Evaluation on Nutritional Value of Field Crickets as a Poultry Feedstuff

Abstract

The proximate analysis, amino acid content and true amino acid digestibility and TMEn for poultry of adult Field crickets Gryllus testaceus Walker, were investigated. The insect was also used as partial replacement of protein supplements in the broiler diet on an equal CP percentage and TMEn basis. The results indicated that the adult insect contained: crude protein 58.3%; fat 10.3%, chitin 8.7% and ash 2.96% on dry matter basis, respectively. The total amounts of methionine, cystine and lysine in the Field crickets were 1.93%, 1.01% and 4.79%, respectively, and their true digestibility coefficients, determined in cecectomized roosters, were 94.1%, 85% and 96%, respectively. The TMEn of this insect meal was 2,960 kcal/kg determined in cecectomized roosters. When cornsoybean meal diets were formulated on an equal CP percentage and TMEn basis, up to 15% Field cricket could replace control diet without any adverse affects on broiler weight gain, feed intake or gain:feed ratio from 8 to 20 d posthatching.

Recent advances in role of insects as alternative protein source in poultry nutrition

“…Wang et al (2005) reported that the CP and EE of field cricket (DM basis) was 58.3% and 10.3%, respectively which is comparable with those of conventional protein feed supplements i.e. SBM (46.8 and 1.84%, respectively), meat meal (48.5 and 8.47%, respectively) and FM (60.2 and 4.11%, respectively).…”

“…The percentage of lys, meth and cys were 4.79, 1.93 and 1.01%, respectively in field cricket while they were 4.51, 1.59 and 0.49%, respectively in FM, indicated that the EAAs of this insect were adequate for poultry (Wang et al 2005). However, in studies on the Mormon cricket, CP contents were noted as 58% (DM basis) and AAs analysis indicated that meth, arg and tryp, in that order, were found as limiting amino acids (DeFoliart et al 1982).…”

“…However, in studies on the Mormon cricket, CP contents were noted as 58% (DM basis) and AAs analysis indicated that meth, arg and tryp, in that order, were found as limiting amino acids (DeFoliart et al 1982). The true amino acid digestibility (TAAD) coefficients for EAAs of field cricket ranged from 82% for cys to 99% for asparagines (Wang et al 2005). The average of TAAD coefficients of field cricket (92.9%) was higher than that of FM (91.3%).…”

Nutritional value of three <i>Blattodea</i> species used as feed for animals

“…The chitin content (53-86 g · kg −1 DM) was similar to that of crickets (Gryllus testaceus) (Wang et al, 2005) and grasshoppers (Acrida cinerea) (Wang et al, 2007). Significantly lower chitinin contents were reported by Finke (2013).…”

Effect of Tenebrio molitor larvae meal on growth performance, in vivo nutrients digestibility, somatic and marketable indexes of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata)

“…It is already raised on an industrial scale, but there are few data in literature on its use in animal feeding. Tenebrio molitor larvae meal (TM) has been used in broiler De Marco et al, 2015;Biasato et al, 2016) and laying hens (Giannone, 2003;Wang et al, 2005). In fish, TM was used in African catfish (Ng et al, 2001), rainbow trout , and European sea bass , black bullhead (Roncarati et al, 2015) with encouraging results.…”