Carl D. Webster

Bio: Carl D. Webster is an academic researcher from United States Department of Agriculture. The author has contributed to research in topics: Fish meal & Bass (fish). The author has an hindex of 7, co-authored 22 publications receiving 238 citations.

Bio‐Ag reutilization of distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS) as a substrate for black soldier fly larvae, Hermetia illucens, along with poultry by‐product meal and soybean meal, as total replacement of fish meal in diets for Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus

Abstract: A feeding trial was conducted in a closed system with Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, juveniles (mean initial weight, 266 g) to examine total replacement of menhaden fish meal (FM) with distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS), which had been used as substrate for the production of black soldier fly larvae, Hermetia illucens, in combination with soybean meal (SBM) and poultry by-product meal (PBM), with or without supplementation of the amino acids (AA) DL-methionine (Met), L-lysine (Lys) and a commercial non-amylaceous polysaccharide enzyme (Enz) product Fish were fed seven isoenergetic [available energy (AE) = 40 kcal g−1 of diet] and isonitrogenous (350 g kg−1 protein as-fed basis) practical diets formulated with equivalent digestible protein levels Diet 1 was formulated to be similar to a commercial, high-quality, tilapia diet containing 200 g kg−1 FM Diets 2–5 were formulated as a 2 × 2 factorial to replace FM with similar contributions from DDGS (45%), PBM (25%) and SBM (21–29%), but to differ in supplementation of AA and/or Enz preparation Diets 6 and 7 were formulated to investigate the effects of a 2/3 and 1/3 reduction, respectively, in DDGS contribution to the replacement protein mix, with concomitant increases in SBM, with respect to diet 3, and were balanced with Lys and Met After 6 weeks, growth responses were slightly attenuated (P ≤ 005) and average daily intake (ADI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were slightly higher in tilapia fed DDGS diets 2–5 compared to those of fish fed the FM control diet 1 Growth responses were not significantly affected by the presence or absence of AA or Enz (diets 2–5), or the level of DDGS (diets 3, 7 and 6) Whole-body proximate composition was not different among treatments Amino acid profiles of fish fed DDGS diets were not significantly different from those of fish fed the FM control Evidence of interaction between AA and Enz supplementation was detected in whole-body amino acid concentrations such that AA content was higher with AA or Enz addition alone, but lower when both were added to the diet Results suggest that DDGS replacement of FM in tilapia diets can be substantial when diets are formulated on a digestible protein basis and DDGS is combined with highly digestible animal (PBM) and plant proteins (SBM)

The environmental sustainability of insects as food and feed. A review

Abstract: With a growing world population, increasingly demanding consumers, and a limited amount of agricultural land, there is an urgent need to find alternatives to conventional meat products. Livestock production is, moreover, a leading cause of anthropogenic-induced climate change. To mediate this, more sustainable diets are needed, with reduced meat consumption or the use of alternative protein sources. Insects are promoted as human food and animal feed worldwide. In tropical countries, edible insects are harvested from nature, but overexploitation, habitat changes, and environmental contamination threaten this food resource. Therefore, sustainable harvesting practices need to be developed and implemented. We provide examples of (1) aquatic insects whose populations are threatened by pollution, (2) caterpillar species in Africa that are disappearing due to overexploitation and habitat change, (3) edible insects species that are considered pests in agro-ecosystems, and (4) edible insect species that can be conserved and enhanced in forest management systems. Insect farming can be conducted either on small-scale farms or in large-scale industrialized rearing facilities. We review the environmental sustainability of insect farming compared to livestock production. The major environmental advantages of insect farming compared to livestock production are as follows: (1) less land and water is required; (2) greenhouse gas emissions are lower; (3) insects have high feed conversion efficiencies; (4) insects can transform low-value organic by-products into high-quality food or feed; and (5) certain insect species can be used as animal feed or aqua feed. For instance, they can replace fish meal, which is becoming increasingly scarce and expensive. However, edible insect species intended for production should be screened for risks to humans, animals, plants, and biodiversity.

Review of Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) as Animal Feed and Human Food

Abstract: Food futurists accept that sustainability-minded humanity will increasingly incorporate insects as alternative protein. The most studied and easily reared species are not necessarily the most sustainable, acceptable, or delicious. Here, we review the literature on the black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens, which is capable of efficiently converting a wide variety of organic materials, from food waste to manure, into insect biomass. They can be grown and harvested without dedicated facilities and are not pestiferous. Their larvae are 42% crude protein and 29% fat, although they are higher in saturated fats than most insects. They do not concentrate pesticides or mycotoxins. They are already grown and recommended for use as animal feed, but with regional legal restrictions on how this is done. For commercial use in human foods, larvae could potentially be milled and converted into a textured protein with a strong flavor. Their biggest advantage over other insects is their ability to convert waste into food, generating value and closing nutrient loops as they reduce pollution and costs. This general advantage is also their greatest disadvantage, for the social stigmas and legal prohibitions against eating organisms that eat waste are added to extant taboos facing insect consumption.