S05 FEAG 5 2013 Livestock_Layout 1 11/18/2013 10:06 AM Page 17
Livestock
Algae to become pig feed The sector of algae cultivation is poised to be an impressive market in near future HE USE OF algae, particularly marine algae, as an animal feed has increased eight per cent each year for the past 30 years, according to experts. Algae cultivation is very promising as they do not need fertilisers, freshwater or pesticides and require on average one-sixth of the surface needed by terrestrial plants. In contrast with terrestrial plants that draw nutrients from their roots, algae absorb nutrients from their entire surface greatly increasing productivity. Moreover, their colloidal structure, which allows greater water retention. The Earth has seven production basins of brown seaweed, with Asia being at 75 per cent and Northern Europe coming last with only two per cent of world production. The required conditions for the cultivation of seaweed are cold water with no ice. Nevertheless, the real challenge is to establish a viable seaweed industry and bring the development of seaweed cultivation within regional development. In the animal feed industry, seaweed meals are increasingly used as a dietary supplement, but seaweed extracts still remain quite inaccessible economically. Algae can be used as a functional fibre complementary to other prebiotics, according to evidence from French researchers. In other roles, algae are used in small quantities over a
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Algae do not need fertilisers and have greater water retention capabilities
short period of time, often as a supportive measure. This is the case with lithothame and fossil calciferous algae, which has a structure of calcium carbonate and magnesium.
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