Instant Insights: Alternative Sources of Protein for Poultry

This book features five peer-reviewed reviews on alternative sources of protein for poultry.

The first chapter reviews effects of supplemental full- or de-fatted microalgal biomass in diets for broiler chickens, laying hens, and other types of poultry on their production performance, meat and egg qualities, nutrient metabolism, and molecular responses.

The second chapter provides an overview of the effects of dietary inclusion levels of different types of black soldier fly larvae protein meal on the performance and health of broilers and laying hens.

The third chapter considers the use of yellow mealworm as an alternative and sustainable protein source in poultry diets. The chapter reviews the nutritional and environmental benefits of its use, processing and storage requirements, as well as its effect on poultry productivity.

The fourth chapter highlights the poultry sector’s over-reliance on a limited number of feed ingredients and explores the recent emergence of non-conventional protein sources, such as insect meal, earthworms, localised oilseeds and algae.

The final chapter describes the application of corn fermented protein (CFP) in feed formulations for poultry. The chapter also discusses the use of distillers dried grains and solubles, as well as the challenges associated with the production of CFP.

Sahil Kalia is working as a Postdoctoral Associate in the Department of Animal Science at Cornell University. He has published various research articles, abstracts, book chapters in reputed journals including Nature Publishing Group.

Dr Xin Gen Lei is Professor of Molecular Nutrition in the Department of Animal Science at Cornell University, USA. Professor Lei has an international reputation for his wide-ranging research in nutrition as well as algal biomass research. Amongst his many achievements, Professor Lei developed a new phytase enzyme that is now used in 46 countries to improve feed phosphorus bioavailability to animals and reduce their phosphorus excretion. He has won a number of awards from The American Society for Nutrition and the American Society of Animal Science. He is Associate Editor of the Journal of Nutrition as well as President of TEMA (Trace Elements in Man and Animals).