Algae in animal feed: a sustainable rising star
Sciantec
Agriculture
As the animal feed industry searches for sustainable, high-performance ingredients, one contender is making waves: algae. Packed with nutrition, algae is easy to grow in the right conditions, and offers a greener alternative to traditional protein sources.
But is algae ready to compete with the likes of fishmeal and soybean meal for animal feed? Let’s find out.
Today, we’re talking about why animal feed producers should consider using algae in animal feed, the advantages and challenges of analysing algae, and how Sciantec can help.
Why should you consider using algae in animal feed?
Algae may be small, but it’s making a big impact as an emerging ingredient in animal nutrition.
It can be grown in marine or freshwater environments, often requiring little more than sunlight, carbon dioxide (CO₂), and nutrients. Unlike many crops, it doesn’t compete for arable land, making it a truly sustainable option to traditional protein sources like fishmeal and soybean meal. Commercial cultivation can take place in tanks, ponds, or even the open sea, reducing pressures for land use and allowing that space to be used for supporting biodiversity, growing food, and sequestering carbon.
Algae also contains a wide range of nutrients:
- It’s high in protein, with certain species containing protein levels of up to 60%
- It’s rich in essential fatty acids that are vital for animal health and product quality, including omega-3 fatty acids
- It’s packed with antioxidants to help support immune function and resilience in livestock
- It’s micronutrient dense, with B vitamins and trace minerals often more bioavailable than in synthetic forms
- Some forms can enhance gut health in a variety of species.
The pros and cons of analysing algae in animal feed
Nutrient composition in algae can vary widely depending on species, growing conditions, and harvest timing. Understanding exactly what’s in your algae, and how it performs once formulated into feed, is essential before choosing to utilise this emerging ingredient in your feed.
The advantages of algal analysis
- Enables precise nutritional profiling (protein %, lipid content, fatty acid composition)
- Provides a direct comparison with conventional ingredients like fishmeal
- Identifies variability in algal batches, which is important for consistency in feed
- Supports least-cost formulation and diet optimisation.
Least-cost formulation involves getting the most optimal nutrients from the lowest material cost. This could involve partially substituting ingredients for ones with similar nutrient profiles that are cheaper, or considering micronutrients from raw materials that can enable lower inclusion of (very expensive) synthetic vitamins and minerals.
This is similar to how including phytase can reduce the amount of additional phosphorus that is added. As it helps make phosphorus in plants more bioavailable, formulations can actually use phytase’s matrix value for phosphorus instead of adding synthetic phosphorus, and that can make diets cheaper.
The only way to know the true nutritional content of a feed material, however, is through expert analysis by an accredited laboratory like Sciantec.
The challenges of algal analysis
While algae production is straightforward, processing can be more complex. Fresh algae is extremely wet, so to get a suitable sample, large volumes must be dried. This step can add to the cost of undertaking analysis. You will have to either pay to produce and dry higher volumes for testing than needed for other raw materials, or you will need to pay additional postage for larger amounts to be sent to the lab as well as higher costs for drying before analysis can take place.
This more expensive and energy-intensive process means that consistency and efficiency in production key for feed producers considering it as a main ingredient. Being consistent with samples and analysis also means that you can test less often as you will have more confidence in how predictable your end products will be, reducing costs and time overall.
Additionally:
- Algae’s high moisture levels make it difficult to transport if it’s not dried first
- Wet samples can be messy and require careful handling for accurate lab analysis
- Nutrient content can vary significantly between species and growing conditions, complicating standardisation. This requires meticulous selection and quality control.
We can help you design a testing schedule that will help you manage and overcome these challenges. We can also advise you on how to take the best samples that will give you the most accurate and reliable results for your needs.
How Sciantec can help feed producers
At Sciantec, we work closely with feed producers exploring innovative ingredients like algae. We can:
- Test algae samples (including wet samples) for all standard nutritional parameters. Options are also available for fatty acid profiles and amino acid content.
- Analyse formulated diets containing algae to assess nutritional output and to see how they compare nutritionally to traditional feeds.
- Provide reliable data to optimise formulations for cost and performance.
- Support your R&D with fast, accurate laboratory testing.
We have extensive expertise in supporting alternative feed ingredient validation and R&D trials.
We also offer standard animal feed analytical services for feedstuffs, ingredients, raw materials, compound feed, meals, premixes, and forages. We are UKAS and GMP+ accredited for quality management and assurance schemes, and we are qualified to carry out UFAS, FEMAS, and FEDIAF-based analysis.
Whether you’re trialling algae for aquaculture, livestock, or companion animals, we can help you optimise your formulations with data-driven decision making.
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