Economic viability of insect meal as a novel ingredient in diets for broiler chickens

Tavares, M.N.; Pereira, Rodrigo Fernando; Lapa, A.; Lemes, L.R.; Menten, José Fernando Machado; Gameiro, A.H.

doi:10.3920/jiff2021.0179

Cited by 7 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…In addition, the dressing percentage was increased by the MWM treatment at all levels. Indeed, there is a wide variation in the results concluded from other studies on the addition of MWM to broiler diets that may be due to several factors, including broiler species, broiler age, MWM doses, MWM source, and type of replaced meal (Elahi et al, 2022;Tavares et al, 2022). Biasato et al (2018) found that introducing 5-15% MWM as a replacement of SBM in the diets linearly increased the body weight and daily body weight gain in male Ross broilers.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Dietary Mealworm Meal Inclusion as a Replacement for Soybean Meal on Growth, Physiological, and Economic Efficiency of Broiler Chickens

Nassar¹,

Alsahlawi²,

Al-Mahaish³

et al. 2023

AAVS

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The current study was conducted to explore the possible impact of soybean replacement with various levels of mealworm meal (MWM), Tenebrio molitor, on growth performance, carcass traits, meat quality, physiological status, and economic efficiency of broiler chickens. The study included 360 unsexed Cobb500™ commercial broiler chicks aged 1 day and weighing 46±1.5 g. Starting from the 22 nd to the 42 nd d of age, the chicks were randomly distributed according to the dietary inclusion levels of MWM into six treatment groups (6 replicate pens per group × 10 chicks per replicate, considering the equal ratio of males to females in each replicate). The first group of birds was fed a control finisher diet containing soybean-corn meal (0% MWM), while the remaining five groups of birds were provided with a finisher diet in which the soybean meal was partially replaced with 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10% MWM, respectively. Data were analyzed using the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with a polynomial test to explore the linear and quadratic effects of increasing the MWM levels into the broiler diets. The results of this study showed a linear increase (p < 0.05) in the final body weight, body weight gain, carcass weight, dressing, and meat yellowness (b*) of broilers as the dietary MWM level increased. In addition, linear and quadratic increasing yields of liver, abdominal fats, and intestines were recorded with the increased levels of MWM. The carcass breast yield and the water retention capacity and the shear force of the broiler meat were linearly and quadratically (p < 0.05) increased, while the thawing and cooking loss of meat were decreased (p < 0.05) in response to the increase in the dietary MWM levels, up to 6%. Furthermore, some physiological aspects of the broilers, such as total protein, albumin, globulin, triiodothyronine hormone, triglycerides, and cholesterol profile concentrations in the serum were significantly (p < 0.05) improved by increasing the level of MWM into broiler diets up to 6%. In contrast, some traits of carcass composition and meat quality as well as physiological parameters deteriorated when adding higher levels of the MWM (8-10%) to the diets, compared to the control. Economically, there was a linear and quadratic (p < 0.05) decrease in the protein cost of the diet and a linear increase in birds' total revenue and profit margin in response to increasing MWM levels in the broiler diet. However, MWM linearly (p < 0.05) decreased the cost-benefit-ratio (CBR) and the return-on-investment outcomes (RoI) due to the restrictive production and the high prices of MWM in the global market. In conclusion, the dietary inclusion of MWM as a replacement of the soybean meal has a beneficial effect on the growth performance, carcass and meat characteristics, and physiological aspects of broiler chickens provided that it is used within the recommended levels, i.e., not exceeding 6% in the broiler diets. However, the economic feasibility of MWM inclusion into broiler diets remains at low CBR and RoI rates at the...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Dietary Mealworm Meal Inclusion as a Replacement for Soybean Meal on Growth, Physiological, and Economic Efficiency of Broiler Chickens

Nassar¹,

Alsahlawi²,

Al-Mahaish³

et al. 2023

AAVS

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“…The inclusion of insect products in animal feed is important not only for the purposes of balancing the nutrients for optimal performance but also from an economic perspective. Tavares et al (2022) evaluated the economic aspects of the inclusion of T. molitor meal in broilers. Gross margins of broilers fed different inclusion levels of insect meal were determined, and different scenarios were simulated considering different soybean meal and/or insect meal costs to evaluate the economic viability of the cost of insect meal in the diets of broilers.…”

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confidence: 99%

Introducing the special issue ‘Insects on the monogastric menu’

Veldkamp

Schiavone

Gasco

2022

JIFF

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Interest in insects as feed ingredients in poultry, swine and rabbit is growing rapidly. The protein fraction has been studied most, but research on other nutrients from insects and a deeper understanding of beneficial aspects of the use of insects is gaining traction. Since September 2021 it is legally allowed to include insect proteins in feed for poultry and pigs and the number of publications on applications of insect products in these livestock animals is increasing. Publishing open access ensures the engagement of all stakeholders in the insect chain and parties involved in using the end products in animal feed. For this reason, the Journal of Insects as Food and Feed has composed an open access special issue focussing on applications of insect products in monogastric animal nutrition. The special issue touches on aspects related to nutrition, health, welfare, safety, socio-economic and consumer issues.

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Advances in the insect industry within a circular bioeconomy context: a research agenda

Hamam,

D’Amico,

Di Vita

2024

Environ Sci Eur

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The agri-food industry is increasingly recognizing the environmental impact of the over-exploitation of natural resources and waste production, which has prompted a search for sustainable alternatives based on circular bioeconomy principles. Insects can efficiently transform food substrates into reusable biomass, thus making them valuable contributors to a circular bioeconomy system. However, the relationship between the circular bioeconomy and the insect industry has so far appeared relatively unexplored in the existing research. To address this gap, a meta-synthesis has been conducted through a systematic literature review. By identifying the state of the art and assessing the role of insects in the transition of closed-loop systems, the aim of this research has been to shed light on the opportunities and challenges of integrating insects in circular bioeconomy strategies. The research revealed three main topics: (1) waste management by insects, i.e., the use of insects as a tool for waste management and with which to create high-value substrates; (2) insect-based feeds, namely the use of insects as alternative food sources in farming systems; (3) insect-based food acceptance by consumers. The results underscore the significant potential of this market within the circular bioeconomy context, highlighting the obstacles that need to be addressed and future strategies that could be adopted.

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Economic viability of insect meal as a novel ingredient in diets for broiler chickens

Cited by 7 publications

References 29 publications

Effect of Dietary Mealworm Meal Inclusion as a Replacement for Soybean Meal on Growth, Physiological, and Economic Efficiency of Broiler Chickens

Effect of Dietary Mealworm Meal Inclusion as a Replacement for Soybean Meal on Growth, Physiological, and Economic Efficiency of Broiler Chickens

Introducing the special issue ‘Insects on the monogastric menu’

Advances in the insect industry within a circular bioeconomy context: a research agenda

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