Defatted Microalgae Feed for Omega-3 Enriched Poultry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for enriching poultry products with omega-3 fatty acids, such as using flaxseed or fish meal, face limitations in egg production, DHA and EPA content, and sensory acceptance, while traditional sources like fish meal are costly and unsustainable.
Innovation Solution
Supplementing poultry feed with defatted microalgae, which are rich in EPA and DHA, to produce eggs and meat with elevated omega-3 fatty acid content, improving nutritional value and sensory attributes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If flaxseed or fish meal is used to enrich poultry products with omega-3 fatty acids, then the omega-3 content increases, but egg production decreases and sensory quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the source parameter of omega-3 supplementation from traditional flaxseed or fish meal to defatted microalgae. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by providing a novel feed ingredient that enriches omega-3 content in poultry products without the negative effects on egg production and sensory quality associated with conventional sources.
2Quantity of substance
If flaxseed oil is supplemented in laying hen diets to increase DHA and EPA content, then the omega-3 fatty acid content improves, but off-flavors and off-colors develop in eggs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses defatted microalgae as a disposable feed ingredient that provides omega-3 fatty acids without the harmful sensory effects. The microalgae serve their nutritional purpose and are metabolized without leaving residual off-flavors or off-colors in the eggs, unlike flaxseed oil which persists and causes sensory deterioration.
3Quantity of substance
If fish meal is used to enrich eggs with DHA and EPA, then the unsaturated fatty acid content increases, but production sustainability decreases due to cost and availability issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the beneficial omega-3 fatty acid content from microalgae and concentrates it in defatted form for use as a feed ingredient. This extraction approach provides a sustainable alternative to fish meal by utilizing microalgae, which can be produced more sustainably and at lower cost, thereby resolving the reliability issue while maintaining high DHA and EPA content in eggs.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to omega-3 fatty acid enrichment, and n-6 to n-3 fatty acid ratio improvement, of poultry products using animal feed supplemented with defatted microalgae, and treatment methods involving such poultry products. One aspect of the present invention relates to a method of producing poultry eggs with elevated amounts of n-3 fatty acids. This method involves feeding poultry an amount of defatted microalgae under conditions effective for the poultry to produce an egg comprising about 300 mg to about 550 mg of n-3 fatty acids.