Location: Small Grains and Potato Germplasm Research
Project Number: 2050-21310-006-030-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Jul 1, 2024
End Date: Sep 30, 2025
Objective:
The purpose of this research is to examine the effects of inclusion of insect meal on the quantity and characteristics of fecal waste produced by salmonids through the following objectives:
Objective 1: Examine the suitability of dry matter digestibility as a precise metric for estimating fecal waste production due to insect meal inclusion in Rainbow trout diets
Objective 2: Examine the effects of graded levels of insect meal inclusion on growth and fecal waste production in Rainbow trout cultured in recirculating systems
Objective 3: Examine the effects of graded levels of insect meal inclusion on growth and fecal waste production in Atlantic salmon cultured in recirculating systems
These data will provide the necessary data to allow formulators and feed manufacturers to include insect meals in salmonid feeds. Inclusion of insect meals can reduce the dependence of salmonid feeds on marine products and reduce the carbon footprint and detrimental effects on fecal waste output and water quality that has been associated with some terrestrial protein sources.
Approach:
Objective 1:
Experimental Design: Screen commercially available insect meals in an in vivo digestibility trial at Bozeman Fish Technology Center during Dr. Dennis McIntosh first residency, examine the effects of insect meal type on available nutrient content and test for correlations between dry matter digestibility and fecal waste production.
Objectives 2 and 3:
Experimental Design: The insect meal product that performs the best in the digestibility trial will be further evaluated in 9-week growth trial in rainbow trout at Bozeman Fish Technology Center (Objective 2; Dr. Dennis McIntosh 2nd residency) and a 12-week growth trial in Atlantic salmon at Delaware State University (Objective 3). All diets will be formulated with information already determined for commercially available ingredients to replace graded levels of fishmeal and soybean meal protein with insect meal on a digestible nutrient basis in a practical type salmonid feed.
