Researchers use algae-based animal feed to produce healthier meat
Project Overview
Developing a New, Healthy, Value-Added Meat by Feeding Chicks with Defatted Marine Microalgae from Biofuel Production
Feeding chicks with algal biomass, left after biofuel fermentation, increases the amount of omega-3 fatty acids in the chicken. This provides added health benefits to the public, while reducing the need for soybean or corn-based chicken feed.
We’ve all heard about the health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids. Increasing dietary omega-3 intake may decrease risk of chronic diseases, but typical American diets are deficient in these nutrients. Because the average American consumes over 85 pounds of chicken a year, increasing the level of omega-3 fatty acids in chicken meat could increase omega-3 consumption. Marine microalgae contain large amounts of omega-3 fatty acids and are a largely untapped natural resource. The goal of this project is to supply the public with an omega-3 fatty acid-enriched chicken while taking advantage of a byproduct of biofuel production from marine algae.
We fed over 1,000 chicks with different amounts of defatted microalgae biomass, ranging up to 16% of the diet. The more algal biomass in the diet, the more omega-3 fatty acids were measured in the breast and thigh muscles of the chicks. The algal biomass additions did not affect the physical properties of the chicken meat. Mice are often used as a model for human digestion and nutrition. We tested the higher omega-3 chicken by feeding it to mice. The omega-3 fatty acids from the chicken moved into the mouse tissues and were able to decrease liver triglycerides in the mice (higher liver triglycerides in humans can cause fatty liver disease and pancreatitis).
The Impacts
Our project takes the first steps toward creating a new source of omega-3 fatty acid-enriched meat while making productive use of a byproduct from biofuel production. Feeding chicks with algal biomass left after biofuel fermentation increased the amount of omega-3 fatty acids in the chicken. This technology will help poultry farmers produce a novel, higher value, omega-3 fatty acid-enriched chicken meat. It will also create a valuable use for a byproduct of bioenergy production and a valuable feed supplement that could replace some of the soybean protein in typical poultry diets. The public will benefit from availability of healthier chicken that can boost omega-3 fatty acid consumption without changing our dietary patterns.
Principal Investigator
Project Details
- Funding Source: Hatch
- Statement Year: 2019
- Status: Completed project
- Topics: Poultry, chicks, feed, algae, nutrition