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Oorsig/Review
Seaweed, or macro-
algae, is a source of
many nutrients including
carbohydrates (mainly
polysaccharides),
proteins, lipids,
minerals, and vitamins.
marine algae, or seaweed, as a source of new
products that can help accomplish this goal.
Seaweed is an abundant and renewable resource
that has played a role in the lives of people
and animals in the Brittany area of France for
hundreds of years. Feeding seaweed to animals
is nothing new, but Olmix is bringing a new
scientific approach to how people and animals
can benefit from seaweed.
A source of nutrition and health
Seaweed, or macro-algae, is a source of many
nutrients including carbohydrates (mainly
polysaccharides), proteins, lipids, minerals,
and vitamins. Macro-algae are also particularly
rich in biologically active compounds known as
algae sulfated polysaccharides. The uniqueness
of these algae sulfated polysaccharides
comes from the complexity of their structure
which are branched hetero-polysaccharides
containing sulfate groups. These are structurally
different from polysaccharides that come from
terrestrial plants, like starch and cellulose,
which are simply straight chains of glucose
molecules without any branching or sulfate
groups. The biological activity of the algae
sulfated polysaccharides is due to their complex
structure (branching), presence of multiple
and rare sugars, and the sulfate content. Olmix
has isolated several unique algae sulfated
polysaccharides from green, red, and brown
seaweed that have been incorporated into
products that help manage some of the most
common and economically important problems
that dairy producers encounter.
Managing digestive troubles
Diarrhea, whether from dietary or pathogenic
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origin, is one of the major issues dairy producers
struggle with in young calves. The surface of the
gastrointestinal tract is covered with a protective
layer of mucus to help prevent diarrhea causing
bacteria like E. coli and salmonella from entering
the body. Olmix has developed a product
called Diet which contains the algae sulfated
polysaccharide known as MSPMUCIN along
with montmorillonite clay and electrolytes.
MSPMUCIN has been shown to increase the
production of mucin by the goblet cells in the
intestines. This helps to thicken and fortify the
protective mucus layer covering the intestinal
epithelial cells and prevent harmful pathogens
from entering the body. The montmorillonite
clay also has a protective action towards the
gastrointestinal mucosa, acts as an antacid, and
adsorbs gas and toxins preventing them from
entering the body.
Reducing metabolic disorders
Ketosis is a metabolic disease caused by a severe
negative energy balance between feed intake and
the energy required for maintenance and milk
production. It is most commonly seen in cows
that have recently calved and are in their third
or higher lactation, but can be seen in younger
cows and at any time. This negative energy
balance causes a mobilization and degradation
of body fat which puts a tremendous strain on
the liver and results in ketone bodies building
up in the bloodstream. β-hydroxybutyric acid
(BHBA) is the main ketone body and is most
commonly used to diagnose ketosis. Clinical
ketosis is easy to detect and easy to treat
unless it is accompanied by hepatic lipidosis,
also known as fatty liver. Signs of clinical
ketosis include a rapid appetite and weight loss
associated with a decline in milk production.
Cows with clinical ketosis will have blood
BHBA levels greater than 1.4 mMol/L. There
is also a subclinical form of ketosis that does
not show the obvious clinical signs of a sudden
decrease in appetite and milk production. The
best indication of subclinical ketosis is blood
BHBA levels in excess of 1.2mMol/L. Rapid and
accurate cow side tests that can be performed
in the barn are now available for measuring
blood BHBA levels. Cows with either clinical or
subclinical ketosis will produce less milk and
have a much greater risk of metritis, displaced
abomasum, fertility problems, and early removal
from the herd.
Understanding the negative impact ketosis has