Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
3.6
3.6
Journals
Agriculture
Special Issues
Alternative Protein Sources in Feed
share announcement

Alternative Protein Sources in Feed

A special issue of Agriculture (ISSN 2077-0472). This special issue belongs to the section "Farm Animal Production".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 June 2023) | Viewed by 15215

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Joana Nery

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy
Interests: dietary protein; feed additives; insect meal; nutrigenomics; poultry; horses

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Over the last several decades, human population growth in developing countries has led to a significant worldwide market competition for protein sources and a consequent increase of feed costs. Therefore, several research studies were recently developed to characterize alternative protein sources for animal feed, whereas global animal nutrition still relies highly on soy and soybean meal. In an era that promotes circular economy and sustainability, and considering the increasing demand for food and feed, it is of the utmost importance to assess and characterize potential feed sources providing protein in animal nutrition in order to mitigate environmental impact, improve economic efficiency, and to promote social sustainability and sustainable animal production.

Plant and animal by-products from the agriculture and food production chain, alternative crops, algae, insect meals, yeasts, fungi, and bacteria are some of the examples of sources that have been characterized. Some of the challenges in using alternative protein sources include imbalanced amino acid profile, the presence of antinutritional factors, health hazards, technical issues and high costs related with production and processing.

This Special Issue aims to provide new insights into the characterization of potential protein sources in animal nutrition and their effects on animal health, as well as environmental, economic and social sustainability in animal production.

Dr. Joana Nery
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agriculture is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • protein
  • amino acid profile
  • antinutritional factors
  • digestibility
  • animal health
  • sustainability
  • economy
  • environment
  • feed
  • protein processing
  • food quality

Published Papers (5 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

15 pages, 830 KiB  
Article
Effect of Duckweed (Spirodela polyrhiza)-Supplemented Semolina on the Production Parameters and Nutrient Composition of Yellow Mealworm (Tenebrio molitor)
by Odunayo A. Toviho, Moutia Imane, Pusztahelyi Tünde and Bársony Péter
Agriculture 2023, 13(7), 1386; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13071386 - 12 Jul 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1083
Abstract
This research explores the potential of using common duckweed (Spyrodela polyrhiza) as a feeding substrate and supplement for yellow mealworm production. Duckweed is known for its high content of protein (20–35%) and essential amino acids. This study aims to assess the [...] Read more.
This research explores the potential of using common duckweed (Spyrodela polyrhiza) as a feeding substrate and supplement for yellow mealworm production. Duckweed is known for its high content of protein (20–35%) and essential amino acids. This study aims to assess the effect of the combination of semolina and duckweed as a feeding substrate for yellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor). The experiment involved different combinations of semolina and duckweed in varying proportions. The treatments included 100% semolina (S), 75% semolina + 25% duckweed (S75D25), 50% semolina + 50% duckweed (S50D50), 25% semolina + 75% duckweed (S25D75), and 100% duckweed (D). Over a six-week period, the production parameters, nutrient composition, amino acid composition, and fatty acid composition of the yellow mealworms were measured and analyzed. The results demonstrate that S75D25 and S50D50 feed combinations were recommended due to their positive effects on production parameters and nutrient composition. Although the D substrate exhibited the highest crude protein content, yellow mealworm larvae did not grow on this substrate. The inclusion of duckweed in the feed had no significant effect on the fatty acid composition of the mealworms, while substrates S25D75 and D induced an improved amino acid composition. In conclusion, incorporating duckweed into the feeding substrate can enhance the production parameters and nutrient composition of yellow mealworms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Alternative Protein Sources in Feed)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 2286 KiB  
Article
White Lupin (Lupinus albus L.), an Alternative Legume for Animal Feeding in the Mediterranean Area
by Fabio Gresta, Marianna Oteri, Danilo Scordia, Annalisa Costale, Rosangela Armone, Giorgia Meineri and Biagina Chiofalo
Agriculture 2023, 13(2), 434; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13020434 - 13 Feb 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2870
Abstract
Interest in white lupine has increased in recent years in animal nutrition due to its balanced protein and lipid content, phytochemical compounds, and low alkaloid content. Agronomic traits, nutrients, and antioxidant phenols of six white lupin genotypes grown in a Mediterranean area were [...] Read more.
Interest in white lupine has increased in recent years in animal nutrition due to its balanced protein and lipid content, phytochemical compounds, and low alkaloid content. Agronomic traits, nutrients, and antioxidant phenols of six white lupin genotypes grown in a Mediterranean area were explored. Genotypes significantly differed in growth stages and life cycle length (from 172 to 204 days after sowing), plant height (from 36.1 to 97.2 cm), seed yield (from 1.02 to 3.50 Mg ha−1), and yield components. Seed yield was positively correlated with the number of seeds per pod and the thousand-seed weight. Across the average of genotypes, a high protein content (397 g kg−1), a low fiber content (133 g kg−1), and oil content (116 g kg−1) with a high oleic acid (453–509 g kg−1) and low erucic acid content (8–17 g kg−1) were found. The n3/n6 ratio varied from 1:1 to 1:4. Ecotype G showed the highest TPC, DPPH•, and ABTS•+ and Multitalia showed the highest content of Apigenin 1 and 2 derivatives. The lowest alkaloid content was recorded in Volos, Luxor, and Lublanc. Overall, this species can be considered a suitable feed crop and a valuable ingredient in animal nutrition due to its overall nutritional profile. At present, only Volos, Luxor, and Lublanc can be suggested in animal nutrition due to the low alkaloid content. Nonetheless, interesting agronomic and quality traits in Multitalia and the two ecotypes suggest room for breeding to reduce their antinutritional factors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Alternative Protein Sources in Feed)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 341 KiB  
Article
Egg Production and Quality, Lipid Metabolites, Antioxidant Status and Immune Response of Laying Hens Fed Diets with Various Levels of Soaked Flax Seed Meal
by Youssef A. Attia, Mohammed A. Al-Harthi, Ahmed A. Al Sagan, Nisreen M. Abdulsalam, Elsayed O. S. Hussein and Marai J. Olal
Agriculture 2022, 12(9), 1402; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12091402 - 06 Sep 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2096
Abstract
Flax seed meal is a valuable source of fatty acids, particularly omega-3 such as alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), but its mucilage contents limit its use. This study assessed the effect of different levels of soaked flax seed meal (SFSM) on the production and health [...] Read more.
Flax seed meal is a valuable source of fatty acids, particularly omega-3 such as alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), but its mucilage contents limit its use. This study assessed the effect of different levels of soaked flax seed meal (SFSM) on the production and health parameters in Rhode Island Red laying hens. A total of 120 hens were divided into three groups and fed diets containing 0, 6, and 12% SFSM for 10 weeks. The impact was determined based on the egg production and quality, lipid metabolites, antioxidant status, immune response, fertility, and hatchability. Diets containing up to 12% SFSM had no adverse effects on the laying rate, egg weight and mass, and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Hens supplemented with a diet containing 12% SFSM exhibited an improved egg-specific gravity, shell thickness, and yolk color. Moreover, egg albumen (%) and blood and meat spots were significantly increased. The Haugh unit score decreased substantially in chickens supplemented with a diet containing 12% SFSM. Moreover, the blood plasma and yolk lipid profiles were significantly reduced dose-dependently. The inclusion of SFSM improved the yolk lipoprotein by increasing the plasma and yolk high- density lipoprotein (HDL) and HDL/LDL (low-density lipoprotein). However, the antioxidant markers, namely, malondialdehyde (MDA), and the ratio between total antioxidants capacity (TAC)/MDA, were negatively affected in hens fed a 12% SFSM diet. Furthermore, the birds fed a 12% SFSM diet had a better immune response based on the phagocytic activity, phagocytic index, lymphocyte transformation test, lysozyme activity, and antibody titer for Newcastle disease virus. The fertility and hatchability increased significantly by 4.81 and 6.74%, respectively, when the hens were fed a diet of 12% SFSM compared with the control. In conclusion, up to 12% of SFSM in hens’ diets had no adverse effects on the productive and reproductive performances; at the same time, they improved the yolk color, plasma lipid profiles, yolk lipid profiles, and immune parameters. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Alternative Protein Sources in Feed)

Review

Jump to: Research

17 pages, 814 KiB  
Review
Insect Meal as an Alternative to Protein Concentrates in Poultry Nutrition with Future Perspectives (An Updated Review)
by Qurat Ul Ain Sajid, Muhammad Umair Asghar, Haneef Tariq, Martyna Wilk and Arkadiusz Płatek
Agriculture 2023, 13(6), 1239; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13061239 - 13 Jun 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 5206
Abstract
In recent years, interest has grown among poultry nutritionists in using alternative protein sources, such as insect meal, to meet the protein requirements of poultry due to sustainability concerns surrounding traditional protein sources such as soybean and fish meal. Insect meal can be [...] Read more.
In recent years, interest has grown among poultry nutritionists in using alternative protein sources, such as insect meal, to meet the protein requirements of poultry due to sustainability concerns surrounding traditional protein sources such as soybean and fish meal. Insect meal can be produced from different insects, including black soldier fly, mealworms, and house crickets, and its nutrient composition varies depending on the insect species, the substrate they are reared on, and the production method. This review article provides an updated overview of insect meal as a new form of protein concentrate in poultry diets, including its nutritional value, advantages, challenges, and future prospects. Insect meal has been shown to be a rich source of protein, amino acids (lysine, methionine), and minerals (calcium, phosphorus, zinc), with a high digestibility rate, making it a valuable feed ingredient for poultry production. Additionally, using insect meal in poultry feed could reduce the cost of production and the environmental impact on the industry. Furthermore, the use of insect meal has the potential to improve the growth performance and meat quality of poultry species. However, several challenges related to large-scale insect production, legal regulatory frameworks, and consumer acceptance need to be addressed. Future research and development could help overcome these challenges and increase the adoption of insects as a potential source of protein in poultry feed. This review provides an updated and comprehensive overview of insects as a potential source of protein for poultry nutrition and highlights the possible perspectives of insect meal to contribute to a more sustainable and efficient poultry production system. While challenges remain, the utilization of insect meal in poultry feed has the capability to enhance the sustainability and efficiency in the poultry industry. Hence, insect meal emerges as a highly encouraging protein alternative, offering sustainable prospects for its utilization within the poultry sector. However, advancements in insect production technology and efficiency have the potential to raise the production scale while lowering prices, making insect meals more affordable compared to conventional protein sources. Based on the comprehensive analysis, it is recommended to further explore the practical implementation of insect meal as a reliable and efficient means of supplying protein in poultry nutrition. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Alternative Protein Sources in Feed)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 995 KiB  
Review
Flaxseed Meal and Its Application in Animal Husbandry: A Review
by Lei Xu, Zixi Wei, Baozhu Guo, Rong Bai, Jiao Liu, Yanpin Li, Wenjuan Sun, Xianren Jiang, Xilong Li and Yu Pi
Agriculture 2022, 12(12), 2027; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12122027 - 27 Nov 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3229
Abstract
Flaxseed meal (FSM) is rich in protein, α-linolenic acid, dietary fiber, flaxseed gum, and other bioactive substances. The total protein content of these components is up to 30%. Thus, FSM can be used as a high-quality protein feed resource. However, due to the [...] Read more.
Flaxseed meal (FSM) is rich in protein, α-linolenic acid, dietary fiber, flaxseed gum, and other bioactive substances. The total protein content of these components is up to 30%. Thus, FSM can be used as a high-quality protein feed resource. However, due to the presence of anti-nutritional factors, such as cyanogenic glycosides (CGs), phytic acid, anti-vitamin B6 factor, and other anti-nutritional factors, the application of FSM is restricted in animal diets. Recently, the interest in decreasing anti-nutritional factors and improving the nutritional value of FSM has been increasing in the field of animal nutrition. Therefore, this paper reviews the nutritional components, anti-nutritional factors, and the CG detoxification methods of FSM as well as its application in livestock and poultry, in order to provide a theoretical reference for the application of FSM in animal husbandry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Alternative Protein Sources in Feed)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-5
Back to TopTop