A Review on Feasibility of Silkworm Pupal Meal in Livestock and Poultry

Abstract

The rising cost of soy meal and other ingredients for animal and poultry feed has sparked a hunt for protein alternatives. Pupae of silkworms are a good source of protein and are included in the natural feed diet. Over the last decade, studies on the replacement of feedstuff with silkworm pupal have emerged with promising results. The silkworm pupae, which are a byproduct of the silk reeling industry, possess a high nutritional value which makes them a great choice for poultry feed. Dry pupae contain 50–70% crude protein and 24–33% crude lipid and is a high-quality insect protein source with a rich, balanced content of essential amino acids. Recommended inclusion levels of silkworm pupae meal have been developed as a result of several studies conducted on livestock species. This meal is guaranteed to provide better growth performance than commercial meal (soyabean meal).