Scope of Seaweeds to Boost Ruminant Productivity

Seaweeds are macroalgae that grow in oceans as phytoplankton. Based on the pigmentation pattern, seaweeds are classified as brown, red, and green algae. Among them, the most commonly explored genera of seaweeds in livestock production are Ascophyllum, Laminaria, Undaria, Ulva, Codium, Cladophora, Pyropia, Chondrus, Sargassum, and Palmaria. Seaweeds show a highly variable nutrient composition; however, they are rich in various nutrients including complex carbohydrates (laminarin, fucoidan, carrageenan, agaran, ulvan, alginate, starch, etc.), protein, highly bioavailable minerals like iodine and polyphenols with some species being good sources of n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Brown seaweeds are known to be of lower nutritional value compared to red and green seaweeds, owing to their lower protein and higher mineral content. The bioactive component “bromoform” of red seaweed Asparagopsis taxiformis has been proved to be a potent antimethanogenic compound in ruminants. Whereas, heavy metal accumulation could be a serious drawback in using seaweeds. This chapter describes the advantages of using seaweeds as additive for ruminants, their nutritional potential, and other effects along with limitations.