Abstract
Seaweed (known as marine algae) has a tradition of being part of the animal feed in the coastal areas, from ancient times. Seaweeds, are mixed with animal feed, because when consumed alone can have negative impact on animals. Thus, seaweeds are very rich in useful metabolites (pigments, carotenoids, phlorotannins, polyunsaturated fatty acids, agar, alginate and carrageenan) and minerals (iodine, zinc, sodium, calcium, manganese, iron, selenium), being considered as a natural source of additives that can substitute the antibiotic usage in various animals. In this review, we describe the nutritional values of seaweeds and the seaweed effects in the seaweed-based animal feed/supplements.
Highlights
Seaweeds colonize aquatic habitats and are used mainly by coastal populations [1,2]
The most common varieties of edible algae include: Neopyropia/Porphyra/Pyropia spp., Undaria pinnatifida, Saccharina latissima, Palmaria palmata and Chondrus crispus, varieties that are associated with many health benefits, such as decreasing blood pressure, preventing spills and they are a valuable protein source [6]
Seaweed are considered a rich and sustainable source of macronutrients and micronutrients to the animal feed, but if seaweeds are to contribute to future global food security, legislative measures to ensure monitoring and labeling of feed products are needed to safeguard against excessive intakes of salt, iodine, and heavy metals, such as arsenic (As), aluminum (Al), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), rubidium (Rb), silicon (Si), strontium (Sr) and tin (Sn) [43,44]
Summary
Seaweeds colonize aquatic habitats and are used mainly by coastal populations [1,2]. Many seaweed species are normally used in unprocessed form, in medicine, human diets, animals feeds and for improvements in agricultural soil as fertilizers [3]. There are various edible seaweeds for human consumption with high protein content, with variable essential amino acids [11] They absorb minerals from seawater and contain 10 to 20 times more than the land plants [12]. The concentration of EAAs in seaweed, in an entire biomass base, is considerably lower than in traditional sources, such as corn and soy, it is not suitable as a protein source in compound diets for monogastric animals. This does not detract from its positive health benefits for humans and livestock, where its few calories and high mineral content may be desirable [14]. Our intention is to analyze the seaweed potential for animal feed and to contribute to the development of its standardized use, reducing the animal health risks
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