| Pig & Poultry
Early results indicate insects are
safe for animal feed, says FERA
There is huge potential for using insect protein as a source of animal feed for pigs, poultry and fish in the EU according
to the latest findings presented at the PROteINSECT Conference in Brussels recently.
era Science, who are based in
York and were formerly the
Food and Environment
Research Agency, coordinated
the PROteINSECT project with
Elaine Fitches taking the lead.
Fera Science, recognised for their global
expertise in safety assessments and quality
data, investigated the implications of feeding
insects to livestock as a source of protein.
F
“Obviously we need to understand the
methods of production, the costs of
production and the safety elements,
however early data suggests this is a viable
option for the future”
Deliberate feeding of insect protein to farmed
animals intended for food is not currently
permitted under EU law, however there is a
growing desire to reduce reliance on imports of
protein feeds from non-EU countries.
“Environmental concerns and the EU protein
deficit, along with fluctuating global protein
prices, are huge concerns and it is important
we look at additional sources of protein to
14 | Farming Monthly | May 2016
achieve a sustainable UK agriculture,” explains
Adrian Charlton of Fera Science.
“Insects are an innovative new source of
feed. And according to initial studies, a viable
option for farmers to consider for inclusion in
livestock diets. They are also a natural
component of the diet of poultry, pigs and fish,
so it is logical to investigate the options of
feeding insects.
“There is a lot of work to do to understand
and manage safety risks for animal feed,
however, early indications are very promising,”
says Adrian. “In terms of a protein source,
insect protein is around 86-89% digestible;
significantly higher than most vegetable based
protein. There is also the potential for high
value by-products such as fats and oils.
That, combined with potential production
efficiencies, makes insect feed attractive for the
future of animal nutrition. So for example, soya
yields around 0.9t protein/ha, compared to
insects that potentially yield 150t/ha protein.
That offers the potential of a 200 fold reduction
in land use.
“Obviously we need to understand the
methods of production, the costs of production
and the safety elements, however early data
suggests this is a viable option for the future.
“As part of this research, insects were fed to
quality assured animal trials in late 2015 / early
2016, under the protocol of European feed
industry standards. Control diets contained
fishmeal. This was substituted at a range of
varying inclusion levels with insect meal. The
results showed that all animals performed in
line with controls.
Samples of the fish, chicken and pork were
also analysed for contaminants, taints and
changes in nutritional profile, and no difference
was found.
“There is little published data about the risks
of using insects in feed and how these can be
managed so we have to be cautious,” explains
Adrian. “We are aware that different feedstocks
and insect combinations result in different risks,
so that has to be considered. We must look at
managing the risks and methods to reduce
them.
“However, early results are encouraging and
the potential financial benefits may be
significant for UK livestock farmers. Further
research will be needed to ensure that a robust
international safety framework for insects in
animal feed is adopted and when that is
achieved, insects have the potential to change
current livestock feeding,” he concludes.
For further information, please visit
www.proteinsect.eu
www.farmingmonthly.co.uk