The cost of compound feed is a constraint in intensive fish and poultry farming, contributing 60-80% of the total production costs, 70% of which is due to fish and soy meal used as protein source. This review presents the extent to which insects have been utilised as an alternative protein source in feed in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). A key word search of agricultural, biological and multi-disciplinary databases and academic search engines was conducted for literature on the extent of research and utilisation of insects in poultry and fish feed in SSA. There is limited published information on the practice as well as technical and economic feasibility of the use of insects as alternative protein ingredients in compound feed. This is likely because research on the subject is fairly recently initiated and yet to be published. Excluding South Africa, rearing, processing and use of insects is still at experimentation level at laboratory scale. Insects (grasshoppers, house fly maggots, Westwood larvae, termites and garden snail) meal replaced conventional protein sources by 10-100% without affecting the growth performance of fish and poultry. In some cases, insect based feed performed better than conventional feed. Nutritional composition data of insects published for SSA majorly focused on proximate composition and not characterisation of the nutritional quality. Several research and development projects on the technical and economic feasibility, social acceptability and potential social-economic impact are ongoing and expected to increase available data when completed. Published research confirms the potential of insects for use in poultry and fish production systems and mass production and processing of target insects is the next necessary step. Based on available and ongoing research, piloting and up-scaling the use of insects as alternative protein sources in animal feed in partnership with private sector in SSA is necessary. This will confirm and enhance the technical and economic feasibility of using of insects as an alternative protein source on a commercial scale.
REVIEW ARTICLE
Use of insects for fish and poultry compound feed in sub-Saharan Africa – a systematic review
G. Ssepuuya Related information
1Department of Food Technology and Nutrition, School of Food Technology, Nutrition and Bio-Engineering Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, 256 Kampala, Uganda.
, V. Namulawa Related information2Aquaculture Research and Development Centre, Kajjansi, National Fisheries Resources Research Institute, National Agricultural Research Organization, P.O. Box 530, 256 Kampala, Uganda.
, D. Mbabazi Related information2Aquaculture Research and Development Centre, Kajjansi, National Fisheries Resources Research Institute, National Agricultural Research Organization, P.O. Box 530, 256 Kampala, Uganda.
, S. Mugerwa Related information3National Livestock Resources Research Institute, National Agricultural Research Organization, P.O. Box 96, 256 Entebbe, Uganda.
, P. Fuuna Related information4School of Women and Gender studies, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, 256 Kampala, Uganda.
, Z. Nampijja Related information5Department of Agricultural Production, School of Agricultural Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, 256 Kampala, Uganda.
, S. Ekesi Related information6Plant Health Unit, International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, P.O. Box 30772-00100, 254 Nairobi, Kenya.
, K.K.M. Fiaboe Related information6Plant Health Unit, International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, P.O. Box 30772-00100, 254 Nairobi, Kenya.
, D. Nakimbugwe Related information1Department of Food Technology and Nutrition, School of Food Technology, Nutrition and Bio-Engineering Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, 256 Kampala, Uganda.
*Corresponding author: dnakimbugwe@gmail. com
*Corresponding author: dnakimbugwe@gmail.
Journal of Insects as Food and Feed: 3
(4)- Pages: 289 - 302
Published Online: November 16, 2017
Abstract
Keywords: alternative protein, rearing, performance, processing, meal
2022 Journal Impact Factor
5.7
source: Journal Impact Factor 2023™ from Clarivate™
Institutional Offers
For institutional orders, please contact [email protected].
Purchase Options
-
G. Daş, M.M. Seyedalmoosavi, K. Schleifer, M. Mielenz and C.C. Metges
-
-
M. Barrett, S.Y. Chia, B. Fischer and J.K. Tomberlin
-
D.G.A.B. Oonincx and M.D. Finke
-
G. Bosch and K.S. Swanson
-
K.B. Barragan-Fonseca, M. Dicke and J.J.A. van Loon
-
A. van Huis
-
M. Tschirner and A. Simon
-
S. Kelemu, S. Niassy, B. Torto, K. Fiaboe, H. Affognon, H. Tonnang, N.K. Maniania and S. Ekesi
-
S. Diener, C. Zurbrügg and K. Tockner
Editor's Choice: Birgit Rumpold

