There are more than 10,000 species of marine algae, classified into 10 phyla. They can be divided into green, brown, blue, yellow, and golden algae based on pigment content. Based on morphology, they are classified into macroalgae and microalgae. Macroalgae include kelp, kombu, and giant kelp from brown algae. They also include Cladophora and Codium from green algae, and nori and Corallina from red algae. Microalgae are the smallest, single-celled algae, with diameters only a few micrometers, but are abundant. Algae can be processed into seaweed powder. The use of seaweed powder in feed provides essential trace minerals, amino acids, and vitamins that support optimal growth in animals. Currently, the global production of algal powder is 50,000 tons. Many countries have seaweed powder processing plants, using algae as a feed additive in livestock farming.
Production Process of Seaweed Powder
The production process of macroalgal powder is as follows: Fresh seaweed → Cleaning and mud removal → Drying → Grinding → Metering and formulation → Mixing → Weighing → Packaging → Seaweed Powder
The suitable season for collecting wild seaweed is from early summer to autumn. Fresh seaweed must be cleaned using seawater to prevent soluble organic compounds, such as amino acids, from being washed away. After draining the water, it is sun-dried or oven-dried. Once the moisture content reaches around 13%, it can be crushed. It is best to use a two-stage crushing method: the first step is to crush into larger particles, and then crush into a fine powder.
Different seaweed varieties are classified and crushed separately before being evenly mixed. During formulation, based on the nutritional levels of different seaweeds, they are combined with other feed nutrients to create compound algae powder. This is done to adjust the nutritional composition of the algal powder.
Nutritional Composition and Nutritional Functions of Seaweed Powder
Nutrients Contained in Seaweed
Seaweed contains various amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and a large amount of non-nitrogenous organic compounds, such as mannitol and alginate. It also contains certain bioactive substances that promote animal growth.
Microalgae have a protein content of 40%-60% and crude fat content of 1%-7%. Microalgae can be developed and utilized as single-cell protein in large quantities.
Nutritional Functions of Seaweed Powder
Seaweed powder promotes animal growth and development, improving the quality of livestock products. It increases daily weight gain in meat animals, enhances egg production, and raises the iodine content in eggs. It meets animals’ needs for trace elements and vitamins, improving the survival rate of young animals and boosting their disease resistance. Additionally, it can be used as a binder in fish feed, enhancing the cohesion of fish feed and preventing water pollution.
Application of Seaweed Powder in Livestock and Poultry Breeding
Application in Poultry Farming
Adding 3%-7% algal powder to chicken feed significantly increases the growth rate and iodine content in both meat and eggs. Russian scientists used a feed formulation containing blue algae, feeding 15 mg daily to broilers. This increased daily weight gain by 6.2% and improved chick survival rate by 4.3%.
Application in Pig Farming
According to Norwegian scientists, adding 3% algal powder to pig feed, along with small amounts of calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D, can meet all the nutritional needs for minerals and vitamins. It has been reported that adding 2%-3% algal powder to the diet of growing and finishing pigs can increase daily weight gain by 18%. The feed-to-meat ratio reaches 3.1:1 to 3.0:1, saving 3%-4% of concentrated feed and reducing pig disease incidence by 5%. Research shows that adding 2% algal powder to pig feed has a significant effect before 60 kg, with daily weight gain 68-73g higher than the control group. However, after reaching 60 kg, the effect is less noticeable, possibly due to reduced sensitivity to trace elements in the later stages of growth. For lactating sows, adding 4% algal powder to their feed improves the weaning weight, survival rate, and disease resistance of piglets.
Application in Ruminant Animal Farming
It has been reported that adding 200 mg/day of algal powder to dairy cow feed can increase milk yield by 7%. The iodine content in milk rises from 0.1 mg/L to 0.6 mg/L, and the incidence of mastitis decreases by over 90%. Scientists in Japan and Norway also found that adding algal powder to dairy cow feed increases milk yield by 6%-8%. Additionally, research shows that adding 5% kelp powder to the basic feed of dairy cows can improve milk yield by 1%, significantly boosting estrus and conception rates. Feeding 35g of kelp powder per sheep daily increases wool production by 2% and greatly improves lamb survival rates.
Application in Aquaculture
Adding gelled algal powder to aquaculture feed can help the feed bind together and prevent dispersion, making it easier for fish and shrimp to feed without polluting the water. Research shows that algal extraction liquid can be fed to bay scallops, and algae residues can be used as feed for juvenile abalones and sea cucumbers. It has been reported that adding 5% kelp and brown algae to the feed of cod fish increases their growth rate by 18.9% and 14.4%, respectively. Adding an appropriate amount of algal powder can improve the growth rate of fish, enhance skin color, promote lipid metabolism, and save feed.
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