Year: 2022
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Mealworms may serve as an alternative protein source for pet foods because of their high protein content and low environmental footprint.The amino acid (AA) content and protein quality of mealworm-based ingredients may vary depending on their composition and processing, however, so testing is required.Our objective was to measure the AA composition, AA digestibility, and protein quality of mealworm-based ingredients using the precision-fed cecectomized rooster assay.The University of Illinois Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee approved all animal procedures prior to experimentation.Sixteen cecectomized roosters (4 roosters/substrate) were randomly allotted to one of four test substrates: 1) whole lesser mealworm (A.diaperinus) meal (ADw); 2) defatted lesser mealworm (A.diaperinus) meal (ADd); 3) defatted yellow mealworm (T.molitor) meal (TMd); 4) hydrolyzed T. molitor protein meal (TMh).Ingredients were provided by Ynsect, France.After 26 h of feed withdrawal, roosters were tube-fed test substrates.Following crop intubation, excreta samples were collected for 48 h.Endogenous loss corrections for AA were made by using 5 additional cecectomized roosters.All data were analyzed using SAS version 9.4.All substrates had high AA digestibilities, with all indispensable AA digestibilities being >90% with the exception of histidine (87.9%-91.1%)and valine (77.9%-79.7%).Amino acid digestibilities were not different among substrates (P>0.05).Digestible indispensable AA score (DIAAS)-like values were calculated to determine protein quality according to Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) nutrient profiles, The European Pet Food Industry Nutritional Guidelines (FEDIAF) nutritional guidelines, National Research Council (NRC) recommended allowances for adult dogs, adult cats, growing puppies, and growing kittens, and NRC minimal requirements for growing puppies and growing kittens.In general, TMh had the highest and TMd had the lowest DIAAS-like values for most indispensable iii AA.Methionine (TMh; TMd; ADw) and phenylalanine (ADd) were the first-limiting AA.Our results demonstrate that mealworm-based ingredients are high-quality protein sources.Further research in dogs and cats is necessary to confirm sufficient palatability and digestibility, but these data suggest that they are valuable sources of protein for pet foods.iv To my sidekicks (Nitro and Brew) Your paw prints are the inspiration of this journey v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS First and foremost, I would like to thank my advisor, Dr. Kelly Swanson, for his guidance and support during the past year and a half.You have inspired me to dive deeper into the field of companion animal nutrition and embrace the world of research.I am also extremely grateful to my advisory committee members, Dr. George C Fahey Jr., and Dr. Maria R. Cattai de Godoy, for their knowledge and mentorship throughout my time
Author: Smola, Meredith
Language: English
Subfield: Insect Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7220794393