April 19, 2007

Grasshoppers as beneficial to poultry as fishmeal

Chinese researchers have evaluated grasshopper meal as a protein source for broiler diets.

Research from a group of scientists from Zhejiang University and the College of Forestry, Northwest A&F University showed that the meal could be added to the feed at a rate of 15 percent without adverse effects on performance.

Their findings were published in the May issue of the Animal Feed Science and Technology

On a dry matter basis, Chinese grasshoppers (Acrida cinerea) contain 654 grammes of crude protein, 83 grammes of fat and 87 grammes of chitin per kg.

The researchers found that the content of amino acids compared well with fishmeal; the methionine, cystine and lysine concentrations in the grasshopper meal were 17, 7 and 38 g per kg on dry matter basis respectively.

The fatty acid analysis showed polyunsaturated fatty acids of the grasshopper meal to be present in high quantities, and the total content of oleic, linoleic and linolenic acids formed the bulk of total fatty acids. The results indicated that the insect could be an acceptable raw material for feed and food.