 15.5 15.0 14.5 14.0 13.5 13.0 IgG Content of Colostrum Effect of OFS on Litter Size Control OceanFeed™ Swine Control OceanFeed™ Swine 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 (A) IgG content in colostrum of sows supplemented with OceanFeed™ Swine compared with control Figure 2A Figure 2B (B) Effect of OceanFeed™ Swine supplementation on litter size (total born and born alive)
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