Insect Flour Poultry Feed Additive for Protein Supply

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The poultry industry faces challenges in meeting the protein needs of poultry due to suboptimal amino acid composition in vegetable proteins and the limited availability and high cost of fish meal, which is further exacerbated by overfishing and environmental concerns, while there is a lack of data on the safety and impact of insect-derived proteins in animal feed.

Innovation Solution

A feed additive for poultry that includes a high-fat flour derived from insects, such as Turkestan cockroach, hermetia larvae, short-winged cricket, and brown cricket, which supports weight gain and maintains normal intestinal microflora, replacing fish meal and other protein sources, and providing antibacterial properties to reduce harmful bacteria like Enterobacteriaceae.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If fish meal is used as a protein source in poultry feed, then the amino acid composition is optimal for poultry, but the availability is limited and cost is high due to overfishing and transportation distances

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveavailability of protein sourceVSAvoidcost of raw materials

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive, limited fish meal with insect-derived protein that is more readily available and cost-effective. Insects can be produced locally and sustainably, providing a disposable alternative to depleting fish resources while maintaining optimal amino acid composition for poultry nutrition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the protein source parameter from marine origin (fish meal) to terrestrial insect origin, fundamentally altering the supply chain characteristics while preserving the nutritional functionality. This parameter change enables local production, reduced transportation, and sustainable availability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of manufacture

If vegetable protein is used in poultry feed, then the cost is reduced, but the amino acid composition is not optimal for poultry

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecost of feedVSAvoidamino acid composition quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite protein source by combining plant-based feed components with insect-derived protein. This composite approach leverages the cost advantage of vegetable proteins while supplementing with insect protein to achieve optimal amino acid composition, thereby resolving the contradiction between cost and nutritional quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Quantity of substance

If insect-derived proteins are used in animal feed, then the protein source becomes more available and cost-effective, but there is lack of data on safety and impact on livestock

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveavailability of protein sourceVSAvoidsafety data for livestock

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary safety assessments and impact studies on insect-derived proteins in poultry feed before full-scale implementation. By conducting these evaluations in advance, the invention addresses the reliability concern proactively, establishing safety data and efficacy evidence that enables confident adoption of this alternative protein source.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Quantity of substance

If fish meal is transported from huge distances, then the protein supply is maintained, but the environmental impact and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotein supplyVSAvoidenvironmental impact

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables regions to produce their own protein source locally through insect farming, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating the need for long-distance transportation of fish meal. This local production approach maintains protein supply while dramatically reducing transportation-related environmental impact and costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The addition of insect flour to poultry feed promotes weight gain, improves intestinal health, reduces mortality, and enhances egg hygiene by maintaining a balanced intestinal microflora, thereby increasing breeding efficiency and economic efficiency while reducing the need for fish meal and minimizing environmental impact.

Implementation Method 1

providing antibacterial properties to reduce harmful bacteria like Enterobacteriaceae

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAntibacterial properties:

Data Source

PatentEP3328210B1Feed for poultry and method of preparation thereof

Publication Date: 2020.04.22 HIPROMINE SA

Figure 1

AI summary

The invention relates to a feed additive for poultry, supporting weight gain of poultry and maintenance of normal intestinal microflora, which includes a high-fat flour derived from insects and/or protein-chitin extracts of insect origin in an amount providing about 0.05 - 30% by weight of insect flour and/or protein-chitin extracts of insect origin per total weight of the feed and the use thereof for feeding poultry, as well as to a method of feeding poultry.