Digestibility of insect meals for Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) and their performance for growth, feed utilization and immune responses

Evaluation of different inclusion levels of a novel ingredient combination on growth performance, nutrient utilization and gene expression in Penaeus vannamei

Nowadays, due to the high demand and cost of conventional ingredients like fishmeal, as well as the need to create nutritionally effective diets for shrimp, alternative ingredients are being actively explored. In this study, novel feed ingredients were selected, and an eight-week feeding trial was carried out to assess the impact of diets formulated with different inclusion levels of novel ingredient combination. The study evaluated the growth performance, digestibility, digestive enzyme activity, and IGF-I and IGF-II gene expression in Penaeus vannamei. Four isonitrogenous (crude protein, 36%), isolipidic (crude fat, 6%), and isoenergetic (gross energy, 16 MJ/Kg) diets were formulated. The ingredients, namely poultry byproduct meal (PBM), insect meal (IM), rapeseed meal (RM), peanut meal (PM), fish waste (FW) and single cell protein (SCP) were incorporated into the diets at 24.82% (Diet 1), 28.82% (Diet 2), 32.82% (Diet 3) and 36.82% (Diet 4). A total of 420 shrimps (average initial weight of 1 g) were distributed into 12 tanks (35 shrimp per tank). The experimental diets were fed to triplicate groups of P. vannamei three times a day until satiation for 60 days. Among the dietary groups, significantly (p < 0.05) higher weight gain, final weight, ADG and SGR were observed in shrimp fed with Diet 3 and 4 than other diets. FCR, PER and survival remain unaffected with no significant difference (p > 0.05). In hepatopancreas, digestive enzyme such as lipase shows significantly higher activity in shrimp fed with Diet 4, which was not different from Diet 3 (p < 0.05). In the intestine, significantly higher amylase activity was found in Diets 3 and 4, which was not different from Diet 1. Likewise, lipase activity was significantly higher in Diets 3 and 4 in the intestine (p < 0.05). No significant difference (p > 0.05) was found in whole-body proximate composition, gene expression activities and apparent digestibility coefficients of shrimp fed with varying inclusion levels of novel ingredient combination. The results of this study revealed that the growth performance and nutrient utilization of P. vannamei remain unaffected, even with the inclusion of novel ingredient combination at a level of 36.82%. Therefore, this research suggests that the potential of the novel ingredient combination as a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to conventional, increasingly expensive ingredients without adverse effects. Even at maximum inclusion levels, the combination proved beneficial for shrimp, making it a promising solution for future feed formulations.

The Biotechnological Potential of Crickets as a Sustainable Protein Source for Fishmeal Replacement in Aquafeed

As aquaculture production grows, so does the demand for quality and cost-effective protein sources. The cost of fishmeal (FM) has increased over the years, leading to increased production costs for formulated aquafeed. Soybean meal (SBM) is commonly used as an FM replacer in aquafeed, but anti-nutritional factors could affect the growth, nutrition, and health of aquatic organisms. Cricket meal (CM) is an alternative source with a nutrient profile comparable to FM due to its high protein content, digestibility, and amino acid profile. CM use in aquafeed influences growth and reproductive performance while modulating the gut microbiota and immune response of fish and shrimp. However, consistent regulation and scaling up are necessary for competitive prices and the marketing of CM. Moreover, the chitin content in CM could be an issue in some fish species; however, different strategies based on food biotechnology can improve the protein quality for its safe use in aquafeed.

Black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens L.): A potential small mighty giant in the field of cosmeceuticals

Background and Aims

Natural products are widely used in the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries due to their high-value bioactive compounds, which make for "greener" and more environmentally friendly ingredients. These natural compounds are also considered a safer alternative to antibiotics, which may result in antibiotic resistance as well as unfavorable side effects. The development of cosmeceuticals, which combine the cosmetic and pharmaceutical fields to create skincare products with therapeutic value, has increased the demand for unique natural resources. The objective of this review is to discuss the biological properties of extracts derived from larvae of the black soldier fly (BSF; Hermetia illucens), the appropriate extraction methods, and the potential of this insect as a novel active ingredient in the formulation of new cosmeceutical products. This review also addresses the biological actions of compounds originating from the BSF, and the possible association between the diets of BSF larvae and their subsequent bioactive composition.

Methods

A literature search was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar to identify and evaluate the various biological properties of the BSF.

Results

One such natural resource that may be useful in the cosmeceutical field is the BSF, a versatile insect with numerous potential applications due to its nutrient content and scavenging behavior. Previous research has also shown that the BSF has several biological properties, including antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and wound healing effects.

Conclusion

Given the range of biological activities and metabolites possessed by the BSF, this insect may have the cosmeceutical potential to treat a number of skin pathologies.

Evaluation of Six Novel Protein Sources on Apparent Digestibility in Pacific White Shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei

This study is aimed at evaluating the apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC) of six novel protein sources in Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei), including black soldier fly larvae meal (BSFLM), Chlorella vulgaris meal (CM), cottonseed protein concentrate (CPC), Tenebrio molitor meal (TM), Clostridium autoethanogenum protein (CAP), and methanotroph (Methylococcus capsulatus, Bath) bacteria meal (BPM). The control diet (CD) was formulated to contain 448.8 g/kg crude protein and 71.8 g/kg crude lipid. Then, six experimental diets were formulated to contain 70% CD and 30% test ingredients. The yttrium oxide was used as an exogenous indicator for apparent digestibility detection. Six hundred and thirty healthy and uniform-sized shrimp (approximately 3.04 ± 0.01 g) were randomly distributed into triplicate groups of 30 shrimp and they were fed three times daily. After the shrimp was acclimating for one week, their feces were collected 2 hours after the morning feeding until sufficient samples were available for compositional analysis to calculate apparent digestibility. The apparent digestibility coefficients for a dry matter of diets (ADC_D) and ingredients (ADC_I) as well as the apparent digestibility coefficients for crude protein (ADC_Pro), crude lipid (ADC_L), and phosphorus (ADC_P) of test ingredients were calculated. Results showed that the growth performance of shrimp fed BSFLM, TM, and BPM diets significantly decreased compared to that fed the CD (P < 0.05), and no significant differences were found among those fed CD, CM, CAP, and CPC diets (P > 0.05). There were no significant differences in survival among each group (P > 0.05). As for the diets, results showed that the ADC_D of BSFLM, CM, CPC, and TM diets was significantly lower than that of CD, while that of the CAP diet was significantly higher than that of CD (P < 0.05) and there were no significant differences between BPM and CD diets (P > 0.05). As for the test ingredients, the ADC_Pro and ADC_L of BSFLM, CM, CPC, and TM were significantly lower than those of CD in Litopenaeus vannamei (P < 0.05). The ADC_Pro of CAP was significantly higher than that of CD (P < 0.05), but no significant differences were found in ADC_L between CAP and CD (P > 0.05). The ADC_Pro of BPM was significantly lower than that of CD (P < 0.05), but there were no significant differences in ADC_L between BPM and CD (P > 0.05). The ADC_P of CM, CAP, and BPM were significantly higher than that of CD, while that of BSFLM was significantly lower than that of CD (P < 0.05), and no significant differences were found in ADC_P between TM and CD (P > 0.05). To conclude, newly developed protein sources such as single-cell protein (CAP, BPM, and CM) showed great potential as a fishmeal alternative, and insect protein meals (TM and BSFLM) were less effective for shrimp compared to the CD. Although the utilization of CPC by shrimp was lower than other protein sources, it had been much improved compared to the untreated cottonseed meal. The present study will contribute to the application of novel protein sources in shrimp feeds.

How to Develop Strategies to Use Insects as Animal Feed: Digestibility, Functionality, Safety, and Regulation

Various insects have emerged as novel feed resources due to their economical, eco-friendly, and nutritive characteristics. Fish, poultry, and pigs are livestock that can feed on insects. The digestibility of insect-containing meals were presented by the species, life stage, nutritional component, and processing methods. Several studies have shown a reduced apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC) when insects were supplied as a replacement for commercial meals related to chitin. Although the expression of chitinase mRNA was present in several livestock, indigestible components in insects, such as chitin or fiber, could be a reason for the reduced ADC. However, various components can positively affect livestock health. Although the bio-functional properties of these components have been verified in vitro, they show positive health-promoting effects owing to their functional expression when directly applied to animal diets. Changes in the intestinal microbiota of animals, enhancement of immunity, and enhancement of antibacterial activity were confirmed as positive effects that can be obtained through insect diets. However, there are some issues with the safety of insects as feed. To increase the utility of insects as feed, microbial hazards, chemical hazards, and allergens should be regulated. The European Union, North America, East Asia, Australia, and Nigeria have established regulations regarding insect feed, which could enhance the utility of insects as novel feed resources for the future.