The bioavailability of active compounds present in seaweeds can change due to any processing such as heat or drying temperature, similar to other feed ingredients. Here is a summary of some strategies that have been used to enhance the feed efficiency and palatability of algae for animal nutrition:

The mechanical approach

Drying, cooling, pelleting, steam, and extruding are common methods for feed processing useful as a cost-effective strategy to enhance digestibility and consequently feed efficiency. Together with new technologies such as hydrothermal process and grinding, those methods allow more nutrients and eliminate toxins and inhibitors.

Size reduction

The particle size in the diet is critical to developing the digestive tract and regulation of feed intake. When the particle size is larger, the breakdown in the gizzard and intestine takes more time leading to longer microvilli, increasing the surface area, and improving digestibility and absorption.

Extrusion

“Feed extrusion is a combination of heat, shear, and compressional forces utilized to produce strongly bonded and porous pellets.”

It has been reported that layer feed manufactured by extrusion with levels between 0.5 to 3 % of Chondrus crispus did not show any effect in neither the egg production parameters nor the quality. This result means