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| Shape: | Power |
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Seaweed feed has been recognized for its potential use in animal husbandry due to its rich nutritional composition and various benefits for animal health and performance. Here are some key points regarding the use of seaweed feed for animals:
Nutritional Value: Seaweeds are rich in useful metabolites such as pigments, carotenoids, phlorotannins, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), agar, alginate, and carrageenan, as well as minerals like iodine, zinc, sodium, calcium, manganese, iron, selenium. These components make seaweed a natural source of additives that can potentially replace antibiotic usage in various animals.
Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFAs): Seaweeds are particularly rich in PUFAs from the n-3 and n-6 series, which are valuable for both human and animal health. Long-chain PUFAs, such as C20:5n3 and C22:6n3, are found in seaweeds and serve as precursors for biosynthesis of regulatory/signalling molecules like prostaglandins and thromboxanes.
Mineral Content: Seaweeds have a high mineral content due to their ability to absorb inorganic substances from the environment. They contain small amounts of lipids, mainly PUFAs, and are rich in polysaccharides. Seaweeds can provide 10 to 20 times more minerals than land plants.
Growth and Health Benefits: Studies have shown that seaweed meals as a supplement to fish diets can enhance growth, lipid metabolism, physiological activity, stress response, disease resistance, and carcass quality in various fish species. For example, the addition of brown seaweed Laminaria sp. (AquaArom®) to salmonid food improved food intake, growth performance, plasma antioxidant capacity, and mitochondrial respiration.
Feed Safety and Quality: The safety of seaweed as an animal feed is a critical consideration. While seaweeds have been used traditionally, there is a need for more research to understand the bioavailability of seaweed molecules during livestock digestion and to ensure feed safety.
Reduction of Methane Emissions: Some seaweed species, such as Asparagopsis armata, have shown the potential to reduce methane production by rumen methanogens without negatively impacting rumen function and animal health. This is particularly important for livestock production systems aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Sustainability: Seaweeds are considered a sustainable feed source due to their fast growth, high biomass yield, and the fact that they do not compete for arable land or fresh water. However, the quality of wild seaweed biomass can vary, and there are risks of heavy metal bioaccumulation, making seaweed aquaculture a more reliable alternative for producing safe animal feed supplementation.
In conclusion, seaweed feed offers a range of benefits for animal nutrition, health, and performance, while also contributing to sustainable livestock and aquaculture practices. However, further research is needed to fully understand its impact and to develop best practices for its use in animal feed.
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