project - EIP-AGRI Operational Group
MICOALGAFEED - Reduction of antibiotics in livestock farming through a natural diet based on the use of fungi and algae
Objectives
Main objective: To reduce or eliminate the use of
antibiotics in broiler growing farms through the use of
industrial residues of fungi and microalgae.
Specific objectives:
- Design and development functional raw materials based
on fungi and microalgae for the livestock sector.
- In vitro evaluation of the antimicrobial,
immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory capacity and
analytically characterization of the ingredients and
formulated feeds.
- In vivo evaluation of the efficiency of the experimental
feeds in the poultry farm.
Activities
Production of ingredients based on fungi and algae.
Selection of various ingredients/combinations to be
incorporated into the animals feed with greater
antimicrobial, immunoglobulizing and/or anti inflammatory capacity.
Obtaining and selecting feeds on a pilot scale and
calculating the necessary quantities of ingredients to
maintain the effectiveness after the necessary treatments.
Selection of feeds after simulation of the avian
gastrointestinal digestion process.
Analytical characterization of the ingredients and selected
feeds.
Evaluation of feeds in experimental farm
Project details
- Main funding source
- Rural development 2014-2020 for Operational Groups
- Rural Development Programme
- 2014ES06RDNP001 España - Programa Nacional de Desarrollo Rural
Ort
- Main geographical location
- A Coruña
- Other geographical location
- Pontevedra, Asturias
EUR 524 848.00
Total budget
Total contributions from EAFRD, national co-financing, additional national financing and other financing.
Ressourcen
Audiovisual Material
6 Practice Abstracts
R6 - Evaluation of the feeds following the study in the experimental farm, derived from the productive, epidemiological, clinical controls, pathogen fecal analysis, and the immune system status, conducted during the in vivo trial. Selection/classification of the validated feeds based on efficacy.
The nutritional, microbiological, antimicrobial and immunomodulatory characterization of the experimental feeds has been completed, as well as the zootechnical assessment of the in vivo trial. This has led to the development of a clinical, epidemiological, and productive checklist, as well as a study of feces and blood to evaluate the effect of the experimental feeds. Following the in vitro evaluation of the immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects, the immunostimulatory effect of the large-scale manufactured feeds should be highlighted. The results obtained also show that no significant differences were found between the different feeds in the parameters related to the immune system status. Cytokine concentration data in blood exhibited high variability, likely due to difficulties in sample extraction and the low concentration (at the pg/ml level) in protein detection.
R5 - Analytical characterization of the 3 ingredients and the selected feeds in vitro for their greater efficacy.
The analytical and microbiological characterization of the experimental feeds was carried out, concluding that all of them met the quality parameters regarding the physicochemical parameters analyzed, as well as the microbiological results. The presence of mycotoxins was also analyzed, and results were in compliance with the quality limits established for each mycotoxin and for the experimental feed, therefore not affecting the final feed quality.
On the other hand, a triplicate analysis was performed for each type of experimental feed regarding trace elements (macrominerals), which serve as markers for the homogeneity and proper integration of raw materials and concentrates. The results obtained allowed us to conclude that all are compliant and aligned with the formulation, with slight variations in some parameters due to the higher contribution of the concentrates, though these were not significant. Furthermore, durability, acidity, and granulometric quality were analyzed, and these also fell within the expected parameters.
Finally, an analytical evaluation of the selected feeds and ingredients was carried out (physicochemical characterization, microbiological characterization, biomolecular analysis, characterization of undesirable substances, and shelf-life study)
R4 - Selection of up to 6 feeds formulated with ingredients that, after simulating the avian gastrointestinal digestion process, show antimicrobial, immunomodulatory, and/or anti-inflammatory capacity.
In vitro avian gastrointestinal digestion simulation tests were conducted with feeds incorporating the selected ingredients, obtaining the gastrointestinal digests of the formulated feeds, which allowed the evaluation of their antimicrobial and immunomodulatory capacities. The antimicrobial capacity of the digests of the feeds supplemented with mushroom and/or algae-based ingredients was also assessed, with no antimicrobial effects found against the target microbiota under the tested conditions. Finally, the evaluation of the digests of the formulated feeds showed a potential beneficial effect, specifically an immunostimulant effect, for the feeds formulated with the mushroom+microalgae combination. None of the digests of the formulated feeds showed negative results regarding immunomodulatory or anti-inflammatory activity.
Therefore, the results obtained demonstrate that none of the formulated feeds showed a negative effect, and even in the in vitro experiments, a potentially beneficial effect on the avian immune system was observed.
R3 - Obtaining and selecting up to 6 pilot-scale feeds and calculating the necessary quantities of each ingredient to maintain the ingredient's effectiveness after the required treatments for its addition to the feeds.
It was determined that the best solution was to ensure the same nutrient concentration in all batches, incorporating the new ingredients to be tested into the formulas as follows:
- LOT 1 → 1% DIATOMITE
- LOT 2 → 0.2% MUSHROOMS + 0.8% DIATOMITE
- LOT 3 → 0.8% ALGAE + 0.2% DIATOMITE
- LOT 4 → 0.2% MUSHROOMS + 0.8% ALGAE
It was determined that all feeds should be produced with the same raw materials in case the evaluation of these after NIR analysis did not exactly match the reality. It was decided that it was preferable to evaluate a formula for the same production stage (starter feed) and introduce as a variable the presence or absence of coccidiostat in the vitamin-mineral supplement, rather than evaluating the formula for the other production stage (finishing feed).
In total, 8 types of feed were formulated and produced, which were identified as follows:
- T-1: Control Feed with Valencia Supplement
- T-2: Control Feed with Valencia Supplement + Mushrooms
- T-3: Control Feed with Valencia Supplement + Algae
- T-4: Control Feed with Valencia Supplement + Mushrooms + Algae
- T-5: Control Feed with Tudela Saline Supplement
- T-6: Control Feed with Tudela Supplement + Mushrooms
T-7: Control Feed with Tudela Supplement + Algae
T-8: Control Feed with Tudela Supplement + Mushrooms + Algae
R2 - Selection of ingredients/mixtures to be incorporated into the feed with the highest antimicrobial, immunomodulatory, and/or anti-inflammatory capacity.
In vitro evaluation of the antimicrobial capacity against 3 avian pathogens and the immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory capacity of ingredients of interest was carried out to select ingredients with the highest biological effect.
Specifically, the antimicrobial capacity of mushroom-based ingredients was evaluated using 3 methodologies: the ecometric method, the turbidity method, and the turbidity method after a methanol extraction of the ingredients. No antimicrobial effects were found against the target microbiota under the tested conditions. An evaluation of the ingredients was also conducted, showing a potential beneficial effect, including both immunostimulatory and anti-inflammatory effects, allowing for the selection of samples for the next activities (Sample 1 of mushrooms and sample Cv (Chlorella vulgaris) of microalgae).
Having shown a positive effect in both molecular contexts or macrophage phenotypes, the Cv (Chlorella vulgaris) sample was selected as the algae sample to incorporate into the feed, and it was used to test different combinations throughout all the project activities.
R1 - Selection and manufacturing of mushroom and microalgae-based ingredients for the innovation project.
Firstly, based on the various studies consulted, it is concluded that mushrooms and some of their molecules can play a significant role in poultry production: (1) Polysaccharides present in mushrooms can act as immunomodulators and agents with antibacterial, antiviral, and antiparasitic activity; (2) Phenolic compounds isolated from mushrooms can act as antioxidants; (3) Some mushroom species can be used in broiler chicken diets as growth promoters and as a natural alternative to antibiotics; (4) Some mushrooms can improve egg production and quality; (5) Some mushrooms can be used as a safe and effective alternative to induce molting, enhance immunity, reduce the growth of Salmonella and other enteropathogens, and return to egg production. However, further studies are needed to investigate the effects of mushrooms on the improvement of productive performance in chickens and to study the mechanisms by which mushrooms affect the intestinal microbiota and the immune response in birds.
After the bibliographic analysis, pilot industrial processing of samples from selected mushroom species with high scientific interest was carried out: Ganoderma lucidum, Lentinula edodes, Agaricus bisporus, Coriolus versicolor, Cordyceps sinensis, Cordyceps militaris, Pleurotus ostreatus, Grifola frondosa, Polyporus umbellatus, Hericium erinaceus, Pleurotus eryngii, and Agaricus blazei.
Contacts
Project coordinator
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Fundación Empresa Universidad Gallega
Project coordinator
Project partners
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Hifas Veterinary S.L.
Project partner
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Neoalgae Micro Seaweeds Products S.L.
Project partner
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UVE S.A.
Project partner