Productive performance of Tenebrio molitor larvae in response to the protein level in the substrate

Fondevila, G. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Fondevila, M. (Universidad de Zaragoza)

Resumen: Insect production for animal feeding is receiving increasing interest worldwide. The dietary protein level is a key factor influencing overall production and feeding costs. Thus, a growth performance trial was conducted with Tenebrio molitor larvae for 28 days using substrate feeds based on wheat grain and barley straw with increasing levels of soybean meal to reach 100 (10P), 120 (12P), 140 (14P) and 160 (16P) g crude protein (CP) per kg dry matter (DM). Four trays per treatment, with 40 larvae and 24 g substrate, were set up. Average mortality was 0.142 and did not differ among treatments. Feed intake decreased linearly (L, P<0.001) and quadratically (Q, P<0.01) and larval growth (mg/d per larvae) tended to decrease (Q, P=0.065) as the dietary CP increased from 100 to 160 g/kg DM. Protein intake, however, increased (L, P<0.001) with the CP content of the diet. Feed to gain ratio decreased (L, P<0.01) as the dietary CP level increased but total production per tray of DM, CP or ether extract, was not affected. In conclusion, an increase in the dietary CP content over 100 g/kg DM by including soybean meal in the substrate might not be needed to optimise larval growth. A CP content in the diet of 100 g/kg might improve the economic results because of lower feeding costs.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.3920/JIFF2022.0037

Año: 2022

Publicado en: Journal of insects as food and feed 9, 2 (2022), 205-211
ISSN: 2352-4588

Factor impacto JCR: 5.1 (2022)

Categ. JCR: ENTOMOLOGY rank: 4 / 100 = 0.04 (2022) - Q1 - T1
Categ. JCR: FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY rank: 37 / 142 = 0.261 (2022) - Q2 - T1

Factor impacto CITESCORE: 5.7 - Agricultural and Biological Sciences (Q1)

Factor impacto SCIMAGO: 0.633 - Insect Science (Q1) - Food Science (Q2)

Tipo y forma: Artículo (PrePrint)

Área (Departamento): Área Producción Animal (Dpto. Produc.Animal Cienc.Ali.)