Bioactive properties of insect products for monogastric animals - a review

Insects or products derived from insects are considered as a valuable feed ingredient for aquaculture, poultry, and pigs but also exert possible secondary effects of health stimulators in livestock as reported in literature. Health benefits attributed to insects can create additional value in the insect chain. Three categories of bioactive compounds in insects are reported in this desk study: antimicrobial peptides (such as a-helical peptides, cysteine-rich peptides, proline-rich peptides, glycine-rich peptides), fatty acids (especially lauric acid), and polysaccharides (especially chitin and chitosan). The review summarises the recent literature on these three categories. Antimicrobial properties or immuno-modulating effects may contribute to reduce the use of antibiotics and to avoid antibiotic resistance in livestock when these insect products are included in animal diets. Furthermore, antioxidant capacity of insect-proteins might reduce collateral tissue damage. Health stimulating effects of insect products may result in additional applications of insect products in animal feed for livestock.

Automated summary

Insects and their derived products have the potential to serve as valuable feed ingredients in aquaculture, poultry, and pig farming, while also providing health benefits to livestock. This review focuses on the bioactive compounds found in insects, including antimicrobial peptides, fatty acids, and polysaccharides, and explores their potential effects on animal health. By incorporating insect products into animal diets, it is possible to reduce the reliance on antibiotics and prevent antibiotic resistance in livestock. Additionally, the antioxidant properties of insect proteins may help protect tissues from damage. These findings suggest that insect products have diverse applications in animal feed for improving livestock health.