Insects represent a promising alternative for swine nutrition.
The term entomophagy derives from the Greek éntomon, ‘insect’, and phagein, ‘to eat’. It describes a type of feeding behavior in which insects are considered as food sources for human consumption or as animal feed.
Insects as part of a circular economy
Global population growth and rising demands for animal derived foods are major drivers for finding alternative and sustainable feed sources. As these are necessary for maintaining livestock production to meet this growing demands.
In addition, the increased need for raw materials puts additional pressure on limited natural resources such as land, water and energy. This trend will require the adoption of specific policies to address sustainability issues.
Insects possess peculiar physiological characteristics that allow them to harness protein and energy from the diet more effectively than conventional livestock species.
Insects are poikilothermic animals (i.e. their body temperature varies considerably). Therefore, their metabolism does not require energy to maintain a constant internal temperature, unlike what happens with homeothermic animals (mammals and avian species).
As a result, insects can convert nutrients from the diet into body proteins quite favorably.
Feed conversion rates (the amount of feed needed to produce a weight gain of 1 kg) vary greatly depending on the animal species as well as on production practices.
From an ecological standpoint, animal production represents a type of predatory relationship, where members of one species consume individuals from another species. From an anthropological point of view, it is a widespread practice amongst various populations and species within the planet aimed at satisfying nutritional needs.
The practice of eating insects is cited throughout religious literature. Including Christian, Jewish, and Islamic confessions: “John was clothed in camel hair and with a belt of skins around his back, and ate locusts and wild honey (Mark I:6).”
Typically, in U.S. production systems; 1 kg of live animal weight requires the following amount of feed: 2.5 kg for chicken, 5 kg for pork, and 10 kg for beef.
Insects require much less food. For example, the production of 1 kg of live weight for crickets, only requires 1.7 kg of feed. When these figures are adjusted to edible weight (normally the whole animal cannot be eaten), the advantages of ...
Regístrate gratuitamente y accede a los mejores artículos sobre nutrición en nutriNews .
Regístrate en nutriNews to unlock this item and get more benefits like:
Iniciar sesión
Access to the
revista digital
Videos y podcasts exclusivos
Newsletters with the
últimas novedades
Regístrate en nutriNews
REGISTRARME
