NUTRITION ▶▶▶
From Norway’s fjords into swine troughs
That algae have a lot to offer for pig production is well-known. Less well-known, however, is that benefits also include more intestinal well-being, effective immunostimulation and increased fertility. Those positive effects were found after the administration of algae to swine nutrition.
S BY DR PAOLO MANZOTTI, PRODOTTI ARCA, ITALY
eaweeds and brown algae are among the feedstuffs receiving increasing amounts of attention in feed and pig industries. Several scientific studies suggest, however, that the neutraceutical potential of algae is
still being widely underused. Within brown algae, there are only a few species currently available for zootechnical use, meeting the requirements of the livestock sector, in terms of a wide availability, high quality standards and obviously cost-compatibility. The Ascophyllum (Ascophyllum nodosum) variety meets those requirements. This seaweed is typical for the cold waters of the Northern Atlantic and naturally prolif- erates almost as a ‘monoculture’ within the Norwegian fjords.
Characteristics of Ascophyllum The salient properties of Ascophyllum meal mainly derive from the peculiar composition of the polysaccharide fraction and from the polyphenols, commonly known as phlorotan- nins or algal tannins. In particular, there are four different types of polysaccharides that are found in Ascophyllum flour. They are:
Additives and raw materials
Prodotti Arca has been active on the market of additives and raw materials for zootechnical use since 2005. For more than ten years it has been representing the Norwegian company Algea in the EU and in the livestock sector. Algea is one of the largest producers of Ascophyllum meal in the world. In addition, the Arca portfolio contains other algae and microalgae as well. The novelties are mi- cro-algae and preparations (Vitalg DHA) with a high content of DHA (Omega 3) of vegetable origin.
A bag with Ascophyllum meal for use in pig feed. 24 ▶PIG PROGRESS | Volume 35, No. 6, 2019
• Alginates (known to have strong thickening and water retention properties, but also immunostimulation effect as a function of molecular weight); • Fucoidans (very interesting family of sulphated polysac- charides known in particular for their anti-inflammatory and immunostimulant properties); • Laminarin (algal β-glucan); and • Mannitol (a polysaccharide with marked osmotic proper- ties favouring diuresis). The polyphenols of Ascophyllum are known to be able to in- fluence the course of intestinal fermentations, seemingly in favour of lactobacilli. Recently, several studies on humans seem to indicate that the Ascophyllum phlorotannins are also able to modulate the absorption of carbohydrates by reduc- ing the post-prandial glycemic peak, the excess of which can lead to a real glucose intolerance. It is widely known that – in monogastrics – the vitality of embryos in animals with glu- cose intolerance is lower than that of animals that do not ex- hibit this metabolic disorder. Depending on the seasonality of the harvest, the content of polyphenols can vary from 8% to 15%, while the polysaccharide component fluctuates be- tween 40% and 50%. Two ‘contour’ components of Ascophyllum meal are iodine and glutamate. The last one is the most represented amino
PHOTO: PRODOTTI ARCA
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