- Статьи
- Science and technology
- In one go: Crimean algae will increase the productivity of chickens by 30%
In one go: Crimean algae will increase the productivity of chickens by 30%
Russian scientists have found out that the green algae cladophora can be used as a feed additive to compensate for the deficiency of nutrients in farm animals. For the first time, experts have determined the exact chemical composition of this algae and found that it accumulates calcium, potassium, magnesium, sodium and other valuable trace elements in tissues. Thanks to this, additives created from "underwater moss" accelerate the growth of rabbits and broiler chickens, enrich their meat with iodine, and in laying hens they also increase egg production by 30%. However, scientists' research requires confirmation of economic efficiency, checking the responsiveness of animals to feeding, and other additional experiments, industry representatives told Izvestia.
What is the famous alga of cladophora?
Research by scientists at the Institute of Biology of the South Seas of the Russian Academy of Sciences has shown that feed additives from cladophora accelerate the growth of rabbits and broiler chickens, enrich their meat with iodine, and increase egg laying by 30%. Until now, the chemical composition of this alga has not been studied in detail, it was not known how it varies depending on the season and the place of collection. This hindered the introduction of additives based on it into the practice of animal husbandry and aquaculture, the researchers said. In the new work, experts have for the first time determined the composition and quantity of various chemical elements in the tissues of the cladophora.
Doctor of Biological Sciences, the first author of the article, Alexander Prazukin, prepares samples for analysis
The green algae Cladophora, also called aquarium moss, grows in freshwater, marine and hypersaline (with a salt content of more than 35 g in 1 liter of water) reservoirs around the world.
At the same time, in hypersaline lakes, in the summer months, the cladophora actively grows and forms large accumulations — floating mats. On the one hand, this can lead to the accumulation of too many organic substances in the reservoir and a decrease in the amount of oxygen, which is bad for the inhabitants of the lake. But on the other hand, a person can use the thickets of cladophora as a valuable source of protein, amino acids, iodine and other vital chemical elements.
Earlier, during the active period of algae growth — from April to September — the authors collected samples of cladophora growing in the hypersaline Lake Chersonesskoe in the Crimea. Here, algae forms floating mats up to several centimeters thick, and in summer they cover up to 90% of the lake's surface.
The scientists dried and crushed the samples, after which they evaluated their chemical composition using a modern inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (it allows determining even negligible concentrations of substances). In addition, to understand where certain elements come from in algae and how they relate to the state of the environment, the researchers analyzed the composition of bottom sediments. The fact is that dead algae gradually sink to the bottom and decompose, so comparing the composition of living plants and bottom sludge allows you to find out which elements remain in the plant and which go into the sediments.
Lake Chersonesskoe with kladofory mats
It turned out that a large amount of calcium, potassium, magnesium and sodium accumulates in the algae tissues, and the potassium content is almost seven times higher than the sodium level. This ratio of trace elements will have a very positive effect on animals if you use cladophora as a dietary supplement: algae will not saturate the body with salt, but it will become a source of valuable potassium necessary for the functioning of the heart and muscles, the scientists said.
They also found that algae accumulate 1.8–3.6 times more boron, selenium and manganese than bottom sediments. Algae collect valuable trace elements (especially selenium, which is important for animal immunity), but do not accumulate dangerous heavy metals. This means that feed additives from cladophora will be useful and safe for livestock.
— Knowing the chemical composition of cladophora, it is possible to accelerate its introduction as a feed additive in agriculture. Our data indicate that it will become not only a source of iodine for animals, but also a valuable resource for obtaining potassium and selenium. In the future, we will have to investigate why some elements remain in the tissues of algae, while others go into the sediments," said Elena Anufrieva, head of the project, head of the Laboratory of Extreme Ecosystems at the Institute of Biology of the South Seas of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
Algae prospects in the feed industry
Algae has been present in the diets of animals and humans since ancient times, and is actively used as a means of increasing animal productivity, said the head of the Smart Supply Chain segment of the FoodNet working group NTI Sergey Kosogor.
— Since cladophora contains a lot of protein, essential amino acids, vitamins (groups B, C, E, K), minerals (iodine, iron, calcium) and antioxidants (carotenoids), compound feed based on it can be used to feed animals, they will help improve growth, feed conversion, improve immunity and quality products (meat, milk, eggs, etc.). Some components of algae can stimulate beneficial intestinal microflora, improving the absorption of other nutrients, the expert said.
However, the research conducted by scientists requires confirmation of economic efficiency and verification of the responsiveness of animals to feeding, since harvesting or growing algae is a process that has been developing for more than 10-15 years and requires costs, Sergey Kosogor noted. The success of producing functional products from algae for humans also depends on a competent approach: selecting the exact dosage and quality control of raw materials, he said.
The use of cladophora as a feed additive so far looks more like a promising area for further research than as a ready-made solution for animal husbandry, Alisa Bakhorina, head of the Center for Automated Solutions at the Organizational and Technological Solutions Group of Companies, told Izvestia.
— The very fact that microelements accumulate by algae does not mean that these substances will be effectively absorbed by the animal body and have a pronounced effect on productivity or health. It is important to take into account that algae are formed in an aquatic environment and their biological role is primarily related to the organisms that live in this ecosystem. For farm animals, it is necessary to study separately how well the components of such raw materials are suitable for their metabolism, how they are absorbed and how significant the effect is when included in the diet," the expert noted.
The results of a study by scientists from the A.O. Kovalevsky Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas of the Russian Academy of Sciences, supported by a grant from the Russian Science Foundation (RNF), have been published in the journal Algal Research.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
