The Promising Future of Insect Meals in Poultry Nutrition

In recent years, the scientific community has increasingly focused on the potential of using insects, particularly Hermetia illucens (HI) and Tenebrio molitor (TM), as alternative feed ingredients in poultry production. These insect-derived products are regarded as a feasible and sustainable nutrition strategy that could redefine the poultry industry.

Scientific Foundations and Legislative Support

Research over the past decade underscores the benefits of processing insect larvae into meals or fats to be included in poultry diets as protein and energy sources, respectively. Recently, the European Union (EU) and the Italian Ministry of Health have authorized both insect-processed animal proteins and live insects in poultry feed, signaling a growing acceptance of insect-based nutrition in livestock management.

Despite this legislative progress, insect-derived products still encounter challenges in entering the feed market. A significant issue is the availability and consistency of supply, which remain below the protein requirements for poultry feeds. As such, the current market prices of insect meals tend to be less competitive than traditional feed ingredients.

Optimal Inclusion Levels and Nutritional Benefits

The scientific community recommends not exceeding a 10% inclusion level of insect meals in commercial poultry diets. Higher inclusion rates, such as 15%, have been shown to impair nutrient digestibility, growth performance, and meat quality. However, conflicting results from studies have emerged, with some indicating that broiler growth can be maintained or even improved with higher rates of insect meal.

To address inconsistent results and optimize the use of insect meals, research has proposed novel formulation strategies. For example, a study by Hartinger et al. (2022) found that the concurrent use of HI meal and fat improved growth performance in broiler chickens. Additionally, a mixture of HI and TM meals presents a promising approach, potentially improving overall effects by balancing nutrient profiles while minimizing adverse impacts due to high inclusion levels of single species meals.

Recent Findings on Insect Meal Integration

In a recent study evaluating the feasibility of including a mixture of HI and TM meals in broiler diets, several key findings emerged:

Digestibility of Insect Meals

The study revealed that TM meals had higher apparent metabolizable energy (AME) and apparent metabolizable energy corrected for nitrogen (AMEn) compared to HI meal. This suggests that TM may offer superior energy value, supporting better nutrient digestion and utilization in poultry diets.

Growth Performance

In the grower phase, birds on a diet with 5% TM exhibited higher body weight (BW) compared to control treatments. Additionally, lower feed conversion ratios (FCR) were observed in those birds, indicating improved efficiency in converting feed into body mass. This trend was consistent across multiple phases of growth.

Nutrient Digestibility and Carcass Traits

In terms of nutrient digestibility, birds fed a mixture of HI and TM meals showed superior apparent total tract digestibility coefficients (ATTDC) compared to those on control diets. Notably, macronutrient digestibility was enhanced in the insect-fed groups, strengthening the case for the inclusion of these novel ingredients. Carcass traits also aligned with growth performance, with higher yields and lower fat deposition observed in insect-fed broilers.

Meat Quality Considerations

While the inclusion of insect meals enhanced certain production metrics, they also impacted the sensory attributes of the meat. The breast meat from broilers fed a mix of HI and TM was assessed for parameters like tenderness and juiciness, with results showing variations based on the diet.

The study observed that while dietary insect meal inclusion improved several growth metrics, it also led to increased cooking losses and altered fatty acid profiles in the meat. This necessitates careful consideration in future formulations to balance the benefits of insect meals against potential detriments to meat quality.

Conclusions and Future Directions

Integrating insect meals like HI and TM into poultry diets offers an innovative approach to enhancing growth performance while contributing to sustainability in animal agriculture. The current findings suggest that 5% inclusion levels, especially in a mix, appear to be optimal for beneficial outcomes without compromising meat quality.

Moving forward, it is essential to further explore alternative combinations and pursue improved processing methods for insect-derived products. Future studies should not only investigate how insect meals affect intestinal health and overall bird performance but also establish connections between gut health and growth metrics. This could yield valuable insights for optimizing diet formulations and maximizing productivity in poultry farming.