- Research closes knowledge gap of black soldier fly larvae-based protein in cat food.
- Excellent acceptance, digestibility and nutritional value comparable to a super-premium chicken product-based diet.
- Potential to have a positive effect on gut health due to its potential prebiotic effect.
Protix, a leading insect ingredient company, has announced the results of an insect-based cat food study conducted at Wageningen University and Research. The study was published in the Journal of Insects as Food and Feed and shows that Protix’s BSFL meal (ProteinX) included at high levels in cat diets was well accepted and resulted in digestibility comparable to a super -premium chicken by-product meal- based diet. ProteinX modifies the gut microbiota and promotes an increase in the production of fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which are considered beneficial for animal health.
The findings open up exciting opportunities for manufacturers to develop cat-specific formulas with science-backed health claims.
The structure of the study
The study investigated the effects of incorporating Protix’s BSFL meal on the nutritional profile of dry extruded cat food, and the impact on several aspects of the cats’ health. Eight adult cats were fed two different diets over two 28-day periods. One diet included ProteinX at 37.5 percent in the recipe, while the control was based on poultry by-product meal (PBP) with a similar nutrient and ingredient composition.
Throughout the study, food intake was monitored, and samples were collected on the last seven days of each period for assessment of apparent total tract nutrient digestibility, fecal consistency, fermentation products and microbiota, as well as blood biochemistry and hematology.
Because of cats’ reputation for fickleness, the BSFL diet gained wide acceptance among subjects. All cats maintained normal consumption of the ProteinX diet throughout the trial period, without food refusal, vomiting or significant changes in blood parameters. Cats keep their bodies
weight and general health.
Digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, nitrogen, fat and gross energy was remarkably high for the BSFL meal-based diet, closely matching super-premium diets. The feces of cats is well formed, and has an optimal consistency.
The ProteinX-based diet had a profound effect on intestinal microbial activity, increasing the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). SCFAs (acetate, butyrate, and propionate) are considered beneficial for animal health, and their concentration in the feces of cats fed the BSFL diet was significantly higher than the values of the control group.
Furthermore, cats showed a higher relative abundance of some beneficial genera of bacteria such as Bifidobacterium, known for its probiotic properties and considered beneficial for the health of host, while showing inhibition of Negativibacillus and Lachnoclostridium genera – these last ones
associated with clinical signs of digestive issues and harming gut health. Therefore, by stimulating gut microbiota activity and SCFA production, increasing beneficial gut bacteria and inhibiting some gut bacteria associated with digestive problems, ProteinX shows the potential to support gut health in adult cats. The results suggest that ProteinX’s unique food composition and its presence of components such as lauric acid, antimicrobial peptides, and chitin yield high nutritional value, and potentially have prebiotic effects.
Bruna Loureiro, product development manager at Protix, said the following: “These results represent a further step in bringing natural and delicious insect-based nutrition to cats based on scientific evidence. We look forward to the collaboration to manufacturers to translate these promising findings into palatable products that will promote good gut health in cats.”
Recently published research addresses the growing interest in the potential of insect ingredients as a high nutritional value, sustainable and healthy alternative to pet food formulations. Manufacturers are confident that insect ingredients can be incorporated at high levels of integration into highly palatable cat foods in the knowledge that they represent a sustainable and healthy option. The research paves the way for manufacturers to tap into growing consumer demand for natural pet food that optimizes animal nutrition and welfare.