Introduction
Feed formulations traditionally rely on animal & plant derived products for proteins, fats, and other essential nutrients. Fishmeal, a protein concentrate derived from wild marine fish is prized for its amino acid profile and superior digestibility. Vegetable oils are used mainly for energy, but fish oil & linseed oil is used for Omega 3 supplementation. There are also functional ingredients being used for enhanced palatability, attractability and immunity benefits. However, these conventional sources face sustainability challenges, including environmental impact, resource demands, fluctuating costs, and limited availability.
To address these issues, sustainable alternatives like insect protein, algae meal, and single-cell proteins are gaining traction. When it comes to obtaining high nutritional value, Insects like Black Soldier Fly (Hermetiaillucens) and silkworm (Bombyx mori) are well known for the features like eco-friendly production, their high nutritional value, and their ability to transform animal feed, especially Shrimp feeds into a more sustainable product.
| Test Parameter | LoopMeal Omega – 55 | LoopMeal Pro – 62 | LoopMeal Pro – 65 | Fishmeal 62% | Fishmeal 65% | Krill Meal | BSF Larvae Meal |
| Moisture (g/100g) | Max 8 | Max 8 | Max 8 | Max 8-10 | Max8-10 | Max 10 | Max 7 |
| Fat (g/100g) | 25 +-2 | 20+-2 | 15+-2 | 8-10 | 8-10 | Max 13 | 5-10 |
| Protein (g/100g) | Min 55 | Min 62 | Min 65 | Min 62 | Min 65 | Min 50 | Min 50 |
| Ash (g/100g) | Max 7 | Max 7 | Max 7 | Max 25 | Max 20 | Max 22 | Max 12 |
| Fibre (g/100g) | Max 7 | Max 8 | Max 8 | 1 | 0.5 | 5 | 3.5 |
| Carbohydrate (g/100g) | Max 7 | Max 7 | Max 7 | 0 | 0 | 0.3 | 16.9 |
| Energy (kcal/kg) | Min 5000 | Min 4500 | Min 4000 | Min 3300 | Min 3120 | Min 3500 | Min 3500 |
Table 1. Proximate composition of silkworm pupae meal compared to other conventional protein sources
*LoopMeal is a trademark of Loopworm Pvt Ltd for all the Silkworm Pupae protein products
Potential of silkworm pupae
Silkworms, are monophagous insects primarily raised for silk production, feed on Mulberry leaves. India contributes around 16% of global silkworm while China accounts for about 80%. Silkworm pupae meal (SWP) is an excellent option for promoting growth in fish and other aquatic species. It is rich in protein, essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals, along with a high energy content which helps reduce external oil use in feeds. Silkworm Pupae Oil and hydrolysate are palatants & attractants and are rich in immunity boosting biomolecules.
Unlike fishmeal, which depends on wild-caught fish, SWP is environmentally friendly, cost-effective, and readily available in silk-producing regions. Its high palatability enhances feed intake in aquatic species, while SWP-enriched diets improve the flavour, texture, and nutritional value of fish and shrimp, delivering superior seafood quality to consumers.
Silkworm Pupae products feasibility
Silkworm pupae derived products can be used as an ingredient or additive in fish, shrimp, prawns and poultry diets. However, the current volumes and cost of production restricts its use to high value feeds. In India, it’s feasible to use it in Shrimp & Prawn feed formulations, Trout & Seabass fish feeds, and to feed layer birds producing Omega 3 enriched eggs.
In a trial in Macro branchiumrosenbergii juveniles comparing fishmeal, soybean meal, shrimp meal and different insect meals as protein sources (McCallum et al., 2021), the survival rate and percentage increase in body mass of the prawns were higher using SWP (45% protein) in comparison to fishmeal, shrimp meal and other insect meals.
Trial Study of Loopworm’s defatted Silkworm Pupae Meal in white leg Shrimp (By Dr. Loc Tran’s lab, ShrimpVet)
A recent trial conducted by Dr. Loc Tran & team (ShrimpVet, Vietnam) demonstrated several positive outcomes when replacing 3% and 5% of Peruvian anchovy fishmeal with Loopworm’s silkworm pupae meal (SWP) in shrimp feed. The study highlighted the following key findings:
- Faster Feed Detection: Shrimp showed a 50% faster detection of the feed, improving their ability to locate and consume the food more efficiently.
- Increased Feeding Activity: The feeding activity saw a remarkable 15% increase when we replaced 3% of peruvian fish meal with Loopworm’s defatted silkworm pupae meal, suggesting that shrimp were more motivated to feed, likely due to the improved palatability of the SWP-enriched diet.
- Improved Feed Palatability: A 14% improvement in feed palatability was observed, indicating that shrimp preferred the taste and aroma of the feed containing SWP.
- Enhanced Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR): The feed conversion ratio (FCR) improved by 16% by replacing 5% of fish meal with SWP Meal, pointing to better feed intake and bioconversion, which is crucial for cost-effective shrimp farming.
- Lower Mortality rate: The trial also revealed a 29% decrease in shrimp mortality rates, highlighting the potential of SWP to enhance immune resistance and overall health.
These results reinforce the potential of silkworm pupae meal as a highly effective, sustainable alternative to traditional feed ingredients, promoting better shrimp health and growth while enhancing feed efficiency.
Challenges
Despite its potential, the adoption of SWP faces several challenges. Price volatility in protein ingredients, like soybean and fishmeal, disrupts feed cost planning, making it difficult for farmers to commit to alternatives like SWP. The seasonal fluctuations in ingredient prices create uncertainty in demand, which can deter consistent sourcing.
Additionally, shrimp farmers remain cautious about incorporating new ingredients into their feed due to the rising incidence of diseases. The fear of adversely affecting shrimp health leads to hesitation in adopting SWP, despite its nutritional benefits.
Scalability also presents a challenge, as current production levels of SWP are not yet sufficient to meet the growing demand in the industry, limiting its widespread use.
Prediction & Conclusion
The Indian shrimp farming industry is poised for significant growth, driven by increasing global demand and supportive government policies. Recent surges in shrimp farming stocks, such as Avanti Feeds and Kings Infra, reflect investor optimism about export growth. (Source: Money control)
As awareness and trial data on insect-based ingredients like silkworm pupae meal (SWP) expand, farmers and feed millers are gaining confidence in these sustainable alternatives. Scaling up production is expected to reduce costs, benefiting the entire value chain.
The rising global demand for protein, combined with the limited availability and price fluctuations of traditional feed ingredients, highlights the need for alternative protein & fat sources. SWP and silkworm oil offers a viable, cost-effective, nutritious, and environmentally friendly solution to bridge this demand-supply gap.
In conclusion, the Indian shrimp farming sector is set for strong growth, driven by market optimism, sustainable feed alternatives like SWP, and supportive policies. SWP offers a cost-effective, nutritious solution to meet protein needs in aquaculture, contributing to the industry’s long-term growth and sustainability.
By: Ankit Alok Bagaria, Loopworm
