Loading...
Research Project
Disclosing the potential of seaweeds for feeding pigs and poultry
Funder
Authors
Publications
Quality Traits and Nutritional Value of Pork and Poultry Meat from Animals Fed with Seaweeds
Publication . Ribeiro, David Miguel; Martins, Cátia Falcão; Costa, Mónica; Coelho, Diogo; Pestana, José; Alfaia, Cristina; Lordelo, Madalena; Almeida, André; Freire, João; Prates, José António Mestre
Seaweeds have caught the attention of the scientific community in recent years. Their
production can mitigate the negative impact of anthropogenic activity and their use in animal
nutrition reduces the dependency on conventional crops such as maize and soybean meal. In
the context of monogastric animals, novel approaches have made it possible to optimise their
use in feed, namely polysaccharide extraction, biomass fermentation, enzymatic processing, and
feed supplementation with carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes). Their bioactive properties
make them putative candidates as feed ingredients that enhance meat quality traits, such as lipid
oxidation, shelf-life, and meat colour. Indeed, they are excellent sources of essential amino acids,
polyunsaturated fatty acids, minerals, and pigments that can be transferred to the meat of monogastric
animals. However, their nutritional composition is highly variable, depending on species, harvesting
region, local pollution, and harvesting season, among other factors. In this review, we assess the
current use and challenges of using seaweeds in pig and poultry diets, envisaging to improve meat
quality and its nutritional value
An individual alginate lyase is effective in the disruption of Laminaria digitata recalcitrant cell wall
Publication . Costa, Monica; Pio, Luís Bernardo; Bule, Pedro; Cardoso, Vânia; Alfaia, Cristina; Coelho, Diogo; Brás, Joana; Fontes, Carlos M.G.A.; Prates, José A.M
In the present study, 199 pre-selected Carbohydrate-Active enZymes (CAZymes) and sulfatases were
assessed, either alone or in combination, to evaluate their capacity to disrupt Laminaria digitata cell
wall, with the consequent release of interesting nutritional compounds. A previously characterized
individual alginate lyase, belonging to the family 7 of polysaccharide lyases (PL7) and produced
by Saccharophagus degradans, was shown to be the most efcient in the in vitro degradation of L.
digitata cell wall. The alginate lyase treatment, compared to the control, released up to 7.11 g/L
of reducing sugars (p< 0.001) and 8.59 mmol/100 g dried alga of monosaccharides (p< 0.001), and
reduced cell wall fuorescence intensity by 39.1% after staining with Calcofuor White (p= 0.001). The
hydrolysis of gel-forming polymer alginate by the alginate lyase treatment could prevent the trapping
of fatty acids and release benefcial monounsaturated fatty acids, particularly 18:1c9 (p < 0.001), to
the extracellular medium. However, no liberation of proteins (p > 0.170) or pigments (p > 0.070) was
observed. Overall, these results show the ability of an individual alginate lyase, from PL7 family, to
partially degrade L. digitata cell wall under physiological conditions. Therefore, this CAZyme can
potentially improve the bioavailability of L. digitata bioactive compounds for monogastric diets, with
further application in feed industry.
Combined effects of dietary Laminaria digitata with alginate lyase on plasma metabolites and hepatic lipid, pigment and mineral composition of broilers
Publication . Costa, Mónica Mendes; Lopes, Paula Alexandra; Assunção, José Miguel Pestana; Alfaia, Cristina; Coelho, Diogo; Mourato, Miguel; Pinto, Rui Manuel; Lordelo, Madalena; Prates, José António
Background: The Laminaria digitata is an abundant macroalga and a sustainable feedstock for poultry nutrition. L.
digitata is a good source of essential amino acids, carbohydrates and vitamins, including A, D, E, and K, as well as triacylglycerols
and minerals, in particular iron and calcium. However, the few studies available in the literature with broilers
document the application of this macroalga as a dietary supplement rather than a feed ingredient. No study has
addressed up until now the effects of a high-level incorporation (> 2% in the diet) of L. digitata on plasma biochemical
markers and hepatic lipid composition, as well as minerals and pigments profile in the liver of broilers. Our experimental
design included one hundred and twenty Ross 308 male birds contained in 40 wired-floor cages and distributed to
the following diets at 22 days of age (n = 10) for 15 days: 1) a corn-soybean basal diet (Control); 2) the basal diet plus
15% of L. digitata (LA); 3) the basal diet plus 15% of L. digitata with 0.005% of Rovabio® Excel AP (LAR); and 4) the basal
diet plus 15% of L. digitata with 0.01% of the recombinant CAZyme, alginate lyase (LAE).
Results: L. digitata compromised birds’ growth performance by causing a reduction in final body weight. It was
found an increase in hepatic n-3 and n-6 fatty acids, in particular C18:2n-6, C18:3n-6, C20:4n-6, C20:5n-3, C22:5n-3
and C22:6n-3 with the addition of the macroalga, with or without feed enzymes, to the broiler diets. Also, the beneficial
C18:3n-3 fatty acid was increased by combining L. digitata and commercial Rovabio® Excel AP compared to the
control diet. The sum of SFA, MUFA and the n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio were decreased by L. digitata, regardless the addition
of exogenous enzymes. β-carotene was enhanced by L. digitata, individually or combined with CAZymes, being also
responsible for a positive increase in total pigments. Macrominerals, in particular phosphorous and sulphur, were
increased in the liver of broilers fed L. digitata individually relative to the control. For microminerals, copper, iron and
the correspondent sum were consistently elevated in the liver of broilers fed L. digitata, individually or combined with
exogenous CAZymes. The powerful discriminant analysis tool based on the hepatic characterization revealed a good
separation between the control group and L. digitata diets but failed to discriminate the addition of feed enzymes
Current knowledge and future perspectives of the use of seaweeds for livestock production and meat quality : a systematic review
Publication . Costa, Mónica; Cardoso, Carlos; Afonso, Cláudia; Bandarra, Narcisa M.; Prates, José A.M
ABSTRACT - The effects of dietary macroalgae, or seaweeds, on growth performance and meat quality of livestock animal species are here reviewed. Macroalgae are classified into Phaeophyceae (brown algae), Rhodophyceae (red algae) and Chlorophyceae (green algae). The most common macroalga genera used as livestock feedstuffs are: Ascophyllum, Laminaria and Undaria for brown algae; Ulva, Codium and Cladophora for green algae; and Pyropia, Chondrus and Palmaria for red algae. Macroalgae are rich in many nu-trients, including bioactive compounds, such as soluble polysaccharides, with some species being good sources of n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids. To date, the in-corporation of macroalgae in livestock animal diets was shown to improve growth and meat quality, depending on the alga species, dietary level and animal growth stage. Generally, Ascophyllum nodosum can increase average daily gain (ADG) in ruminant and pig mostly due to its prebiotic activity in animal's gut. A. nodosum also enhances marbling score, colour uniformity and redness, and can decrease saturated fatty acids in ruminant meats. Laminaria sp., mainly Laminaria digitata, increases ADG and feed efficiency, and improves the antioxidant potential of pork. Ulva sp., and its mixture with Codium sp., was shown to improve poultry growth at up to 10% feed. Therefore, seaweeds are promising sustainable alternatives to corn and soybean as feed ingre-dients, thus attenuating the current competition among food-feed-biofuel industries. In addition, macroalgae can hinder eutrophication and participate in bioremediation. However, some challenges need to be overcome, such as the development of large- scale and cost-effective algae production methods and the improvement of algae digestibility by monogastric animals. The dietary inclusion of Carbohydrate-Active enZymes (CAZymes) could allow for the degradation of recalcitrant macroalga cell walls, with an increase of nutrients bioavailability. Overall, the use of macroalgae as feedstuffs is a promising strategy for the development of a more sustainable livestock production.
Plasma Metabolites and Liver Composition of Broilers in Response to Dietary Ulva lactuca with Ulvan Lyase or a Commercial Enzyme Mixture
Publication . Alfaia, Cristina M.; Costa, Mónica M.; Pinto, Rui M.A.; Pestana, José M.; Mourato, Miguel; Carvalho, Patrícia; Martins, Cátia F.; Lopes, Paula A.; Lordelo, Madalena; Prates, José A.M.
The effect of a high incorporation level of Ulva lactuca, individually and supplemented with
a Carbohydrate-Active enZyme (CAZyme) on broilers’ plasma parameters and liver composition is
assessed here. Twenty one-day-old Ross 308 male broilers were randomly assigned to one of four
treatments (n = 10): corn/soybean meal based-diet (Control); based-diet with 15% U. lactuca (UL);
UL diet with 0.005% of commercial carbohydrase mixture; and UL diet with 0.01% of recombinant
ulvan lyase. Supplementing U. lactuca with the recombinant CAZyme slightly compromised broilers’
growth by negatively affecting final body weight and average daily gain. The combination of U. lactuca
with ulvan lyase also increased systemic lipemia through an increase in total lipids, triacylglycerols
and VLDL-cholesterol (p < 0.001). Moreover, U. lactuca, regardless of the CAZyme supplementation,
enhanced hepatic n-3 PUFA (mostly 20:5n-3) with positive decrease in n-6/n-3 ratio. However, broilers
fed with U. lactuca with ulvan lyase reduced hepatic a- and
-tocopherol concentrations relative to
the control. Conversely, the high amount of pigments in macroalga diets led to an increase in hepatic
beta-carotene, chlorophylls and total carotenoids. Furthermore, U. lactuca, alone or combined with
CAZymes, enhanced hepatic total microminerals, including iron and manganese. Overall, plasma
metabolites and liver composition changed favorably in broilers that were fed 15% of U. lactuca,
regardless of enzyme supplementation
Organizational Units
Description
Keywords
Contributors
Funders
Funding agency
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Funding programme
9471 - RIDTI
Funding Award Number
PTDC/CAL-ZOO/30238/2017