Improving Health of Man’s Best Friend
A study in 2023 aimed to evaluate the replacement of chicken meal with locust (grasshopper) meal in dog food. The study was focusing on its impact on Golden Retriever health, digestibility, and palatability.
The research was conducted in several phases where 18 dogs were fed diets with 0 %, 7 %, or 14 % locust meal for 15 days. The purpose was to assess if locust meal could serve as a sustainable protein alternative without compromising dog health or food preference.
The results show that Locust meal offers a sustainable protein source, potentially reducing reliance on traditional animal proteins, addressing resource scarcity amid growing pet populations. It contains beneficial nutrients like unsaturated fatty acids and minerals. Locust meal inclusion did not significantly affect body weight, dry matter or organic matter digestibility. However, crude protein digestibility decreased significantly. The study suggests that Locust meal is a viable substitute without major negative impacts on dog health or performance.
The nitrogen content was determined by the Kjeldahl method, using an OPSIS LiquidLINE KjelROC Analyzer. The crude oil content was determined, using petroleum ether as solvent, with an OPSIS LiquidLINE SoxROC. Get more details about our products on our Product page >>