Kelp/Seaweed for livestock

LaurieLovesLearning

We are considering finding some for all of our livestock.

Considering that kelp has been proven to fight viruses (prevent & treat infection), I wonder if this could be a choice way to fight all the nasties that chickens can get? Some can't even be treated with meds, are extremely contagious, and become deadly quickly. I don't want to use meds on them and the ones used to fight these bad things are only available from a vet at high prices & in large quantities, making them next to impossible to get.

Of course, we would be looking for a source in Canada.

Torey

@LaurieLovesLearning

This is a link to a review article on studies of seaweeds as a dietary supplement. There are several links in the references that lead to other studies. https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Mechanisms-of-anti-viral-inhibition-by-seaweed-polysaccharides-Seaweed-polysaccharides_fig4_343069885 You need to scroll down and click on Download Full Text.

This is one of the references given that seems to have specific info about Newcastle's Disease. https://virologyj.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1743-422X-9-307

I haven't gone through them at any length because I no longer know much about viral diseases in chickens. But there might be some useful info for you.

This is a link to one of the products of Acadian Seaplants which can be fed to chickens; Tasco. There is a chart with how much to add to feed. https://tasco.ca/livestock/poultry/

This is a product advertised on Amazon but it is out of stock at the moment. https://www.amazon.ca/Treats-Chickens-Certified-Organic-Supplement/dp/B00K5NBN2Q

I couldn't find any other Canadian suppliers of chicken-specific seaweed products but this is a growing industry. This next company on the west coast has a very interesting list of people food. If you e-mailed them they might have info on if and when they might be branching out into livestock products. Or info on other local companies that might have livestock products. https://seaforest.ca/products/

LaurieLovesLearning

Thanks @torey. Mycoplasma gallisepticum, coryza & infectious bronchitis are the ones that I keep wondering about. The info on Newcastle's is good to know.

I know some of these above are bacterial, but I also have read that seaweed should take care of bacteria...not sure if this is just bacterial load in the feces though. I read that the incidence of salmonella is lessened.

I ordered a sample from Tasco. Thanks for mentioning them.

I found another company from PEI where they are offering seaweed products, from all sorts of livestock to garden supplement products. Their prices sound reasonable, I think. I have no idea about shipping, but I asked about retail sales across the country. They have information on how much you need for each type of animal and how much for different stages of life. They sound like they got studies done for their products. Their history sounds good. http://www.naorganics.com/en/prod_catalogue_organickelp_us.asp