Worm Food for Cats and Dogs: Why is Worm Food Becoming More Popular?

Experts predict that insects will become an increasingly popular alternative protein option due to a growing emphasis on sustainability. Many pets have also reported improvements in skin sensitivity and digestive issues after switching to insect-based diets.

Pettington has researched several papers on insect protein. This article will detail the various principles and benefits of insect ingredients as alternative proteins.

What is insect protein?

Insect protein differs from traditional meat protein and can reduce allergic reactions in animals. Furthermore, insect protein cat and dog food is rich in various nutrients, including protein, essential fatty acids, minerals, and vitamins. The greatest advantage lies in its ability to convert waste into food, generating value while reducing pollution and environmental costs.

Insects are considered a complete animal protein, containing all nine essential amino acids. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), "the nutritional value of insects is no different from that of other meat sources, such as chicken, beef, pork, and fish."

Studies have shown that the total score of essential amino acids in the five insects is higher than that in chicken, and their digestibility is also higher than that in chicken.

Insects also have many additional benefits, such as:

• Insects are rich in vitamins and minerals that the body can absorb more quickly than beef or wheat.
• Insects contain high levels of antioxidants, which help protect the body from cell damage caused by free radicals.
• Edible insects are a great source of essential fatty acids. Many insects provide an optimal Omega 3:6 balance.
• Chitin, the exoskeleton of insects, is a prebiotic fiber that provides food for beneficial bacteria deep in the intestines of humans or pets.

While a variety of insect species are used globally for human and animal consumption, the primary insect used globally in pet food is the black soldier fly larvae. Black soldier fly larvae are a complete and balanced pet food that complements meat-based protein sources.

Black soldier fly larvae absorb food and water from fruits, grains, and vegetables that would otherwise go to waste. According to Bühler Insect Technology Solutions, the environmental advantages of black soldier fly larvae are significant compared to chicken production. Chicken production requires approximately 13 times more land, 7 times more water, 5.5 times more CO2 emissions, and 1.5 times more energy.

Advantages of insect protein as pet food

In addition to providing a complete and balanced source of protein, using black soldier fly larvae in pet food offers the following benefits:

1. Sustainable and environmentally friendly: Black soldier fly larvae have a smaller environmental footprint than traditional protein sources like beef, chicken, and pork. They require less land, water, and energy to produce and emit less greenhouse gases and waste. Therefore, using black soldier fly larvae in pet food can help reduce the environmental impact of pet food production.
2. High Nutritional Value: Black soldier fly larvae are rich in essential nutrients such as protein, calcium and iron, as well as vitamins and minerals. They are also a good source of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, which are important for maintaining healthy fur and skin for your pet.
3. Hypoallergenic: Black soldier fly larvae are a hypoallergenic source of protein, meaning they are less likely to cause allergies in pets than other protein sources, such as beef, chicken, and pork.
4. Easily Digestible: Black soldier fly larvae are highly digestible, meaning your pet can absorb more nutrients from their food. This can help improve overall health and reduce the risk of digestive issues.

Considerations for Insect Protein as Pet Food

While insect protein may be an ideal alternative protein source for many pets, there are some caveats to consider.

• Some pets may not like the taste or texture of insect protein pet food, so it may take some time for them to adjust to this new type of protein.
• While insect protein is generally considered hypoallergenic, it is still possible that some pets may develop an allergic reaction to this protein. Always monitor your pet closely for any allergic reactions when introducing a new food into their diet.

Conclusion

While there may be some potential downsides to feeding your pet insect protein, it remains a great option for pets with food sensitivities and for pet owners seeking more sustainable and environmentally friendly protein sources. Regardless, always consult your veterinarian before making any significant changes to your pet's diet.

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References

1. The following research results show that black soldier fly larvae are safe and easily digestible for dogs

Tarra A Freel, Alejandra McComb, Elizabeth A Koutsos “Digestibility and safety of dry black soldier fly larvae meal and black soldier fly larvae oil in dogs”, Journal of Animal Science, Volume 99, Issue 3, March 2021, skab047Abstract:

Two trials were conducted to assess the acceptance, safety and digestibility of diets containing various inclusion levels of partially defatted black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae (BSFL) meal and BSFL oil by dogs. In trial 1, 5 extruded diets were evaluated for acceptance in adult Beagle dogs (n = 20; 10 male, 10 female) during a 48-hr period. Diets contained graded levels of BSFL meal (5.0%, 10.0%, and 20.0%), or graded levels of BSFL oil (2.5% and 5.0%), and all diets were well accepted. Thus, a digestibility trial (trial 2) was run with 56 adult dogs (16 male, 40 female) allocated into 7 dietary treatments; dogs were offered an extruded control diet containing no BSFL meal or oil, or extruded diets where BSFL meal partially replaced poultry by-product meal and corn meal at dietary levels of 5%, 10%, or 20% inclusion, or diets with BSFL oil partially replacing poultry fat at a 1:1 ratio at levels of 1%, 2.5%, or 5% inclusion. The treatment diets were fed for 28 d, during which time dogs were monitored for health (via physical examinations, clinical observations, and blood chemistry and hematology) and ingredient evaluation (via body weight, feed consumption, observation stool, and fecal total nutrient tract apparent digestibility). There were no significant differences in body weight or food consumption between treatment groups (P > 0.05) and daily observations indicated that the general health of the animals was maintained throughout the study. Stool quality was maintained at 3.2 to 3.4 (on a 5-point scale with a score of 1 being watery diarrhea and a score of 5 being hard, dry, and crumbly) per treatment group over the fecal observation period (days 22 to 27), indicating a well formed, sticky stool. All group mean hematology and blood chemistry parameters remained within normal limits for dogs. Apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter, protein, fat, and calories was not affected by treatment (P > 0.05). In general, amino acid digestibility was not impacted by treatment although some minor changes were observed. Apparent total tract digestibility was high for all nutrients examined.

2. The study concluded that black soldier fly larvae meal can be a suitable protein source when added to dog food, with higher protein and fat digestibility compared to poultry meal.

El Wahab et al. (2021) Insect Larvae Meal ( Hermetia illucens ) as a Sustainable Protein Source of Canine Food and Its Impacts on Nutrient Digestibility and Fecal Quality, Animals 2021, 11

(9), 2525

Abstract:

Insect larvae meal has been proposed as a sustainable protein source for animal diets. This study aimed to provide information on including black soldier fly larvae meal (BSFL; Hermetia illucens ) in comparison to poultry meal (PM) in the canine diet with regard to digestibility and fecal characteristics. In light of this trend, the levels of PM or BSFL meal were added to replace about 30% of dry matter of the basic extruded diet. Six Beagle dogs (BW 9.64 kg) were included in a cross-over experiment. Dogs fed a BSFL meal-based diet showed higher ( p < 0.05) apparent protein digestibility (82.3% ) compared to those offered a PM-based diet (80.5%). The fecal consistency scores for dogs fed both diets were within an Acceptable range (well-formed and firm). Fecal dry matter content was higher ( p < 0.05) for dogs fed the PM-based diet (33.0%) compared to those offered the BSFL meal-based diet (28.0%).

3. The results support the use of black soldier fly larvae as an alternative protein source in pet food.

Do, Sungho (2021) Black soldier fly larvae as an alternative protein source for canine and feline diets. Dissertation at Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Abstract:

The overall objective of this dissertation was to evaluate the nutrient composition of BSFL, its amino acid (AA) digestibilities using a precision-fed cecectomized rooster model, and its effects on palatability, apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD), fecal characteristics, and skin and coat health markers of healthy adult cats. Our first aim was to determine the effects of harvest age on nutrient and AA digestibility and digestible indispensable amino acid score (DIAAS)-like values of BSFL using the precision-fed cecectomized rooster assay. assay. Calcium chloride Cats were fed the canned diets formulated with poultry by-product meal (PBPM), BSFL meal, whole BSFL, and BSFL oil. In our first aim, we determined that all harvest ages of BSFL were contained high-quality protein that were well digested, but AA digestibilities were highest at days 14, 18, and 23. Threonine, Met, Cys, and Arg often were the first-limiting AA of BSFL based on DIAAS-like reference values for dogs and cats.

In our second aim, we determined that nutrient and AA digestibilities were high (81% to 96% digestibilities), but not different among BSFL fed different calcium sources and concentrations.

Aromatic AA (Phe + Tyr) and sulfur-containing AA (Met + Cys) often were the first-limiting AA based on DIAAS-like reference values for dogs and cats.

In our third aim, we reported that the intake ratios were higher in cats fed canned diets containing BSFL meal (1.93:1), whole BSFL (2.03:1), and BSFL oil (1.57:1) compared with a poultry-based control diet.

Fecal pH and scores and caloric intake were not different (P > 0.05) among diets, but fecal output (as-is, DM, and kcal/d) was highest (P < 0.05) for cats fed BSFL meal compared with those fed BSFL oil. The ATTD of acid-hydrolyzed fat (AHF) was not different among treatments, while DM ATTD was greater (P < 0.05) for cats fed the BSFL oil diet than for those fed the BSFL meal diet. The ATTD of OM by cats fed control or BSFL oil diets was greater (P < 0.05) than for those fed the BSFL meal or BSFL whole diets. For crude protein (CP) and energy, ATTD was greatest (P < 0.05) for cats fed the BSFL oil diet and lowest for those fed the BSFL meal diet. Skin and coat health markers, including skin transepidermal water loss (TEWL), skin hydration status, hair imaging score, and skin and coat hair scores were not affected (P > 0.05) by treatments. Similarly, hematology and a delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response to saline, phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), and concanavalin A (CONA) showed no differences (P > 0.05) among diets. A select serum metabolites were affected by diet (P < 0.05), but remained within reference ranges. This research provided information on the potential for using BSFL in pet foods. Based on our results, the suggested harvest age of BSFL ranges between 14 and 23 days because these ages provide the highest protein quality. Black soldier fly larvae raised with calcium chloride and calcium carbonate accumulate more calcium, but protein quality was similar.