Insects as Feed for Companion and Exotic Pets: A Current Trend

Abstract

The objective of this review was to carry out a comprehensive investigation of the benefits of incorporating insects as a pet food ingredient and the implications this can have in determining a market demand for insect-based pet foods. Black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens), mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor) and adult house crickets (Acheta domesticus) are currently used in pet food. These insects are widely fed to exotic pets, mainly in whole, live or dehydrated formats. They are also incorporated as meal or fat and are offered to cats and dogs as dry or wet food and treats. Scientific studies about the use of insects for dog and cat feed are scarce. Most studies are in dogs. Research shows that insect nutrients, mainly amino acids, have high digestibility, are beneficial to health, do not have any detrimental effect on the gut microbiota and are accepted by dogs. In several countries, insects are approved for use in pet food and commercialization has spread throughout the world. Pet owners are willing to try foods made with insect meal for their pets. In conclusion, the use of insects in pet food is a reality that is taking on more and more prominence.

Effects of black soldier fly larvae as protein or fat sources on apparent nutrient digestibility, fecal microbiota, and metabolic profiles in beagle dogs

“…Protein from insects shows high biological value, and fat may replace palm (i.e., kernel) fat and hence contribute to the conservation of tropical forests (Müller et al, 2017). The three most evaluated insects, black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae (BSFL), mealworm, and adult cricket, have high protein contents (dry matter basis) and are similar to soybean meal and meat meal (Valdés et al, 2022). Moreover, these insects are rich in essential amino acids (Bosch et al, 2014), such as aspartic acid, glutamic acid, valine, leucine, and alanine, which are similar to those of animals (Churchward-Venne et al, 2017) and have a high digestibility (76-98%; Ramos-Elorduy et al, 1997).…”

“…Moreover, these insects are rich in essential amino acids (Bosch et al, 2014), such as aspartic acid, glutamic acid, valine, leucine, and alanine, which are similar to those of animals (Churchward-Venne et al, 2017) and have a high digestibility (76-98%; Ramos-Elorduy et al, 1997). Particularly, among these insects, BSFL is a highly investigated insect due to its strong fecundity, high conversion rate, high nutrition, low cost, and easy management (Yildirim Aksoy et al, 2020), and it is most commonly used in pet food (Valdés et al, 2022). In detail, BSFL promote environmental sustainability by converting a vast amount of low-value organic wastes, such as vegetables, fruits, and garbage, into protein and fat (Kim et al, 2011;Kelemu et al, 2015), leaving behind a compost-like residue that can be used as a soil conditioner (Somroo et al, 2019).…”

Nutritional Composition of Black Soldier Fly Larvae (Hermetia illucens L.) and Its Potential Uses as Alternative Protein Sources in Animal Diets: A Review

“…Despite the existence of substantial funding for research on BSFL, restrictive European laws regarding the use of insects in animal feed remain a major challenge for the development of insect production units [124]. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations' global food regulations establishes safe conditions for BSFL to meet the production of insects for breeding and pet animal feed [125]. That is: "These should not be pathogenic or have other adverse effects on plant, animal or human health; they should not be considered carriers of plant, animal or human pathogens and should not be protected or defined as invasive alien species".…”

The Nexus of Diet, Gut Microbiota and Inflammatory Bowel Diseases in Dogs

“…Indeed, the global pet food market value is expected to reach 118.83 billion United States Dollar (USD) in 2025, growing by 5.4% in the period of 2021 to 2025 [17]. Notable trends include the emergence of highprotein diets based on new protein sources, high insoluble fiber diets, raw meat diets, as well as insect-based pet food products that have made their way into the market [18]. Such schemes have been shown to impact gut motility and shape the gut microbiota, thereby influencing the overall health of the host [19][20][21].…”