Nutritional Value of Seaweed to Ruminants

Abstract

We compared the nutritional quality (apparent digestible dry matter (ADDM), crude protein, total phenolics, gross energy), of 3 seaweed species (Alaria esculenta, Ascophyllum nodosum, Fucus vesiculosis) to that of 3 woody browse species{Acer rubrum, Thuja occidentalis, Abies balsamea), lichen (Usnea spp.), and winter rye (Secale cereals) for ruminants. The ADDM's of the 3 seaweeds (63-80% DM) were 11-167% DM higher and crude protein contents (12.1-14.6% DM) were 68-186% DM higher than the 3 browse species. Seaweeds had lower total phenolics (5.5-10.3% DM) and gross energy (12-15 KJ/g DM), and moderate digestible energy (DE) contents (9-10 KJ/g DM) compared to the browse species. The 3 browse species had ADDM's of 30-57% DM, crude protein contents of 5.1-7.2% DM, total phenolic concentrations of 11.6-16.4% DM, and DE contents of 6-12 KJ/g DM. Winter rye and lichen had the lowest total phenolic concentrations (1.3 and 1.9% DM) of forages examined, and had lower ADDM's (35 and 40% DM), DE contents (6-7 KJ/g DM), and crude protein (7.8 and 5.7% DM) than seaweeds. The relatively high DE and protein contents of seaweed may explain high deer densities of Maine coastal islands where browse availability and use appears to be low

Variability and Potential of Seaweeds as Ingredients of Ruminant Diets: An In Vitro Study

“…A characteristic common to all seaweeds is their high water content, which may be an important limitation to their direct use in livestock feeding. Another possible limitation is their high salt content [10]. In addition, the presence of compounds that can be a challenge for the digestive system of terrestrial animals may also limit the use of seaweeds in animal feeding [2].…”

Effect of dietary seaweed (Ulva lactuca) supplementation on growth performance of sheep and on in vitro gas production kinetics

“…Their collection and use as a nonconventional source for animal feeding may contribute in solving the environmental problem (1,2). Use of seaweed as a feed supplement for animals has been known by farmers for centuries, and thus the recent attempts to use it as a source of forage for livestock are not new (3)(4)(5). Seaweeds have higher protein, minerals, and vitamin levels and lower fat contents compared to some vegetables (6)(7)(8), and they are known as a useful feed supplement for sheep (3).…”

Seamustard (<i>Undaria pinnatifida</i>) Improves Growth, Immunity, Fatty Acid Profile and Reduces Cholesterol in Hanwoo Steers

“…Seamustard, also known as wakame ( Undaria pinnatifida ) is a large brown seaweed belonging to the order Laminariales . The nutritional value of seaweed as a feed supplement for domestic animals has been confirmed by many authors ( Zalabak et al, 1990 ; Arieli et al, 1993 ; Applegate and Gray, 1995 ) and speculated as the valuable feed source for livestock in the future. Phlorotannins occur only in marine brown algae and are produced entirely by polymerization of phloroglucinol (1,3,5-trihydroxybenzene) through carbon-carbon or carbon-oxygen bonds ( Ragan and Glombitza, 1986 ; Arnold and Targett, 1998 ), have been studied extensively with regard to their effects on ruminant nutrition, especially in relation to protein metabolism by rumen microflora ( Barry and McNabb, 1999 ; Min et al, 2003 ).…”