Review article

Microalgae as feed ingredients for livestock production and meat quality: A review

Highlights

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The use, potential and constraints of microalgae in livestock diets is reviewed.

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Inclusion of microalgae in feed could improve animate being growth and meat quality.

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Microalgae are very promising alternatives to staple nutrient crops in feeds.

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Microalgae could help the sustainability of livestock production systems.

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The toll-effective use of microalgae is a major claiming for beast feeding.

Abstract

Microalgae, small-sized algae, have been studied every bit a natural marine resources for a number of economically relevant applications, including animal feed. In this review, we unveil the dietary microalgae effects currently known on production and meat quality of livestock species (ruminants, pigs, poultry and rabbits). Microalgae are classified into diatoms (Bacillariophyceae), green algae (Chlorophyceae), gilded algae (Chrysophyceae) and blueish-light-green algae blue-green alga (Cyanophyceae). The near of import phototrophic species belong to Arthrospira, Chlorella, Dunaliella and Haematocussus genus. In addition, heterotrophic marine organisms, such as Crypthecodinium, Schizochytrium and Ulkenia, have been successfully cultivated for n-three long-concatenation polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-iii LCPUFA) production. Microalgae are mainly composed by proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, vitamins, minerals and bioactive compounds, such as carotenoids. This variable nutrient limerick depends on species, strain and algae growing conditions. Research evidence then far has shown that the inclusion of microalgae in brute diets could improve growth and meat quality in ruminants, pigs, poultry and rabbits. These findings are highly dependent on microalgae own limerick and their amount in the diet. In a general overview, the inclusion of Arthrospira platensis in pig and poultry diets increases average daily gain but negatively affects feed conversion ratio. Regarding Schizochytrium sp., this microalga improves fat acid composition in pork and poultry meat, essentially due to its high content in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Chlorella, at very low percentages in feed, benefits growth performance parameters of poultry. The use of microalgae every bit feed ingredients is very promising every bit an alternative to corn and soybean, thus mitigating the current contest amidst food-feed-biofuel industries. In addition, microalgae contribute for the protection of environment and natural resources, namely land degradation and h2o deprivation. Microalgae also provide a sustainable alternative for north-3 LCPUFA availability, thus protecting worldwide fatty fish stocks. However, the cost-effective production and apply of microalgae is a major claiming in the well-nigh future. In fact, the current microalgae cultivation technology should be improved to reduce their production costs. In addition, we foresee that the efficiency of microalgae incorporation in monogastric diets could exist largely improved past the utilise of Carbohydrate-Active enZymes (CAZymes). CAZymes will allow the increase of nutrients bioavailability, as a consequence of recalcitrant microalgae cell walls deposition. Overall, the inclusion of microalgae in feed represents a very promising strategy for the maintenance and development of livestock sector, as an environmental friendly culling to balance food-feed-biofuel industries.

Keywords

Microalgae

Ruminants

Monogastrics

Growth functioning

Meat quality

Sustainability

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