Seaweed: A sustainable solution for feed efficiency

Feed efficiency is key to optimizing productivity across various species, including cattle, pigs, poultry, shrimp and fish. Seaweed-based solutions offer innovative ways to enhance feed conversion ratio (FCR) and animal performance, driving profitability in both livestock and aquaculture.

In animal production systems, traits related to the final product or “outputs,” such as carcass quality, growth, and reproductive-related traits, are commonly used as evaluation criteria in production programs. Nevertheless, profitability in animal operations is also determined by feeding costs and other variable inputs. It is noteworthy to highlight that the costs or “inputs” involved in feeding can reach up to 70% of the total costs of animal production (Patience et al., 2015, Alqaisi et al., 2017, Wen et al., 2021, Kava et al., 2023).

However, the animal feed industry is still facing high prices due to reduced global agricultural supply caused by for example COVID-19, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and the impact of climate change on crop production. In this context, exploring alternative and environmentally friendly feed sources for sustainable livestock production, as well as farming animals as efficiently as possible to minimize feed input, is crucial to ensure future food security and cost savings. Among various novel animal feed ingredients, seaweeds, also called marine macroalgae, are considered potentially viable and sustainable feeding resources for livestock.

COMBINING SUSTAINABILITY WITH HEALTH AND PERFORMANCE
Seaweed offers several advantages over traditional land-based farming, including the use of saltwater instead of freshwater, the shift to sea-based agriculture, the elimination of the need for industrial fertilizers, and impressive biomass productivity per unit of surface area (Buschmann et al., 2017). Consequently, cultivating and utilizing various species of macroalgae for food and feed purposes represents a promising sustainable solution to address potential food and feed security challenges, as evidenced by the significant increase in global macroalgae biomass production.

Marine macroalgae and its extracts have gained significant importance as a feed source for animal production due to their antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties, as well as their ability to improve performance and feed efficiency (Angell et al., 2016, Morais et al., 2020, Lomartire et al., 2021, Anderson et al., 2023). The bioactive components in seaweed enhance gut health by promoting intestinal mucosal metabolism, improving nutrient absorption, and supporting overall animal health. As a result, incorporating seaweed into livestock diets not only strengthens food security 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 consumed by the total weight gain of a group (or individual) over a given period. Lower FCR values indicate improved feed efficiency, highlighting the effectiveness of seaweed in enhancing livestock performance (de Verdal et al., 2017, Knap and Kause, 2018).

Recognizing the importance of feed efficiency in animal production, Ocean Harvest Technology has invested significantly in research over the past few years, exploring the impact of its unique seaweed blends, OceanFeed™, as a feed ingredient. This research focuses on improving feed efficiency across various livestock species, emphasizing its potential to enhance overall productivity and sustainability in animal farming.

In one study, 720 Vencobb 430 Y male broiler chickens were used to evaluate the impact of OceanFeed™ Poultry on feed efficiency. The birds were fed corn-soybean meal-based diets, with OceanFeed™ Poultry added at 0, 1.25, or 2.5 kg/ton of feed. The study followed a completely randomized design, with 12 replicate pens per treatment group, each containing 10 chicks. The results revealed that the inclusion of OceanFeed™ Poultry significantly improved FCR and reduced Feed Intake when compared to the control group, as illustrated in Figure 1. These findings indicate that the addition of OceanFeed™ Poultry led to a more efficient feed utilization in broilers. Moreover, OceanFeed™ Poultry inclusion also had a significant impact reducing the cost per kilogram of weight gain, particularly at the highest dose (2.5%) (Figure 1). These conclusions demonstrate that OceanFeed™ Poultry has the potential to enhance feed efficiency, boosting productivity, and reducing production costs in broiler chickens, making it a valuable feed ingredient for the poultry industry.

Building on the positive outcomes observed in broiler chickens, a commercial trial was conducted at a customer facility to assess the impact of OceanFeed™ Swine on piglet performance. The 28-day trial involved piglets weaned at 25–28 days of age (average weight 7 kg), with two rounds of dietary treatments. Each round included 3 pens of approximately 25 piglets, totaling 450 pigs. The trial aimed to compare the effects of a positive control diet with conventional gut health additives, a negative control (NC) diet without feed additives, and a diet supplemented with 5.0 kg/ton of OceanFeed™ Swine (NC + OFS).

The results from this trial demonstrated that the inclusion of OceanFeed™ Swine significantly improved feed efficiency and reduced the cost per kilogram of gain compared to the Negative Control group. These findings suggest that OceanFeed™ Swine can significantly improve piglet growth performance while lowering production costs. These benefits are further illustrated in Figure 2.

To further explore its potential, a commercial on-farm trial was carried out to evaluate the impact of OceanFeed™ Aqua on the FCR and production costs of L. vannamei shrimp (white-leg shrimp). The trial took place in a 400 m² raceway over a 60-day period, divided into 4 pens of 100 m² each. Shrimp were fed a commercial corn-soybean meal-based diet with or without OceanFeed™ Aqua at inclusion rates of 0, 0.5, 1.0, or 2.0%, with feed dispensed every 15 minutes via an auto feeder, and quantities adjusted based on shrimp weight and remaining feed in the pond.

As shown in Figure 3, results from the trial showed that supplementation with OceanFeed™ Aqua at a 1% inclusion rate resulted in a better FCR and demonstrated significant reductions in cost per kilogram of shrimp produced, proving to be economically beneficial for shrimp farming.

SUMMARY
In conclusion, seaweeds offer vast potential to improve feed efficiency and performance across various livestock and aquaculture species. The evidence shows that seaweeds, as a feed ingredient, not only promote animal health but also provide a viable alternative to enhance profitability in food production, especially during times of high feed costs and environmental concerns. The use of innovative products like OceanFeed™ has shown promising results in reducing FCR and production costs, benefiting producers and contributing to the sustainability of animal production and agricultural industries. As research continues to advance, it is essential that producers adopt more sustainable solutions to ensure a secure and efficient future in food production.

Literature on request.

About Rafaela Kava
Rafaela Kava is a Global Product Manager at Ocean Harvest Technology, specializing in the ruminant sector. A veterinarian with a Master’s Degree in Animal Breeding and Genetics, Kava combines in-depth industry knowledge with practical experience, particularly in the area of feed efficiency in cattle.