Growth Performance, Diet Digestibility, and Chemical Composition of Mealworm (Tenebrio molitor L.) Fed Agricultural By-Products
Author:
Montalbán Ana1ORCID, Martínez-Miró Silvia1ORCID, Schiavone Achille2ORCID, Madrid Josefa1ORCID, Hernández Fuensanta1ORCID
Affiliation:
1. Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Regional Campus of International Excellence “Mare Nostrum”, University of Murcia, Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain 2. Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy
Abstract
Humanity’s growing demand for animal protein exceeds the capacity of traditional protein sources to support growing livestock production. Insects offer promising partial substitutes, converting low-nutritional quality materials into high-value biomass. Hence, the bioconversion ability of Tenebrio molitor larvae was assessed by using three types of agricultural by-products (broccoli by-product, tigernut pulp, and grape pomace) at different inclusion levels (0%, 25%, 50%, and 100%) in a carbohydrate-based diet. Ten diets were formulated to assess their impact on the growth, diet digestibility, and nutritional composition of the larvae. For each treatment, eight replicates were employed: five for the growth-performance-digestibility trial and three for the complementary test of uric acid determination. The growth was influenced by the type of diet administered. The broccoli by-product resulted in higher larvae weight and a better feed conversion ratio. However, diets based solely on a single by-product (100%) compromised the productivity and diet digestibility. The larvae changed their nutritional composition depending on the rearing substrate, although the amino acid profile remained consistent. In conclusion, the studied by-products have the potential for use in T. molitor rearing as part of the diet but not as the exclusive ingredients, indicating promising opportunities for using agricultural by-products in T. molitor rearing and production.
Funder
Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and University
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