Insects as a Sustainable Protein Source in Dog Food

Recently, more pet owners are being urged to buy dog food rich in, wait for it, insects! Initially, I couldn’t wrap my head around the idea. Why would veterinarians suggest feeding insects to my best friend? According to Simon Doherty, president of BVA, feeding insect based diets to animals is an important step the veterinary profession needs to take towards sustainability [1]. As the human population and standards of living continue to increase, so too does the demand for animal derived protein [2]. The global competition for protein in human food, pet food, and livestock feed will increase in the near future, therefore alternative sources of protein must be found [3]. As it turns out, insects might just be the new meat for our four- legged companions.

I know what you’re thinking. Surely insect protein cannot compete with that of chicken or beef. I know that’s what I thought. However, recent research has shown that insects contain 9.96-35.2 grams of protein per 100 grams, compared to 16.8-20.6 grams in meat [4]. Bosch et al. found that black soldier flies, crickets, lesser mealworms, and roaches contained crude protein levels similar to poultry and higher than soybean meal [3]. This suggests that insects could be a comparable substitution for animal derived protein.

Okay, so insects might supply a suitable protein source for my dog, but will my dog even eat it? It is crucial that we as dog owners ensure our pets enjoy their food. The daily routine of feeding our pets their tasty kibble enhances the human-animal bond, and ought to be maintained [5]. Kierończyk et al. compared olfactory attractiveness of air-dried insects to commercial dried and pelleted dog feed, and discovered that the insects were chosen as frequently as the commercial feed [6]. This suggests that insect aromas are attractive to dogs. Bosch and Swanson reviewed current research regarding palatability of insect based feed for dogs and found that dogs readily consumed feed containing up to 10% black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) meal [5]. Based on current data, it seems that our four legged friends don’t mind the taste of insects.

Will my dog digest insect protein? Many owners associate stool characteristics to intestinal health and nutritional quality of the food [5]. Kröger et al. analyzed an insect based diet for dogs containing black soldier fly larvae and discovered that it was well accepted and tolerated by dogs [7]. They found that there was no difference in fecal digestibility when compared to lamb meal, and even resulted in lower daily fecal output. Furthermore, studies show that dogs fed pelleted feed with 20% [8] and 30% [9] BFSL produced ideal stool consistencies. These studies suggest that feeding insect protein did not disturb intestinal functioning of the dog [5].

Preliminary data shows that insect protein has the potential to be an adequate alternative source of protein for dogs, however further research still needs to be done. Continuing studies must be conducted in order to prove the long term safety and efficacy

of feeding insect based protein [5]. Furthermore, cultural acceptance of consuming insects must be overcome in order to transition from animal derived protein. As of now, it is hard to determine whether insect based protein is just a fading trend or if it is the protein of the future.

References

1. Association, B., 2021. BVA blog - Insect diets for pets: why vets have to be part of the conversation. [online] British Veterinary Association. Available at: <https://www.bva.co.uk/news-and-blog/blog-article/insect-diets-for-pets-why-vets-have-to-be-part-of-the-conversation/>].

2. Boland MJ, Rae AN, Vereijken JM, et al. (2013) The future supply of animal-derived protein for human consumption. Trends Food Sci Technol 29, 62–73.

3. Bosch, G., Zhang, S., Oonincx, D. and Hendriks, W., 2014. Protein quality of insects as potential ingredients for dog and cat foods. Journal of Nutritional Science, 3

4. Oonincx, D., van Itterbeeck, J., Heetkamp, M., van den Brand, H., van Loon, J. and van Huis, A., 2010. An Exploration on Greenhouse Gas and Ammonia Production by Insect Species Suitable for Animal or Human Consumption. PLoS ONE, 5(12), p.e14445.

5. Bosch, G. and Swanson, K., 2020. Effect of using insects as feed on animals: pet dogs and cats. Journal of Insects as Food and Feed, pp.1-12.

6. Kierończyk, B., Rawski, M., Pawełczyk, P., Różyńska, J., Golusik, J., Mikołajczak, Z. and Józefiak, D., 2018. Do insects smell attractive to dogs? A comparison of dog reactions to insects and commercial feed aromas – a preliminary study. Annals of Animal Science, 18(3), pp.795-800.

7. Kröger, S., Heide, C. and Zentek, J., 2020. Evaluation of an extruded diet for adult dogs containing larvae meal from the Black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens). Animal Feed Science and Technology, 270, p.114699.

8. Meyer, L.F., Kollen, M. and Kamphues, J., 2019. Hundefutter mit Insekten? Untersuchungen zu Mischfuttermitteln mit Larven der Schwarzen Soldatenfliege als Proteinquelle. Kleintierpraxis 64: 124-135.

9. Do, S., Koutsos, L., Utterback, P., Parsons, C., Godoy, M.R., & Swanson, K. (2019). Nutrient and Amino Acid Digestibility of Black Soldier Fly Larvae Differing in Age Using the Precision-Fed Cecectomized Rooster Assay. Journal of animal science.