Nutritional composition and potential of silkworm pupal meal as an alternative protein source in animal feed

Abstract

Silkworm pupae are an important by product of the sericulture industry obtained after silk reeling. Traditionally considered as waste, silkworm pupae have recently gained attention as a valuable feed ingredient due to their high nutritional value. Silkworm pupal meal contains significant amounts of protein, lipids, essential amino acids, minerals and vitamins. Studies have reported that the protein content of silkworm pupae ranges from 49 to 55 percent on a dry matter basis, making it comparable to conventional protein sources such as fish meal and soybean meal. The lipid content ranges from 25 to 30 percent which provides a rich source of energy and essential fatty acids. Research has shown that silkworm pupal meal can successfully replace conventional protein sources in poultry, livestock and aquaculture diets without negatively affecting animal growth or feed efficiency. Therefore silkworm pupal meal has considerable potential as an alternative protein source for animal nutrition and sustainable feed production.