Insects as alternative feed for ruminants: comparison of protein evaluation methods
Abstract Background The high dependence of intensive ruminant production on soybean meal and the environmental impact of this crop encourage the search for alternative protein-rich feeds. The use of insects seems promising, but the extent of their ruminal protein degradation is largely unknown. This...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-02-01
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| Series: | Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40104-021-00671-2 |
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| author | Pablo G. Toral Gonzalo Hervás Mariana Gabriela González-Rosales Alejandro G. Mendoza Lizbeth E. Robles-Jiménez Pilar Frutos |
| author_facet | Pablo G. Toral Gonzalo Hervás Mariana Gabriela González-Rosales Alejandro G. Mendoza Lizbeth E. Robles-Jiménez Pilar Frutos |
| author_sort | Pablo G. Toral |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The high dependence of intensive ruminant production on soybean meal and the environmental impact of this crop encourage the search for alternative protein-rich feeds. The use of insects seems promising, but the extent of their ruminal protein degradation is largely unknown. This parameter has major influence not only on N utilization efficiency but also on the environmental burden of ruminant farming. In addition, although assessing ruminal N degradation represents a key first step to examine the potential of new feeds, it is a challenging task due to the lack of a reference method. This study was conducted to investigate the potential of 4 insects (Tenebrio molitor, Zophobas morio, Alphitobius diaperinus and Acheta domesticus) as alternative protein sources for ruminants, using 3 methodologies: 1) a regression technique based on the in vitro relationship between gas production and ammonia-N concentration; 2) a conventional in vitro technique of batch cultures of ruminal microorganisms, based on filtering the incubation residue through sintered glass crucibles; and 3) the in situ nylon bag technique. The in vitro intestinal digestibility of the non-degraded protein in the rumen was also determined. Soybean meal was used as a reference feedstuff. Results Comparison of evaluation methods (regression, in vitro and in situ) did not allow to reliably select a single value of ruminal N degradation for the studied substrates, but all techniques seem to establish a similar ranking, with good correlations between methods, particularly between regression and in situ results. Regardless of the methodology, nitrogen from the 4 insects (with contents ranging from 81 to 112 g/kg of dry matter) did not show high ruminal degradation (41–76%), this value being always lower than that of soybean meal. Furthermore, the in vitro intestinal digestibility of non-degraded N was relatively high in all feeds (≥ 64%). Conclusion Overall, these results support the potential of the 4 studied insects as alternative feedstuffs for ruminants. Among them, T. molitor showed the lowest and greatest values of ruminal N degradation and intestinal digestibility, respectively, which would place it as probably the best option to replace dietary soybean meal and increase the sustainability of ruminant feeding. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T15:29:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c266041ecfa54431baae29b6c2522eb0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2049-1891 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T15:29:10Z |
| publishDate | 2022-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology |
| spelling | doaj.art-c266041ecfa54431baae29b6c2522eb02022-12-21T19:35:41ZengBMCJournal of Animal Science and Biotechnology2049-18912022-02-011311810.1186/s40104-021-00671-2Insects as alternative feed for ruminants: comparison of protein evaluation methodsPablo G. Toral0Gonzalo Hervás1Mariana Gabriela González-Rosales2Alejandro G. Mendoza3Lizbeth E. Robles-Jiménez4Pilar Frutos5Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña (CSIC-University of León)Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña (CSIC-University of León)Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña (CSIC-University of León)Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña (CSIC-University of León)Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña (CSIC-University of León)Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña (CSIC-University of León)Abstract Background The high dependence of intensive ruminant production on soybean meal and the environmental impact of this crop encourage the search for alternative protein-rich feeds. The use of insects seems promising, but the extent of their ruminal protein degradation is largely unknown. This parameter has major influence not only on N utilization efficiency but also on the environmental burden of ruminant farming. In addition, although assessing ruminal N degradation represents a key first step to examine the potential of new feeds, it is a challenging task due to the lack of a reference method. This study was conducted to investigate the potential of 4 insects (Tenebrio molitor, Zophobas morio, Alphitobius diaperinus and Acheta domesticus) as alternative protein sources for ruminants, using 3 methodologies: 1) a regression technique based on the in vitro relationship between gas production and ammonia-N concentration; 2) a conventional in vitro technique of batch cultures of ruminal microorganisms, based on filtering the incubation residue through sintered glass crucibles; and 3) the in situ nylon bag technique. The in vitro intestinal digestibility of the non-degraded protein in the rumen was also determined. Soybean meal was used as a reference feedstuff. Results Comparison of evaluation methods (regression, in vitro and in situ) did not allow to reliably select a single value of ruminal N degradation for the studied substrates, but all techniques seem to establish a similar ranking, with good correlations between methods, particularly between regression and in situ results. Regardless of the methodology, nitrogen from the 4 insects (with contents ranging from 81 to 112 g/kg of dry matter) did not show high ruminal degradation (41–76%), this value being always lower than that of soybean meal. Furthermore, the in vitro intestinal digestibility of non-degraded N was relatively high in all feeds (≥ 64%). Conclusion Overall, these results support the potential of the 4 studied insects as alternative feedstuffs for ruminants. Among them, T. molitor showed the lowest and greatest values of ruminal N degradation and intestinal digestibility, respectively, which would place it as probably the best option to replace dietary soybean meal and increase the sustainability of ruminant feeding.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40104-021-00671-2In situIn vitroLivestockNitrogen degradationSheep |
| spellingShingle | Pablo G. Toral Gonzalo Hervás Mariana Gabriela González-Rosales Alejandro G. Mendoza Lizbeth E. Robles-Jiménez Pilar Frutos Insects as alternative feed for ruminants: comparison of protein evaluation methods Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology In situ In vitro Livestock Nitrogen degradation Sheep |
| title | Insects as alternative feed for ruminants: comparison of protein evaluation methods |
| title_full | Insects as alternative feed for ruminants: comparison of protein evaluation methods |
| title_fullStr | Insects as alternative feed for ruminants: comparison of protein evaluation methods |
| title_full_unstemmed | Insects as alternative feed for ruminants: comparison of protein evaluation methods |
| title_short | Insects as alternative feed for ruminants: comparison of protein evaluation methods |
| title_sort | insects as alternative feed for ruminants comparison of protein evaluation methods |
| topic | In situ In vitro Livestock Nitrogen degradation Sheep |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40104-021-00671-2 |
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