Abstract
Simple SummaryThis study aimed to evaluate diets with complete substitution of soybean meal (SBM) by an algae meal from Spirulina platensis (SM) or partly defatted larvae meal from Hermetia illucens (HM) as feed for piglets and growing pigs. Main feed ingredients of the experimental diets were wheat, barley, and SM or HM. The final diets contained 21% (piglets) and 13% (growing pigs) of SM or HM and nitrogen (N) balance studies were applied to measure parameters of apparent N digestibility, complex dietary protein quality, and individual amino acid (AA) efficiency according to the ‘Goettingen approach’. Diets were well accepted by the animals and an extended level of AA supplementation yielded improved dietary protein quality with both of the alternative feed proteins. However, HM based diets provided superior apparent N digestibility.Two age-dependent nitrogen (N) balance studies (average body mass 25 and 60 kg) utilized 16 male castrated piglets and 16 barrows to measure N utilization parameters of diets with complete substitution of SBM by alternative protein sources (SM, HM), but different AA fortifications. Lysine supplementation up to 80% of the recommended lysine (Lys) supply in diets HM (A) and SM (A) yielded similar protein quality data (63.6 ± 2.1 and 63.7 ± 3.4). Surprisingly, only in piglet diet HM (AA) did the extended AA supplementation (Lys, methionine (Met), threonine (Thr)) enhance protein quality (72.8 ± 6.7) significantly (p = 0.004). Similar trends were observed in growing pigs. However, when the level of histidine (His) in diet SM (AA) was increased, feed protein quality (71.8 ± 1.3) was significantly (p < 0.001) improved indicating the importance of adequate His supply in diets with a complete substitution of SBM by the algae meal (SM) under study. AA efficiency data extend the possibilities to explain the observed responses on protein quality. When an adequate AA balancing in the diet is guaranteed, from nutritional point of view both of the alternative proteins may replace SBM in pig diets.
Highlights
The world population has been steadily growing in recent decades, and by 2050 a figure of 9.7 billion people is forecasted, coinciding with a 70% increase in the demand for food [1].With changing consumption patterns, meat shares an increasing part of this growing demand for Animals 2018, 8, 172; doi:10.3390/ani8100172 www.mdpi.com/journal/animalsAnimals 2018, 8, 172 food [2]
Between the four experimental diets no significant differences in body weight (BW) (p = 0.736), feed intake (p = 0.224) and N intake (p = 0.257) were observed
Looking more closely at the NPUstd, an enhanced protein quality was found with diets on the extended degree of AA supplementation, and the superior protein quality (p < 0.001) was achieved in diet SM2 (AA) (71.8 ± 1.3) due to the compensated His deficiency
Summary
The world population has been steadily growing in recent decades, and by 2050 a figure of 9.7 billion people is forecasted, coinciding with a 70% increase in the demand for food [1].With changing consumption patterns, meat shares an increasing part of this growing demand for Animals 2018, 8, 172; doi:10.3390/ani8100172 www.mdpi.com/journal/animalsAnimals 2018, 8, 172 food [2]. The world population has been steadily growing in recent decades, and by 2050 a figure of 9.7 billion people is forecasted, coinciding with a 70% increase in the demand for food [1]. Meat shares an increasing part of this growing demand for Animals 2018, 8, 172; doi:10.3390/ani8100172 www.mdpi.com/journal/animals. Large quantities of feed protein will be needed, and as it currently stands soybean products are the main protein ingredients in pig diets. They act as a reference in the hunt for alternative sources to meet future protein demands. Suitable feed alternatives are still needed [4,5]. Insects could be an alternative protein source because they can be reared on grain and the larvae grow rapidly
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