Abstract
Simple SummaryTenebrio molitor (T. molitor) larvae, known as mealworm, have been considered a good protein source for monogastric animals. They have a high quantity and quality of protein content and amino acid profile. The inclusion of T. molitor larvae in broiler diets improved the growth performance without having negative effects on carcass traits and blood profiles in broiler chickens, or had no influence on the growth performance and carcass yield of broiler chickens. The supplementation of T. molitor larvae improved the growth performance and protein utilization of weaning pigs. Furthermore, the replacement of fishmeal with T. molitor larvae resulted in no difference in the growth performance and nutrient digestibility of weaning pigs. However, there are some challenges regarding biosafety, consumer’s acceptance, and price for the use of T. moiltor larvae in animal feed. Consequently, T. molitor larvae could be used as an alternative or sustainable protein source in monogastric animal feed.Edible insects have been used as an alternative protein source for food and animal feed, and the market size for edible insects has increased. Tenebrio molitor larvae, also known as mealworm and yellow mealworm, are considered a good protein source with nutritional value, digestibility, flavor, and a functional ability. Additionally, they are easy to breed and feed for having a stable protein content, regardless of their diets. Therefore, T. molitor larvae have been produced industrially as feed for pets, zoo animals, and even for production animals. To maintain the nutrient composition and safety of T. molitor larvae, slaughtering (heating or freezing) and post-slaughtering (drying and grinding) procedures should be improved for animal feed. T. molitor larvae are also processed with defatting or hydrolysis before grinding. They have a high quality and quantity of protein and amino acid profile, so are considered a highly sustainable protein source for replacing soybean meal or fishmeal. T. molitor has a chitin in its cuticle, which is an indigestible fiber with positive effects on the immune system. In studies of poultry, the supplementation of T. molitor larvae improved the growth performance of broiler chickens, without having negative effects on carcass traits, whereas some studies have reported that there were no significant differences in the growth performance and carcass yield of broiler chickens. In studies of swine, the supplementation of T. molitor larvae improved the growth performance and protein utilization of weaning pigs. Furthermore, 10% of T. molitor larvae showed greater amino acid digestibility than conventional animal proteins in growing pigs. However, there are some challenges regarding the biosafety, consumer’s acceptance, and price for the use of T. moiltor larvae in animal feed. Consequently, T. molitor larvae could be used as an alternative or sustainable protein source in monogastric animal feed with a consideration of the nutritional values, biosafety, consumer’s acceptance, and market price of T. molitor larvae products.
Highlights
The International Feed Industry Federation (IFIF) reported that the world population will be reach more than 10 billion people by 2050 [1]
We focused on T. molitor larvae as an alternative protein source for monogastric animals because they have recently been proven to be a proper feed ingredient for poultry and swine diets by many researchers
We aimed to provide their nutritional value, their impact on the growth performance, and possible challenges when they are fed to monogastric animals
Summary
The International Feed Industry Federation (IFIF) reported that the world population will be reach more than 10 billion people by 2050 [1]. The major protein sources in monogastric animals (e.g., poultry and swine) diets are fishmeal, processed animal protein, milk by-product, soybean meal (SBM), rapeseed meal, and canola meal. The nutritional value of insects is much better than that of plants in terms of higher protein, essential amino acids, vitamin, and mineral contents (this will be discussed below) When they are fed to monogastric animals (e.g., poultry and swine), the growth performance and digestibility seem to improve compared to other protein sources [5]. Insects as an alternative protein source in broiler chicken [14,15,16,17] and pig [18,19,20] diets have been widely investigated It seems that the demand for edible insects for feed ingredients will increase in the near future. We aimed to provide their nutritional value, their impact on the growth performance, and possible challenges when they are fed to monogastric animals
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