Produção e caracterização física e química de farinha de insetos utilizados na piscicultura.

Abstract

The great demand for ingredients with high protein content and lower production cost as an alternative to supply the use of fish meal in aquaculture feed formulations, means that new sources of animal protein can be studied, including insect meal. Insects have been considered a promising source of nutrients for aquatic organisms, offering an alternative to scarce or unsustainable conventional foods, which represent the highest cost in fish farming, ranging from 65% to 80% of total costs. In this context, the search for nutritious and viable ingredients that can reduce the cost of the feed without compromising the growth of the fish has been the subject of several studies. In this sense, this work aims to elaborate flours originating from four species of insects: cinerea cockroach, Madagascar cockroach, black cricket and tenebrio larvae, which have shown potential to be used in the formulation of feeds for different species of fish, the from the dehydration process. The insects were acquired frozen in a biofactory in Recife-PE, duly registered and that meets the requirements in the creation of insects intended for human consumption. The work was carried out at the Fish and Aquaculture Studies Laboratory (LAPEAq) and at the Fishing Unit (CES/UFCG), where the meals were produced. The parameters observed in these studies were: Dry matter (DM), Moisture, mineral matter (DM), Crude protein (CP) and Ethereal extract (EE), which were analyzed at the Food and Animal Nutrition Laboratory of the Center for Agricultural Sciences at UFPB (CCA/UFPB). As for Dry Matter (DM) and Humidity, there was no significant difference between the flours studied, Mineral Matter (MM) and Crude Protein (CP), Madagascar Cockroach has the highest amount compared to other insects, and Ethereal Extract (EE) the tenebrio larvae and the cineréa cockroach have the highest levels. Therefore, it is concluded that the use of insects in aquaculture nutrition is viable and promising in terms of cost/benefit, aiming at a greater zootechnical development of the animals and the sustainability of the production chain, with emphasis on fish farming.