Effects of yellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor) inclusion in diets for female broiler chickens: implications for animal health and gut histology

An experiment was conducted to examine the effects of yellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor) meal inclusion in diets of indigenous chickens. A total of 160 mixed-sex indigenous Boschveld chickens were randomly divided into four categories: control soybean meal (SBM) and yellow mealworm with percentage levels of 5, 10 and 15 (TM5, TM10 and TM15, respectively). Five replicate pens per treatment were used, with eight birds per pen/replicate. On day 60, two birds from each replicate were slaughtered and eviscerated. Meat quality parameters were measured out on raw carcass and cooked breast meat. The carcass weight, breast weight and gizzard weight of the control group was higher (p < 0.05) than the treatment group (TM15). The cooking loss was lower (p < 0.05) in the SBM control group but higher in the TM15 group. Colour characteristics of breast meat before cooking was lighter in the TM10 and TM15 group, ranged from 61.7 to 69.3 for L* and was significant (p < 0.05). The TM10 and TM15 groups showed a lighter colour than the SBM and TM5 groups. The breast meat pH taken after slaughter was different (p < 0.05) in TM5 and TM15, with the highest reading (pH 6.0) in the TM5 group. In conclusion, our experiment indicated that dietary Tenebrio molitor in growing Boschveld indigenous chickens’ diets could be considered a promising protein source for Boschveld indigenous chickens.

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Replacement of Fish Meal by Defatted Yellow Mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) Larvae in Diet Improves Growth Performance and Disease Resistance in Red Seabream (Pargus major)

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani9030100 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

pp. 100 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Atsushi Ido ◽

Atsushi Hashizume ◽

Takashi Ohta ◽

Takayuki Takahashi ◽

Chiemi Miura ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fish Meal ◽

Tenebrio Molitor ◽

Animal Protein ◽

Edwardsiella Tarda ◽

Partial Replacement ◽

Yellow Mealworm ◽

Complete Replacement ◽

Red Seabream ◽

Mealworm Larvae ◽

Tenebrio Molitor Larvae

Yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) larvae are a potential alternative animal protein source for sustainable aquaculture. However, reports on the successful complete substitution of fish meal with yellow mealworm larvae in an aquaculture diet have been limited. In this study, we conducted a feeding trial with red seabream (Pagrus major) being fed diets with partial or complete replacement of fish meal with yellow mealworm larvae defatted with a hexane–ethanol solution. Feed intake in red seabream increased in accordance with yellow mealworm larvae inclusion, and diets including 65% defatted mealworm larvae (complete replacement of fish meal) showed significant growth promotion. The addition of the oil fraction from mealworm larvae to diets resulted in growth reduction, despite meeting the nutritional requirements of red seabream. Moreover, the survival rate of red seabreams fed diets with partial replacement of fish meal with mealworm larvae was significantly higher in a challenge test with pathogenic Edwardsiella tarda bacteria. The present study demonstrated that yellow mealworm larvae are not merely an alternative animal protein, but have potential as functional feed ingredients for aquaculture production.

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The effects of the dietary replacement of soybean meal with yellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor) on the growth, nutrient digestibility and nitrogen output of fattening rabbits

Animal Feed Science and Technology ◽

10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2021.115048 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 115048

Author(s):

Zdeněk Volek ◽

Anna Adámková ◽

Lukáš Zita ◽

Martin Adámek ◽

Vladimír Plachý ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soybean Meal ◽

Tenebrio Molitor ◽

Nutrient Digestibility ◽

Yellow Mealworm ◽

Mealworm Larvae

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Yellow Mealworm Larvae (Tenebrio molitor) Fed Mycotoxin-Contaminated Wheat—A Possible Safe, Sustainable Protein Source for Animal Feed?

Toxins ◽

10.3390/toxins11050282 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (5) ◽

pp. 282 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Carlos Ochoa Sanabria ◽

Natacha Hogan ◽

Kayla Madder ◽

Cedric Gillott ◽

Barry Blakley ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Animal Feed ◽

Control Diet ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Amino Acid Content ◽

Tenebrio Molitor ◽

Protein Source ◽

Yellow Mealworm ◽

Nutritional Analysis ◽

Kg Medium ◽

Mealworm Larvae

The aim of this study was to determine the potential for accumulation of deoxynivalenol (DON) in yellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor) reared on high DON Fusarium-infected wheat and investigate the effects on production, survival and nutritional traits. Wheat containing 200 μg/kg DON was used as the control diet. A different source of wheat was sorted into six fractions and mixed to obtain low (2000 μg/kg), medium (10,000 μg/kg) and high (12,000 μg/kg) levels of DON. Each diet was replicated five times with 300 or 200 mealworms per replicate for the feeding and breeding trials, respectively. Trial termination occurred when the first two pupae were observed (32–34 days). There was no difference in the concentrations of DON detected in the larvae between diets that ranged from 122 ± 19.3 to 136 ± 40.5 μg/kg (p = 0.88). Excretion of DON was 131, 324, 230 and 742 μg/kg for control, low, medium and high, respectively. Nutritional analysis of larvae showed maximum crude protein of 52% and crude fat of 36%. Ash, fiber, chitin, fatty-acids and amino-acid content were consistent across diets. Survival was greater than 96% for all life stages and average daily gain ranged from 1.9 ± 0.1 to 2.1 ± 0.1 mg/day per mealworm. Larvae accumulated low levels of DON from Fusarium-infected wheat diets suggesting contaminated wheat could be used to produce a sustainable, safe protein source.

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Yellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor, L.) as a possible alternative to soybean meal in broiler diets

British Poultry Science ◽

10.1080/00071668.2015.1080815 ◽

2015 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

F. Bovera ◽

G. Piccolo ◽

L. Gasco ◽

S. Marono ◽

R. Loponte ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soybean Meal ◽

Tenebrio Molitor ◽

Yellow Mealworm ◽

Mealworm Larvae

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Effects of Heating Time and Temperature on Functional Properties of Proteins of Yellow Mealworm Larvae (Tenebrio molitor L.)

Food Science of Animal Resources ◽

10.5851/kosfa.2019.e24 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 39 (2) ◽

pp. 296-308 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Ha-jung Lee ◽

Ji-han Kim ◽

Da-som Ji ◽

Chi-ho Lee

Keyword(s):

Functional Properties ◽

Tenebrio Molitor ◽

Heating Time ◽

Yellow Mealworm ◽

Mealworm Larvae

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The effect of relative humidity on the survival and growth rate of the yellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor, Linnaeus 1758)

Journal of Insects as Food and Feed ◽

10.3920/jiff2020.0068 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

N.S. Johnsen ◽

J.L. Andersen ◽

J. Offenberg

Keyword(s):

Growth Rate ◽

Survival Rate ◽

Relative Humidity ◽

Tenebrio Molitor ◽

Larval Survival ◽

Yellow Mealworm ◽

Farming Community ◽

Livestock Sector ◽

Survival And Growth ◽

Mealworm Larvae

The current livestock sector is a large contributor to the environmental challenges facing the world. To reduce the environmental impact of food production, a change of the sector is necessary. Entomophagy could be a step towards a more sustainable protein production. However, the insect farming community has a short history compared to conventional livestock, thus, it lacks knowledge of how a profitable mass production of insects is established. In this study we aimed to find the optimal relative humidity (RH) for production of larvae of a popular species for insect farming; the yellow mealworm, Tenebrio molitor. More specifically we tested the effect of a RH of 43, 51, 68, 75 and 84% on the survival rate, mass and length of T. molitor larvae, from hatching and two weeks forward. Control of RH was achieved using the saturated salt solution method, and the temperature was kept at 30 °C. Experiments were carried out over 12 weeks. The sample size was 100 larvae and eight replicates per treatment. Results showed that the RH had no effect on larval survival rate but had a significant effect on individual larvae mass and length after three weeks. Larval mass and length increased with humidity, and larvae reared at a RH of 84% were 1.96 times heavier and 1.31 times longer than larvae raised at 43%. Hence, for an industrial mass producer of T. molitor larvae, applying close to the optimal RH of 84% would likely result in an increased larvae size at harvest and a faster growth rate, ultimately leading to a higher yield.

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