Silkworm pupae are packed with protein, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals essential for pets’ overall health and well-being. They are particularly rich in amino acids, crucial for muscle development and maintenance, making them an ideal option for promoting lean muscle mass in pets.
Co-Founder and CEO
Loopworm Private Limited
As sustainability and nutritional innovation take center stage in animal nutrition, silkworm-based ingredients emerge as a revolutionary option for livestock feed and pet food. Rich in protein, essential amino acids, and healthy fats, these ingredients boost animal health and promote eco-friendly practices, making them a promising alternative to conventional ingredients.
Silkworm farming, or sericulture, has ancient roots dating back over 5,000 years to China, primarily for silk production. Traditionally, silkworms are cultivated for their silk fibers, vital to the textile industry. Over time, the nutritional value of silkworm pupae was recognized, leading to their use in animal feed and pet food due to their high protein and essential nutrient content. Recently, silkworms have gained attention in the nutraceutical industry for their bioactive compounds, which offer health benefits such as boosting immunity and providing hypoallergenic protein sources. This evolution highlights their versatile applications beyond textile production.
Silkworms provide a nutritionally consistent, safe, and pure protein source compared to other insects. Fed exclusively on fresh mulberry leaves, they offer stable protein and essential nutrient levels. This controlled diet ensures they are free from pesticides and antibiotics, unlike insects bred on variable food waste, which can introduce contaminants and pathogens. This makes silkworms a safer, more reliable choice for animal feed and pet food, guaranteeing high-quality nutrition without the risks associated with waste-fed insects.
Silkworm farming benefits from millennia of refinement, ensuring optimized breeding and cultivation processes. Unlike newer insect farming methods still evolving, silkworm cultivation is well-established globally, notably accepted in North East India, China, and across Asia for both animal feed and human consumption. This extensive cultural acceptance minimizes adoption hurdles. Moreover, silkworm pupae are EU-approved for animal diets, underscoring their safety and nutritional value. These factors position silkworms as a reliable and accepted choice, leveraging historical expertise and widespread approval for sustainable nutrition solutions in today’s global market.
Here is a brief on the applications of Silkworm derived ingredients in animal feeds & pet foods:
Applications in Livestock Feed:
1. Poultry Feed: Silkworm pupae meal can be used as a protein supplement in poultry diets, improving growth performance and feed efficiency.
2. Aquaculture: It is also suitable for fish feed, enhancing growth rates and overall health of fish.
3. Swine and Ruminant Feed: Inclusion of silkworm pupae meal in swine and cattle diets can improve protein intake and promote better growth. It is also proven that in vitro rumen methane production goes down by 15-30% with an inclusion of 2-4% of Silkworm Pupae Oil, a promising way to not only provide necessary lipids in the diet but also solve for GHG emissions.
Applications in Pet Food:
1. Dog and Cat Food: Silkworms can be processed into pet food, providing a novel protein source that is hypoallergenic and highly digestible.
2. Exotic Pets: For reptiles, birds, and other exotic pets, silkworms are a natural and nutritious food option.
Table 1-2-3 are comparative analyses of the typical proximate compositions, Amino Acid profiles, Phospholipids & Sterols of Silkworm Pupae products in comparison to other conventional sources.
APPLICATIONS OF SILKWORM PUPAE OIL IN AQUA FEED FORMULATIONS
Silkworm Pupae Oil emits a distinctive and potent aroma, making it an effective chemoattractant to enhance feed palatability and attractability.
The emergence of white spot syndrome (WSS) poses a significant challenge to crustacean aquaculture, resulting in substantial economic losses. Beta-sitosterol, identified as a potent inhibitor of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV), shows promise as an effective agent against WSS outbreaks in crustacean aquaculture1.
For optimal growth of fish and crustacean larvae, diets typically require 1–3% phosphatidylcholine + phosphatidylinositol (PC + PI) of the diet’s dry weight2.
Alpha Linolenic Acid (ALA), constituting over 35% of Omega-3 fatty acids in Silkworm Pupae Oil, significantly influences the growth performance of fish like Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch), impacting hepatic lipid metabolism enzymes and muscle fatty acid composition3.
Research on White Legged Shrimps indicates that dietary supplementation with Linolenic Acid upregulates immune genes (peritrophin-44-like protein, lysozyme, and cathepsin C) and enhances antioxidant enzyme activity (superoxide dismutase and catalase) in the hepatopancreas of P. vannamei. This supplementation improves the growth and non-specific immunity of P. vannamei4.
APPLICATION OF SILKWORM PUPAE IN PET FOOD
Silkworm pupae are packed with protein, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals essential for pets’ overall health and well-being. They are particularly rich in amino acids, crucial for muscle development and maintenance, making them an ideal option for promoting lean muscle mass in pets. Moreover, silkworm pupae are highly digestible, which is beneficial for pets with sensitive stomachs or food allergies, ensuring efficient nutrient absorption without gastrointestinal discomfort.
Recent studies have highlighted the potential of silkworm pupae in pet diets. For instance, research conducted by scientists at Kasetsart University in Bangkok, Thailand, demonstrated that silkworms can substitute poultry meal in canine diets without adverse effects on health or nutrient digestibility. The study found that inclusion levels of up to 14% of silkworms in dog food were well-tolerated and supported healthy digestion in dogs.
Similarly, in Taiwan, researchers at the Miaoli Agricultural Research and Extension Station developed silkworm pupae-based cat food. This innovative approach was tested at a cat cafe, where feline residents showed increased energy levels and improvements in stool odor, indicating potential health benefits associated with the consumption of silkworm-based diets.
Silkworms also offer a range of bioactive compounds beyond high-quality proteins and fats. Phospholipids play crucial roles in cell membrane structure and function, promoting cellular health in fish and shrimp, enhancing growth and immune response. Sterols contribute to hormonal balance and vitality in poultry, aiding in egg production and overall health. Chitin, known for its antimicrobial properties, supports gut health in dogs and cats, reducing digestive issues.
1-DNJ (1-deoxynojirimycin) helps regulate blood sugar levels in pets, particularly beneficial for diabetic management. Omega-3 fatty acids from silkworms enhance skin and coat health in dogs and cats, reducing inflammation and allergies. Palatability enhancers ensure silkworm-based diets are appealing to ornamental fish and birds, encouraging adequate intake and growth.
By harnessing these bioactive compounds, silkworm-based diets can optimize health outcomes across various species, from improved growth and reproduction in aquaculture to enhanced vitality and longevity in pets. Their natural composition aligns with the nutritional needs of animals, making silkworms a versatile and beneficial choice in modern animal nutrition strategies.
Ongoing research focuses on optimizing the processing methods, improving the nutritional profile, and assessing the long-term impacts of silkworm-based diets on animal health and productivity. Studies are also being conducted to understand the palatability and acceptance of these ingredients among different animal species.
In conclusion, silkworm-based ingredients offer a promising alternative to conventional feed ingredients, with potential benefits for animal health, environmental sustainability, and economic efficiency. However, further research and development, along with regulatory and consumer acceptance, are essential for their widespread adoption.
References
1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9499679/
2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0044848697001257
3. https://www.hindawi.com/journals/are/2023/4869006/
4. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0044848621000594
About Ankit Alok Bagaria
Ankit Alok Bagaria is the Co-Founder & CEO of Loopworm Private Limited, a pioneering company that develops products from industrially farmed insects for animal, plant, and human nutrition. Loopworm utilizes insects, often dismissed as pests, to harness their potential as a sustainable bioresource. Insects offer a scalable, eco-friendly solution, requiring far less land and water than traditional protein sources like soy and fish.Loopworm Private Limited caters to the US$ 200 billion animal feed protein and fats market, with a factory capacity of 100 tonnes per month. Bagaria’s innovative approach earned him spots on Forbes India and Asia 30 Under 30.
