Larval Feed Composition Using Brewer's Spent Grain and Liquid Yeast
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Solution Overview
Problem
Insect larvae exhibit reduced palatability and acceptance of feed containing high proportions of brewer's spent grain, leading to lower feed consumption, slower growth rates, and a higher Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR), which hinders the economic viability and sustainability of insect protein production.
Innovation Solution
A novel feed composition specifically formulated for insect larvae, comprising a blend of brewer's spent grain (BSG), liquid yeast, and controlled moisture content, optimized to enhance nutritional value and palatability, thereby reducing the FCR.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high proportions of brewer's spent grain are used in feed composition, then waste reduction and sustainability are improved, but larval palatability and feed acceptance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the moisture content parameter of brewer's spent grain to a specific range (73-82%) to transform its properties. This parameter change makes the otherwise unpalatable high-fiber waste material acceptable to larvae while maintaining its waste reduction benefits, thus resolving the contradiction between sustainability and feed acceptance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite feed material by combining brewer's spent grain with other ingredients in specific proportions. This composite approach allows the inclusion of high proportions of spent grain (up to 90% or more) while the combination with complementary materials maintains overall palatability and nutritional balance, resolving the contradiction between waste utilization and feed acceptance.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If high proportions of brewer's spent grain are used in feed composition, then environmental impact is reduced, but growth rate and feed conversion efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
By controlling moisture content within the critical range of 73-82%, the patent transforms the digestibility and nutritional availability of brewer's spent grain. This parameter optimization enables larvae to efficiently convert the high-fiber waste material into biomass, achieving both environmental sustainability and high growth rates with improved feed conversion ratios.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality optimization by specifically targeting the moisture content property of the spent grain rather than uniformly treating all feed components. This focused optimization of the critical moisture parameter enables selective improvement of digestibility and nutrient absorption in the spent grain portion, resolving the contradiction between environmental benefits and productivity.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional feed formulations are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but nutritional content and bio-availability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a single critical parameter control (moisture content at 73-82%) that simultaneously achieves multiple nutritional improvements including enhanced protein bio-availability, improved digestibility, and increased palatability. This straightforward parameter specification maintains manufacturing simplicity while dramatically improving nutritional content and larval performance compared to conventional formulations.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a composition to feeding larvae comprising brewery by-products including at least brewer's spent grain and liquid yeast; characterized in that the moisture mass content of the composition ranges from 73 % to 82 %. The invention also relates to an insect-based feed formulation comprising one or more insect sources fed on such composition. The invention finally relates to associated methods to collect insects and produce such insect-based feed formulation.