Comparative production and economic indicators of traditional and alternative animal protein production systems: broiler chickens, mealworm and silkworm

Abstract

Relevance. A significant number of new projects have been implemented in the last decade in the segment of alternative protein sources used as feed or food ingredients. New ventures receive significant investments from the largest global companies and foundations, that believe insect protein has the highest potential of all other sources of protein. In addition to the main reasons for the usage of alternative proteins, which are demographics and climate changes, other reasons include higher nutritional value and sustainability, smaller ecological footprint, more profitable industrial production in comparison to animal husbandry and aquaculture. The purpose of this study is to compare the performance and economic indicators of the most efficient traditional production system for obtaining animal protein, which is poultry farming (in particular, the production of poultry meat breeds of broilers, Gallus gallus) with yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor), that is cultivated in the EU mainly to obtain a high-protein ingredient used as an alternative to fishmeal in animal feed and aquaculture, and silkworm (Bombyx mori) which is widely cultivated in Southeast Asia, India, Brazil, but hardly considered in the Russian Federation, US, and EU as an alternative source of animal protein.Methods. Collection and analysis of public data: information presented in research papers, recommendations from scientific organizations, available commercial information and news publications that help identify data for comparative analysis of production systems. The research methodology is based on a theoretical approach using methods of analysis, induction, deduction, comparison, generalization, and synthesis.Results. Bombyx mori can be viewed as a preferred alternative to traditional protein sources based on a combination of performance and economic indicators such as productive efficiency, production yield per 1 m2 the of feeding area, number of production cycles per year. According to these indicators, it is comparable or superior to Broiler chicken.