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The larvae of Hermetia illucens L., the black soldier fly (BSF), feed on organic waste, minimizing environmental pollution and transforming waste into insect biomass that is rich in protein and fat. The studies on nutritional spectra in different growth stages of black soldier flies were analyzed. Chemical analyses were performed to assess the amount of crude protein, fat, ash and mineral content in the BSF fed on vegetable and fruit waste. The composition of crude protein, fat, dry matter, fiber and ash content of BSF. The most prevalent macro minerals in the larvae were calcium, phosphorus and potassium; however, their concentrations varied considerably among the feed. These findings add vital evidence in favor of the use of BSF larval meal as affordable and nutrient-rich substitute for the expensive and scarce protein animal feed sources such as fish meal and soybean meal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soybean meal (SBM), one of the main protein sources in turkey production is becoming expensive. Shrimp waste meal (SWM), a by-product of the shrimp industry is a good prospect as a cheaper alternative. It was hypothesised that Nigerian indigenous turkeys (NIT) should be able to digest and utilise SWM better than British United Turkeys (BUT) because of their hardy nature. A 56-day study was carried out to determine metabolisable energy and apparent nutrient digestibility of growing turkeys fed diets containing SWM. Four diets were formulated such that SBM in the control diet (diet 1) was substituted by SWM at 150, 300 and 450 g/kg (protein for protein) in diets 2, 3, and 4, respectively. Eighty (80) four-weeks-old male sex BUT and 80 NIT were allotted on weight equalisation into four dietary treatments replicated four times with five turkeys per replicate in a 2 × 4 factorial arrangement. The total faecal collection method was used for determining apparent and true nutrient digestibility and metabolisable energy values. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomised design and data collected were analysed using ANOVA with SAS package. At the starter phase, NIT recorded (p < 0.05) higher values for dry matter (DM), Ether extract (EE), nitrogen-free extract (NFE), Apparent metabolisable energy corrected for nitrogen (AMEn) but lower true metabolisable energy corrected for nitrogen (TMEn). Turkeys fed SWM recorded higher (p < 0.05) AMEn. At the grower phase, turkeys fed 300 g/kg SWM recorded higher (p < 0.05) values for CF and ash. Ash and CP digestibility values were higher (p < 0.05) in BUT ditto for TMEn. It was concluded that NIT could handle SWM better than BUT, however, only at the starter phase at 300 g/kg substitution for SBM.

Simple Summary: Recently, using insects to process food waste has attracted much attention from researchers. In this study, we investigated the extent to which meat can be included in the diets of immature black soldier flies. Based on our results, it was found that the meat content should be less than 80%. In addition, previous studies have shown that the protein and fat content of immature black soldier fly diets are important for growth and survival. However, it became clear in the present study that it is necessary to pay more attention to the nitrogen-free extract content of a diet than to the protein and fat content. This study aimed to determine the protein content and the ratio of meat that can be added to the diet of black soldier fly (BSF) larvae for the sustainable recycling of food waste using insects. We conducted experiments feeding refined diets to BSF larvae with adjusted protein content and diets with minced pork, and analyzed the correlations between dietary nutrients and larval weight gain, mortality, and pre-pupal rate. The nutrient that was positively correlated with increased larval body weight and pre-pupal rate in both experiments was nitrogen-free extract (NFE). Diets with high concentrations of minced pork showed higher mortality of BSF larvae and were negatively correlated with dietary NFE content. It has been suggested that BSF larvae have reduced body weight and survival due to excessive protein and fat in their diet. Depending on the raw material and ratio of food waste, it may be necessary to adjust dietary protein and fat contents before treatment. The results of this study suggest that the NFE content of a larval diet influences the larval weight gain, mortality, and pre-pupal rate of BSF larvae in a great extent, a finding that has not been reported by previous studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This study aimed to determine the protein content and the ratio of meat that can be added to the diet of black soldier fly (BSF) larvae for the sustainable recycling of food waste using insects. We conducted experiments feeding refined diets to BSF larvae with adjusted protein content and diets with minced pork, and analyzed the correlations between dietary nutrients and larval weight gain, mortality, and pre-pupal rate. The nutrient that was positively correlated with increased larval body weight and pre-pupal rate in both experiments was nitrogen-free extract (NFE). Diets with high concentrations of minced pork showed higher mortality of BSF larvae and were negatively correlated with dietary NFE content. It has been suggested that BSF larvae have reduced body weight and survival due to excessive protein and fat in their diet. Depending on the raw material and ratio of food waste, it may be necessary to adjust dietary protein and fat contents before treatment. The results of this study suggest that the NFE content of a larval diet influences the larval weight gain, mortality, and pre-pupal rate of BSF larvae in a great extent, a finding that has not been reported by previous studies.

The objective of this work was to characterize the chemical properties of white oat (Avena sativa) caryopsis and to determine the adaptability and stability of cultivars recommended for cultivation in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The trials were carried out in the 2007, 2008 and 2009 crop seasons, in three municipalities: Augusto Pestana, Capão do Leão, and Passo Fundo. Fifteen cultivars were evaluated in a randomized block design, with four replicates. The contents of protein, lipid, and nitrogen-free extract were evaluated in the caryopsis. Cultivar performances for the measured characters varied according to location and year of cultivation. The cultivar URS Guapa showed high content of nitrogen-free extract and low contents of protein and lipid in the caryopsis. 'FAPA Louise' showed high content of lipid, whereas 'Albasul', 'UPF 15', and 'UPF 18' showed high content of protein and low content of nitrogen-free extract. There is no evidence of an ideal biotype for the evaluated characters, which could simultaneously show high average performance, adaptability to favorable and unfavorable environments, and stability.O objetivo deste trabalho foi caracterizar as propriedades químicas da cariopse de aveia-branca (Avena sativa) e determinar a adaptabilidade e estabilidade de cultivares recomendadas para cultivo no Rio Grande do Sul. Os ensaios foram realizados nas safras de 2007, 2008 e 2009, em três municípios: Augusto Pestana, Capão do Leão e Passo Fundo. Foram avaliadas 15 cultivares, em delineamento de blocos ao acaso, com quatro repetições. Foram determinados os teores de proteína, lipídeos e extrativos não nitrogenados na cariopse. O desempenho das cultivares quanto aos caracteres avaliados variou conforme o local e ano de cultivo. A cultivar URS Guapa apresentou elevado conteúdo de extrativos não nitrogenados na cariopse, e baixos de proteína e lipídeo. 'FAPA Louise' apresentou elevado conteúdo de lipídeo, enquanto que 'Albasul', 'UPF 15' e 'UPF 18' apresentaram elevado conteúdo de proteína e baixo teor de extrativos não nitrogenados. Não há evidência de um biótipo ideal para os caracteres avaliados, que apresente, simultaneamente, elevado desempenho médio, adaptabilidade a ambientes favoráveis e desfavoráveis, e estabilidade.

Six dry dog foods and six dry cat foods with different carbohydrate sources were investigated in digestion trials. Food and faecal samples were analysed for CF, TDF and starch. In dogs, also neutral detergent fibre (aNDFom) and acid detergent fibre (ADFom) were analysed. N-free extract (NfE) was calculated for CF, and similarly for all other fibre analyses. Linear regressions were calculated between fibre intake and faecal fibre excretion. True digestibility was calculated from the regression coefficients [true digestibility in % = (1 − regression coefficient)*100], with the intercept of the equation representing excretion of material of non-food origin. Crude fibre analyses gave the lowest values, and TDF the highest, while ADFom and aNDFom were in between. Variation between diets was lowest in CF and highest in TDF. Total dietary fibre, aNDFom and ADFom in food were positively correlated. Crude fibre in food did not correlate with any other method. The NfE analogue for TDF was closest to the starch content. Methods of fibre analyses in faeces did not agree very well with each other. Crude fibre had the lowest apparent digestibility, followed by ADFom, TDF and aNDFom. For all fibre analyses, there was a significant correlation between fibre intake and faecal fibre excretion. True digestibility was close to zero for CF, with a high uniformity in both species. In dogs, true digestibility of aNDFom was 53%, of ADFom 26% and of TDF 37%; in cats, true digestibility of TDF was 31%. Except for CF, the intercept of the regression equations suggest that faecal excretion of some material of non-food origin is analysed as fibre. A combination of TDF and CF analyses might give good information on the content of total (TDF), unfermentable (CF) and partially fermentable fibre (TDF-CF) in pet foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Commercial fresh cooked foods have started gaining popularity among American dog owners in recent years. However, nutrient digestibility and the estimation of metabolizable energy (ME) of commercial fresh dog foods remain inadequately understood, even though both measures are critical to provide the intended calories for the target animal. In this preliminary study, different cohorts of normal-weight dogs were fed one of five test diets of comparable macronutrient composition: a chicken-based extruded dry kibble diet ( n = 12), and chicken- ( n = 12), beef- ( n = 6), pork- ( n = 6), or turkey-based fresh food ( n = 6) for 10 d. Daily food intake and fecal characteristics were recorded, and fecal samples were collected for nutrient analysis. Despite comparable dry matter (DM) and caloric intakes between the two chicken-based diets, the fresh diet led to lower defecation frequency (1.2 ± 0.2 vs. 1.7 ± 0.5 times/d, adjusted P < 0.001), lower fecal DM (24 ± 8 vs. 47 ± 10 g/d, adjusted P < 0.001), and lower fecal calories (92 ± 31 vs. 189 ± 43 kcal/d, adjusted P < 0.001) than the kibble diet. The apparent total tract digestibility of DM, protein, fat, nitrogen-free extract, and calories of the kibble diet were all significantly lower than any of the fresh diets (adjusted P < 0.001 for all). Measured ME per food DM in all of the fresh diets, except the pork-based recipe, was significantly higher than that of the kibble diet (adjusted P < 0.001 for all). For the kibble diet, the modified Atwater calculation underestimated the ME and the NRC 2006 calculation was the most accurate predictor of ME. The standard Atwater calculation performed best for the two fresh diets that had the highest fat content (chicken, beef) and the NRC 2006 calculation performed best for the fresh diet that had the highest protein content (pork). ME of the turkey-based diet was equally overestimated and underestimated with the standard Atwater and NRC 2006 methods, respectively. We propose that commercial and home-prepared fresh diets should be assessed using standard Atwater factors as commonly done in human nutrition, or preferably for commercial products, by direct measurement in conforming feeding trials., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society of Animal Science.)