ISSUE FOCUS FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE October 2025 49 • Brown seaweeds (Phaeophyta): Provide polyphenols, fucoidans, vitamins, and minerals that support gut health. Fucoidans and other polysaccharides are popular as extracts as a means of sidestepping high heavy metals content and characteristics that can hinder digestibility. Polysaccharides remain the most studied compounds in seaweed, yet extracting them adds cost, complexity, and environmental impact, while also reducing the “100% natural” character of the raw material since chemical processing is often required. More importantly, the value of seaweed extends far beyond individual extracts, as its diverse compounds act synergistically to support gut health. To fully capture this potential, Ocean Harvest Technology has spent over a decade refining proprietary blends that combine species from all three major groups, delivering the complementary benefits of green, red, and brown macroalgae in a consistent and natural form. By using whole seaweed rather than isolated components, these blends provide a broader spectrum of functional properties and have been shown to beneficially modulate the gut microbiota, reinforcing their role as a natural tool for supporting animal performance and resilience. OVERCOMING BARRIERS TO WIDER USE OF SEAWEED One of the main factors that has limited the wider use of seaweed in feed is consistency. As with any natural raw material, composition can vary depending on species, origin, and season. Ocean Harvest Technology (OHT) addresses this challenge by sourcing from multiple regions and combining batches of different seaweed types. This “portfolio effect” reduces variability, ensures a reliable nutritional profile, and helps customers achieve consistent results, while also mitigating risks linked to weather, shipping, and raw material availability.
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