In the recent framework of insect as sustainable protein source for humans, Acheta domesticus, the house cricket, is one of the species of major interest due to its high protein content. This species is reared worldwide and consumed whole or as a meal. Its mass rearing relies on grain feeds, using ingredients in competition with humans and animals, and with a high cost. By-products represent a useful source of feed for insects as they are available in huge quantity, low cost, often have a good nutritional profile and represent a waste for humans. Thus, they contribute to lower the environmental impact of insect production and its cost, that is negatively influenced by the cost of the rearing substrate. Furthermore, the use of waste as growing media contribute to its management and valorisation. In order to identify an optimal feed formulation for crickets, respecting the low environmental costs, in this study (included in the Project MAIC – model for rearing edible insects), we tested different diets formulated with low-cost raw-materials and by-products. Different ingredients were chosen considering the nutritional composition, the cost and the availability on local agro-food industries. Four diets were formulated using different percentage of the selected raw-material and by-products and with different levels of crude proteins, lipids and nitrogen-free extracts. Following by-products were used: brewery waste (trub or brewery’ spent grain), maize distiller, rice hulls and soybean hulls. Experimental diets and the control (chicken feed) were provided in triplicates to a group of neonate A. domesticus reared at the University of Milan. Different growth parameters, the survival and the efficiency of the conversion of the ingested food were assessed until adult stage was reached. Though a high mortality was observed in all the tested diets influencing the final results, two diets with a protein content between 12 and 16% were identified as more promising and have to be deepen with supplemental trials. This study adds some useful information to the few data available on the identification of an optimal diet, which includes by-products or food waste, for the mass rearing of the house cricket.

Developing of low-impact diets for the mass rearing of Acheta domesticus / C. Jucker, S. Belluco. - In: JOURNAL OF INSECTS AS FOOD AND FEED. - ISSN 2352-4588. - 6:Suppl. 1(2020 Dec), pp. S61-S61. ((Intervento presentato al convegno Insects to feed the world Virtual conference: November, 23rd - 26th nel 2020.

Developing of low-impact diets for the mass rearing of Acheta domesticus

C. Jucker
Primo
;
2020

Abstract

In the recent framework of insect as sustainable protein source for humans, Acheta domesticus, the house cricket, is one of the species of major interest due to its high protein content. This species is reared worldwide and consumed whole or as a meal. Its mass rearing relies on grain feeds, using ingredients in competition with humans and animals, and with a high cost. By-products represent a useful source of feed for insects as they are available in huge quantity, low cost, often have a good nutritional profile and represent a waste for humans. Thus, they contribute to lower the environmental impact of insect production and its cost, that is negatively influenced by the cost of the rearing substrate. Furthermore, the use of waste as growing media contribute to its management and valorisation. In order to identify an optimal feed formulation for crickets, respecting the low environmental costs, in this study (included in the Project MAIC – model for rearing edible insects), we tested different diets formulated with low-cost raw-materials and by-products. Different ingredients were chosen considering the nutritional composition, the cost and the availability on local agro-food industries. Four diets were formulated using different percentage of the selected raw-material and by-products and with different levels of crude proteins, lipids and nitrogen-free extracts. Following by-products were used: brewery waste (trub or brewery’ spent grain), maize distiller, rice hulls and soybean hulls. Experimental diets and the control (chicken feed) were provided in triplicates to a group of neonate A. domesticus reared at the University of Milan. Different growth parameters, the survival and the efficiency of the conversion of the ingested food were assessed until adult stage was reached. Though a high mortality was observed in all the tested diets influencing the final results, two diets with a protein content between 12 and 16% were identified as more promising and have to be deepen with supplemental trials. This study adds some useful information to the few data available on the identification of an optimal diet, which includes by-products or food waste, for the mass rearing of the house cricket.
Settore AGR/11 - Entomologia Generale e Applicata
dic-2020
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2434/803320
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