| 2015-07-21 |    |
Feeding of Live Insects as Protein for Broilers
ForFarmers has launched a trial together with the Department of Entomology at Wageningen University in the Netherlands, to explore the impacts of live insects as a source of protein in the broilers’ diet.
Leon Marchal, Nutrition & Innovation Director at ForFarmers commented, “The most important research question is whether the chicks are growing healthily and at a sufficient rate in comparison to a traditional diet. We also want to look at whether the broilers’ natural behaviour will improve as a result of the addition of live insects. If this project proves to be a success, it will be an important step towards further sustainability within the industry.”
The trial is being conducted at ForFarmers’ experimental farm in
Nijkerk, Netherlands, where a total of 1000 chicks are being fed
in four different groups. A control group will be given a traditional
diet, while the remaining three will be given 5%, 10% or 15% respectively
of black soldier fly larvae. The high protein content of these larvae
replaces up to 75% of a protein like soya.
“The larvae from this species are truly omnivorous and are relatively
easy to grow”, according to Albert Dijkslag, Poultry Innovation Manager
at ForFarmers. “This will also result in profit for the farmer and
increase sustainability. These larvae are grown on residual flows
from the food industry. These residual flows and the protein within
these would otherwise end up in biomass (fuel), however now they
are available as feed. And if the trial proves successful, we will
have found an alternative source of protein.”
Natural nutrition and behaviour
The trial with the broilers started in July. The initial results
are expected in September. The various different parties involved
think it will be some time before the large scale supplementing of
diets with live insects can be introduced in practice. “The application
is currently quite expensive. But it’s definitely a good first step
and mind-set. If we see positive results, we will continue with the
further optimisation and development of the trial,” Dijkslag explained.
Marchal added, “The nice thing here is that chickens in the wild
are naturally omnivorous and insects would feature as part of their
diet, the outcome of the project therefore could be to help birds
further express their natural behavior.”
ForFarmers wants to be a leader in sustainability, given its position
in the food chain. ForFarmers is providing a contribution to an economically
viable and sustainable food production by efficiently producing animal
feeds and developing products and concepts which allow the animals
to utilise the food in a healthier and better way (improved feeding
efficiency). This trial with live insects indicates ForFarmers is really
giving substance to its sustainability ambition.
