Gianotten Natasja, Soetemans Lise, Bastiaens Leen
Protifarm, Harderwijkerweg 141B, 3852 AB Ermelo, The Netherlands.
Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium.
Insects. 2020 Jan 23;11(2):79. doi: 10.3390/insects11020079.
Insects are attracting increased attention in western countries as a protein source for feed and food industries. Currently, insect farmers use high-quality (cereal-based) diets. Part of the ingredients in these diets can also be used directly in food applications. To avoid competition and improve the sustainable and economical aspect of insect rearing, a search for alternative insect diets is ongoing. Side-streams from the agri-food sector offer potential. The lesser mealworm () is an insect that is commercially reared on large scale for food application. The current paper reports on six agri-food side-streams that were included in the diet of the lesser mealworm. The impact of 29 diets (single side-streams or mixtures) on the larvae growth was evaluated by monitoring the larval yield, efficiency of conversion of ingested feed, and larval weight. The larvae were able to grow on all diets, but differences in growth were observed. Two side-streams, wheat middlings and rapeseed meal, were proven to support good larval performance when used as a single ingredient. A combination of these two with brewery grains as moisture source provided (1) the best larval growth and (2) the most economically profitable diet. In conclusion, this study illustrates successful rearing of the lesser mealworm on side-stream-based diets.
在西方国家，昆虫作为饲料和食品行业的蛋白质来源正受到越来越多的关注。目前，昆虫养殖户使用高质量（以谷物为基础）的饲料。这些饲料中的部分成分也可直接用于食品应用。为避免竞争并改善昆虫养殖的可持续性和经济性，人们正在寻找替代昆虫饲料。农业食品行业的副产品具有潜力。黄粉虫是一种为食品应用而大规模商业化养殖的昆虫。本文报道了六种被纳入黄粉虫饲料的农业食品副产品。通过监测幼虫产量、摄入饲料的转化效率和幼虫体重，评估了29种饲料（单一副产品或混合物）对幼虫生长的影响。幼虫能够在所有饲料上生长，但观察到生长存在差异。当单独使用时，两种副产品——小麦麸和菜籽粕——被证明能支持幼虫良好生长。将这两种与啤酒糟作为水分来源相结合，提供了（1）最佳的幼虫生长和（2）最具经济效益的饲料。总之，本研究表明以副产品为基础的饲料能够成功饲养黄粉虫。
