The Effect of Ensiling on the Nutritional Composition and Fermentation Characteristics of Brown Seaweeds as a Ruminant Feed Ingredient

SIMPLE SUMMARY: In recent years, there has emerged a renewed interest in the inclusion of seaweed as an animal feed ingredient. Due to annual fluctuations in the availability and biochemical composition of seaweeds, effective preservation methods are needed. These are currently restricted to thermal processing methods. Ensiling is a commonly applied preservation technique for terrestrial forages intended for livestock feed but little is known about the characteristics of silage made from seaweeds. This study considered the potential of ensiling two brown seaweed species (Fucus vesiculosus and Saccharina latissimi) with or without the use of a microbial inoculant. The potential applications of seaweed silage as a feed ingredient in ruminant diets were considered. The results showed that, depending on the species, ensiling may be a suitable preservation method for brown seaweeds. ABSTRACT: Ensiling could be an effective method to preserve seaweeds for animal feed applications, however, there is limited scientific knowledge in this area. Seaweeds are a promising ruminant feed ingredient, in part due to the content of phenolic compounds, which are receiving considerable interest as alternative antimicrobial agents in feed. The aim of the study was to compare the effect of ensiling on the nutritional composition and fermentation characteristics of two brown seaweed species, Fucus vesiculosus (FV) and Saccharina latissimi (SL) with or without the use of a Lactobacillus plantarum (LAB) inoculant. The effect of ensiling on the stability of phlorotannin was also investigated using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). After harvesting, the seaweeds were wilted for 24 h and subsequently ensiled in laboratory-scaled silos for 90 days. SL silage showed a stronger fermentation pattern (pH < 4), dominated by lactic acid (50–60 g/kg Dry Matter (DM)), and a slightly higher acetic acid content compared to FV silages (p < 0.05). The fermentability of FV was limited (pH > 4.8) with low lactic acid production (<5 g/kg DM). The addition of the LAB inoculant showed no effect on the fermentation process but a modest effect on the chemical composition of both species was observed after the 90-day ensiling period. The results showed no losses in the nutrient content of FV after ensiling, however losses in the Crude Protein (CP, −32%), ash (−36%), Neutral Detergent Fibre (NDF, −77%) and Acid Detergent Fibre (ADF, −58%) content of SL were observed. The ensiling process had a limited effect on the in vitro true dry matter digestibility and phenolic content of either species. Therefore, ensilage may be a suitable preservation method for the use of brown seaweeds as a ruminant feed; however, species-specific differences were observed.