NEW PROTEINS ▶▶▶
Mussels, starfish and insects: Protein feedstuffs of the future?
A recent study evaluated the potential of feeding several sustainable and novel feed ingredients to weaned pigs and poultry. Although the results seem promising, applying these novel proteins requires thinking out of the box.
BY MARLEEN VAN DER HEIDE PHD, DEPT. OF ANIMAL SCIENCE, AARHUS UNIVERSITY P
rotein is an essential nutrient for the productivity of farm animals. Soy and fishmeal are two of the main ingredients used to meet animals’ protein require- ments in feed rations because they provide substan-
tial levels of protein and essential amino acids. However, fluc- tuating prices as well as deforestation and greenhouse gas
emissions related to the production and transport of soy, as well as overfishing, have increased the need for alternative protein-rich feed ingredients. Ideally, these alternative pro- tein sources should, besides providing protein, in particular essential amino acids, have minimal negative impacts on the environment. Obtaining high-quality protein locally can be a challenge in many northern European countries, where cli- mate conditions limit the production of protein-rich crops. In Denmark, for example, several experiments have been carried out using starfish, mussels and insects as protein alternatives for non-ruminant production animals.
Proteins of the future These raw materials are all potentially available locally, i.e., within Denmark but also in other coastal areas. The starfish and mussels (blue mussel) used in these experiments origi- nate from natural bodies of water. Starfish, which are a
Despite its high ash content, starfish meal can replace fish- meal and thus maintain the growth perfor- mance of grow- ing pigs and laying hens.
▶ ALL ABOUT FEED | Volume 29, No. 8, 2021 13
PHOTO: ANP
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