Use of insect products in pig diets

Abstract

This review is focusing on effects of inclusion of insect products in pig diets on digestibility, performance, product quality, and health parameters. In 2019 pig feed accounts for 23% of the global feed production. Soybean meal is the most common protein source in pig diets. A shift towards more sustainable feed ingredients can improve the sustainability of entire pig production. Novel protein sources currently evaluated in diets for piglets and growing pigs are insect-based ingredients. Insects are able to convert organic biomass into high-quality protein. Currently the use of insects as protein source in pig diets is not allowed due to transmissible spongiform encephalopathies regulation but it is expected that this will be allowed in the near future. Research efforts on effects of inclusion of insect products on nutrient digestibility, growth performance, product quality and pig health are therefore increasing. Nutrient digestibility of evaluated insect proteins was comparable with traditional protein sources. Nutrient digestibility of insect-based diets as well as effects on growth performance in pigs fed insect-based diets differed between studies. The differences in responses are mainly due to changes in diet ingredients and nutrient composition when insect products are included. Health related parameters were not affected by dietary inclusion of insect products. In general it can be stated that differences in results between studies may be due to different insect species and life stages being used, differences in nutritional value of the insect products, in dietary inclusion levels, in processing techniques applied, effects on palatability of the diet, (weaning) age of the animals involved and research methods applied. Overall, insect products seem to be a good alternative to partly replace traditional protein-rich ingredients in pig diets without adversely affecting growth performance, product quality and health, but more standardised research is required to reduce differences between studies.

Advancing edible insects as food and feed in a circular economy

“…Similar to other domestic stock previously discussed, Veldkamp and Vernooij (2021) provide an overview of the use of insects as feed for pigs. They discuss the pig industry and its value as well as its reliance on traditional row crops for feed.…”

“…One quarter of all feed produced goes to pigs (Table 2). Veldkamp and Vernooij (2021) suggest that in order to understand the effects of the insect products in diets a distinction should be made between studies to determine nutritional value (digestibility studies) and growth performance. They also recommend more standardised digestibility and growth performance experiments.…”

Microbial Dynamics During Industrial Rearing And Processing Of Insects

“…Moreover, insects are rich in micronutrients, energy and fatty acids Finke, 2013;Nowak et al, 2016). For instance, black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) Hermetia illucens L. (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) have been identified as a promising feed ingredient for poultry, pigs, and aquaculture (Makkar et al, 2014;Lock et al, 2018;Dörper et al, 2020;Veldkamp and Vernooij, 2021). Black soldier fly (BSF), originally traced to the Americas, is present in most tropical and temperate regions of the globe .…”

A Molecular Survey of Bacterial Species in the Guts of Black Soldier Fly Larvae (Hermetia illucens) Reared on Two Urban Organic Waste Streams in Kenya

“…Moreover, insects are rich in micronutrients, energy and fatty acids ( Sheppard et al, 1994 ; Finke, 2013 ; Nowak et al, 2016 ). For instance, black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) Hermetia illucens L. (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) have been identified as a promising feed ingredient for poultry, pigs, and aquaculture ( Makkar et al, 2014 ; Lock et al, 2018 ; Dörper et al, 2020 ; Veldkamp and Vernooij, 2021 ). Black soldier fly (BSF), originally traced to the Americas, is present in most tropical and temperate regions of the globe ( Sheppard et al, 1994 ).…”