Microalgal feeds containing arachidonic acid and their production and use
An animal feed with a high level of arachidonic acid is produced from microalgae, and fed to aquatic animals grown in aquaculture. The arachidonic acid-rich microalgae are fed directly to the aquatic animals, or processed to produce an oil that can be used as a human nutritive supplement. The arachidonic acid-rich microalgae can be combined with long chain omega-3 fatty acids to provide a source of nutrition for humans and animals. The animal feed and nutritional supplements are free of animal byproducts.
1. A feed for an animal comprising one or more microalgae or portions thereof which comprise arachidonic acid, wherein the microalgal arachidonic acid comprises from about 1% to about 20% of the feed, and wherein the arachidonic acid is predominantly in a triglyceride form and wherein the microalgae is chosen from Euglena, Parietochloris or snow algae.
2. The feed of claim 1 , wherein the animal is an aquatic animal.
3. The feed of claim 2 , wherein the aquatic animal is aquacultured.
4. The feed of claim 2 , wherein the aquatic animal is a zooplankter.
5. The feed of claim 2 , wherein the aquatic animal is chosen from a fish, crustacean, or mollusk.
6. The feed of claim 4 , wherein the zooplankter is chosen from a crustacean, brine shrimp, Artemia , or rotifer.
7. The feed of claim 1 , wherein the feed further comprises docosahexaenoic acid.
8. The feed of claim 7 wherein the ratio of docosahexaenoic acid to arachidonic acid ranges from about 1:10 to 50:1.
9. The feed of claim 8 , wherein the source of docosahexaenoic acid is a microalga other than Euglena, Porphyridium , or snow alga.
10. The feed of claim 8 , wherein the source of docosahexaenoic acid is Crypthecodinium cohnii.
11. The feed of claim 8 , wherein the source of docosahexaenoic acid is fish oil.
12. A method of delivering a feed comprising arachidonic acid to an animal comprising:
(a) providing a feed that comprises from about 1% to about 20% arachidonic acid as the dry weight of the feed, wherein the arachidonic acid is predominantly in a triglyceride form; and
(b) providing the feed to the animal, wherein the arachidonic acid is provided by a microalgae or parts thereof and wherein the microalgae is chosen from Euglena, Parietochloris or snow algae.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the animal is an aquatic animal.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the aquatic animal is aquacultured.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the aquatic animal comprises one or more zooplankter.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the zooplankter is chosen from one or more crustacean, brine shrimp, Artemia , or rotifer.
17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the aquatic animal is a fish, crustacean, or mollusk.
18. The method of claim 12 , wherein the feed further comprises docosahexaenoic acid.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the ratio of docosahexaenoic acid to arachidonic acid ranges from about 1:10 to about 50:1.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the source of docosahexaenoic acid is microalga other than Euglena, Parietochioris , or snow alga.
21. The method of claim 19 , wherein the source of docosahexaenoic acid is Crypthecodinium cohnii.
22. The method of claim 19 , wherein the source of docosahexaenoic acid is fish oil.
23. A human nutritive supplement comprising one or more miroalgae or portions thereof, which comprise arachidonic acid, wherein the microalgal arachidonic acid comprises at least about 10% by weight of the microalgae, and wherein the arachidonic acid is predominately in the form of a triglyceride and wherein the microalgae is chosen from Euglena, Parietochloris or snow algae.
24. The supplement of claim 23 , wherein the supplement is in the form of a tablet, capsule, colloidal suspension, or powder.
25. The supplement of claim 23 , wherein the supplement is added to a bar; liquid formula or cereal.
26. The supplement of claim 25 , wherein the liquid formula is for an infant, toddler, or adult.
27. The supplement of claim 23 , further comprising docosahexaenoic acid and wherein the source of the docosahexaenoic acid is a microalga other than Euglena, Parietochloris or snow alga.
28. The supplement of claim 27 , wherein the source of docosahexaenoic acid is Crypthecodinium cohnii.