Nutrition
The Benefits of Insect Protein
The world of canine nutrition keeps developing, and beyond offering us dog kibble in every flavour and texture, it now surprises us with what may well be the future of feeding: protein obtained from insect larvae.
It is one of the highest-quality proteins there is and, being a novel protein source, it has minimal impact in terms of intolerances or allergies. Let's look in detail at the benefits of feeding our dog an insect-based kibble.
What Is an Insect-Based Kibble?
Nobody should picture dog kibble crawling with insects or anything of the sort, nor imagine that millions of flies, mosquitoes and other insects are caught to make this kind of food. In reality it is far simpler than you imagine and, on top of that, environmentally friendly.
Human food waste is stored to make compost, which is later used in farming to fertilise fields naturally. That waste generates tonnes of insects, but those are not the insects that get used.
To obtain insect protein, what happens is that more insects are farmed under controlled conditions in order to obtain only the larvae. Once grown, the larvae are harvested and used as a protein source. One hundred per cent of the larvae is used, so no waste is generated.
The Benefits of Insect Protein
Protein obtained from insect larvae has no end of benefits compared with other animal proteins. Let's look in detail at what those benefits are and why they matter to us:
- Free of hormones and antibiotics
- Extremely high-quality protein, and a novel one
- No animals are slaughtered to produce it
- Environmentally friendly
Insects Are Not Given Hormones or Medication
Every farm animal is medicated with antibiotics to prevent disease, just as they are exposed to legal growth hormones. This happens with every animal destined for human or animal consumption, incredible as it may seem.
Insect larvae are given no hormones and contain no antibiotics, so it is fair to say this is the cleanest, healthiest protein source there is.
Insect Protein Is Novel
Most intolerances in dogs, or food allergies, are triggered by one of the ingredients in their food, chiefly beef and chicken. Insect protein is entirely new to the body, so it has a minimal rate of causing intolerances. It is even recommended as a hypoallergenic option.
According to scientific studies, it is an animal protein of the very highest quality. So much so that the European Union has already authorised it for human consumption (Tenebrio molitor, approved in 2021).
Kind to Animals
While it is true that animal by-products are generally what goes into making kibble, it is also true that animals are sometimes slaughtered purely for that purpose. Insects can be farmed in captivity very quickly and safely, avoiding the need to slaughter animals to feed our dogs.
It Generates No Waste
Insect larvae are farmed under controlled conditions on human food waste, and once the larvae have grown and processed that food, what is left behind is compost that can be used as fertiliser in farming. What is more, farming insect larvae generates barely any CO2 emissions compared with the other meats used to make dog kibble.
Will Insect-Based Kibble Be Good for My Dog?
Of course it will. What is more, if the formulation is well balanced it may even be the best option for feeding your dog, as long as we are talking about kibble. Don't be put off by its insect-based composition, since this is a very safe, high-quality protein source.
Pick a good range, with or without grains, and let your dog be the one to decide whether they like it. They almost certainly will, and in the process we will be feeding them a high-quality kibble and helping the environment too.
Where Can I Buy Insect-Based Dog Food?
There are plenty of options available to you thanks to the internet. We have been analysing several products and the range of insect-based dog food from Bellfor caught our eye. Its composition is good and its ranges are well balanced, and there is the option of choosing with or without grains. You can see all the details in their online shop:
We are referring to Bellfor's Naturgut Schmaus and Landgut Schmaus ranges. Let's look at these insect protein kibbles in a little more detail.
- Naturgut Schmaus: Made with 80% insect protein with high digestibility. Grain-free, with fruit and vegetables and, on top of that, cold-pressed to preserve its nutrients better.
- Landgut Schmaus: With 82% insect protein, fruit, vegetables and grain-free. With a high percentage of omega-3 fatty acids, prebiotics and probiotics.
In the online shop we can see many other options for our dog, snacks included.
Is It Dangerous to Feed My Dog Insects?
If you feed them yourself, quite possibly yes. But if you put your trust in a kibble based on insect protein, it is not dangerous in the slightest. All these kibbles go through the same safety measures as conventional beef, chicken, lamb or fish kibbles. And if we add to those safety checks the fact that insect larvae are given no hormones and no medication, we are in fact talking about one of the safest options there is.
What is more, we invite you to look into how the European Union has already authorised insects in human food. To the point that this animal protein is already reaching a great many humans, in the same way it has been done for hundreds of years in Asian countries.
IMPORTANT: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute veterinary, nutritional or behavioural advice. Every dog is different, and only your trusted vet can advise you on its specific needs.