Insects as raw materials in compound feed for aquaculture

Abstract

Already in the early phases of the development of a European insect industry, aquafeed was suggested as one of the first animal feeds where insect products could be implemented. Since then, substantial progress has been made by the research community and feed producers to test various types of insect species and insect products as part of a complete feed for aquaculture. These (mostly extruded) feeds are typically high in energy and protein content which demands specifics characteristics of the raw materials. The role insects, high in protein and lipids, can play in these diets will be reviewed and discussed in this chapter. We will shortly touch on topics like the effect of insect feeding substrate, insect processing and chitin that all can have an effect on insect meal. Finally, feed safety considerations related to the use of insects in aquafeeds will be reviewed and discussed.