Effect of using insects as feed on animals: pet dogs and cats

The ‘buzz’ in society around insects has resulted the appearance of insect-based pet food products on market and more are under development. This contribution aimed to provide background information foods sector an overview current state knowledge regarding naturalness, palatability, nutritional quality, health effects, sustainability as feed for dogs cats. In contrast dogs, natural diets cats commonly contain but total biomass is <0.5% most diets. Cats can have a different palate when it comes insect species inclusion level influence acceptance food. apparent faecal N digestibility values were range containing conventional protein sources. Based indispensable amino acid (IAA) reported black soldier fly larvae (BSFL), housefly (HFL), yellow mealworms (YMW) chickens requirements growing cats, first limiting IAA methionine (BSFL, cats; YMW, cats), threonine dogs), leucine (HFL, dog cats). More long-term studies still required evaluate adequacy safety well that focus presence health-promoting biofunctionalities insects. Insect proteins lower environmental impact than livestock meat proteins, this not relevant context largely based animal co-products with low impact. Developments rearing will make competitive For advancing applications beyond hypoallergenic foods, be essential assure safe quality ingredients understanding owner views rearing.