Abstract
In response to global economic duress and heightened consumer awareness of nutrition and health, sustainable and natural ingredients are in demand. Identification of alternative sources of nitrogen and amino acids, including taurine, may help meet dietary requirements while fostering sustainability and natural feeding approaches. Twenty plants, eighteen marine algae and five insect species were analysed. All samples were freeze-dried, hydrolysed and filtered prior to amino acid analysis. Samples for amino acids were analysed in duplicate and averaged. Nitrogen was analysed and crude protein (CP) determined by calculation. With the exception of taurine concentration in soldier fly larvae, all insects exceeded both the National Research Council's canine and feline minimal requirements (MR) for growth of all essential amino acids (EAA) and CP. Although some plants and marine algal species exceeded the canine and feline MR for growth for EAA and CP, only very low concentrations of taurine were found in plants. Taurine concentration in insects was variable but high, with the greatest concentration found in ants (6·42mg/g DM) and adult flesh flies (3·33mg/g DM). Taurine was also high in some macroalgae, especially the red algal species: Mazaella spp. (4·11mg/g DM), Porphyra spp. (1·22mg/g DM) and Chondracanthus spp. (6·28 mg/g DM). Preliminary results suggest that insects and some marine algal species may be practical alternatives to traditional protein and supplemental taurine sources in pet foods. Safety, bioavailability, palatability and source variability of alternative items as food ingredients should be investigated prior to incorporation into canine and feline diets.
Highlights
In response to global economic duress and heightened consumer awareness of nutrition and health, sustainable and natural ingredients are in demand
Protein is required for two reasons; to provide essential amino acids (EAA) that cannot be synthesised by dogs and cats from their diet, and to provide dispensable amino acids that in turn provide nitrogen and carbon for the synthesis of other dispensable amino acids, gluconeogenesis and energy
It has been documented to a lesser extent in algae, bacteria, fungi and some higher plants[7,8,9,10]. This free amino acid has a role in a variety of physiologic processes in animals, including conjugation of bile acids, maintaining normal retinal and Abbreviations: CP, crude protein; EAA, essential amino acids; MR, minimal requirements. †Corresponding author: A
Summary
In response to global economic duress and heightened consumer awareness of nutrition and health, sustainable and natural ingredients are in demand. Identification of alternative sources of nitrogen and amino acids, including taurine, may help meet dietary requirements while fostering sustainability and natural feeding approaches. With the exception of taurine concentration in soldier fly larvae, all insects exceeded both the National Research Council’s canine and feline minimal requirements (MR) for growth of all essential amino acids (EAA) and CP. Preliminary results suggest that insects and some marine algal species may be practical alternatives to traditional protein and supplemental taurine sources in pet foods. The quality of ingredients and the inclusion of animal-based protein sources in pet foods are very important factors pet owners consider when selecting a diet[19,20]. Dogs and cats as well as human subjects need nutrients and not ingredients Their nutrient requirements can be met through a variety, or often a combination, of animal or plant-derived protein sources
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