Insect meal as a feed ingredient for poultry

Abstract

Shortage of protein feed resources is the major challenge to the world farm animal industry. Insects are known as an alternative protein source for poultry. A Wwide range of insects are available for use in poultry diets.Insect larvae thrive in manure, and organic waste, and produce antimicrobial peptides to protect themselves from microbial infections, and additionally these peptides might also be functional in poultry feed. The feed containing antimicrobial peptides can improve the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, intestinal health, and immune function in poultry. Insect meal contains a higher amount of essential amino acids compared to conventional feedstuffs. Black soldier fly, mealworm, housefly, cricket/Grasshopper/Locust (Orthoptera), silkworm, and earthworm are the commonly used insect meals in broiler, and laying hen diets. This paper summarized the nutrient profiles of the insect meals, and reviewed their efficacy when included in poultry diets.Due to the differences in insect meal products, and breeds of poultry, inconsistent results were noticed among studies. The main challenge for proper utilization, and the promising prospect of insect meal in poultry diet were also addressed in the paper. In order tTo fully exploit insect meal as an alternative protein resource, and exert their functional effects, modes of action need to be understood. With the emergence of more accurate and reliable studies, insect meals will undoubtedly play more important role in poultry feed industry.

A Comprehensive Review of the Importance of Selected Trace Elements Present in Edible Insects

“…Sun et al [43] also observed an increase in total iron content of broiler chicken meat-fed grasshoppers compared to chicken meat without grasshopper inclusion in diets. The inclusion further improved the meat shelf life of broilers [7]. It could be concluded that various locust species are rich in iron, zinc, copper, and manganese.…”

“…The grasshoppers, locusts, and crickets fall under the Orthoptera order [16]. It has been reported that insect meals from Orthoptera order contain high content of various essential nutrients including trace elements [7]. Insects from Orthoptera have higher iron that is readily available to maintain and balance iron in the body [18].…”

“…In another literature on edible insects, Nowak et al [6] indicated that insects serve as protein food in many cultures worldwide and their consumption is increasing at an alarming rate. From the animal production perspective, insect meals are considered cheap, desirable, and acceptable to potentially be utilised as a protein source for livestock, especially poultry species [7]. They are mainly characterised by type species and metamorphosis stage and higher levels of trace elements than meat [3].…”

Black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae oil as an alternative fat ingredient to soybean oil in laying hen diets

“…Furthermore, managing organic waste from the increasing human population is a concern [ 1 ]. From this perspective, insects are potential feed ingredients for poultry diets [ 2 ] and the black soldier fly ( Hermetia illucens , HI) is promising because it bioconverts organic waste into biomass [ 3 , 4 ], by storing protein and fat sources from organic waste decomposition during stage [ 5 ]. Hermetia illucens larvae (HIL) contain ~42% and 35% protein and fat sources, respectively [ 5 , 6 ].…”

Insects as an emerging and alternative ingredient of feed for domestic animals

“…Elahi et al [ 2 ] introduced a wide range of insects including black soldier fly, mealworm, housefly, cricket/grasshopper/locust (Orthoptera), silkworm, and earthworm for potential use as feed ingredients in poultry because of rich essential amino acids and antimicrobial peptides when compared with conventional feedstuffs. The expectation is to improve the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, intestinal health, and immune function in poultry.…”