Why Should I Feed My Dog Insect-Based Food? Benefits Explained
A new trend is here in pet care: insect-based dog food. It’s catching on as people care about the earth and want green choices. But why is this kind of food good? And how does it compare to what we usually feed our furry friends? Let’s look at the good stuff and find out if it’s a smart choice.
Key Takeaways
- Insect-based pet food is a sustainable alternative to traditional meat-based options, with a lower environmental impact.
- Insects like black soldier flies, mealworms, and crickets are highly nutritious, providing protein levels comparable to or even higher than animal proteins.
- Insect-based dog food can be a novel protein source, making it a great option for dogs with allergies or sensitivities to common pet food ingredients.
- Insect farming requires significantly less land, water, and produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions than traditional livestock farming.
- Strict quality control measures ensure the safety and consistency of insect-based pet food ingredients.
Understanding Insect-Based Pet Food
Insect-based pet food uses bugs as the main part instead of meat or fish. This kind of food is getting more famous. You can now buy bug-based kibble, wet dog food, and lots of treats made with bugs.
Common Insects Used in Dog Food
Currently, dog food uses black soldier flies, mealworms, and crickets. These bugs are full of protein. Black soldier flies have 35-50% protein, mealworms are like pork and beef, and crickets have 58-78% protein.
Black Soldier Flies
The AAFCO said yes to using black soldier fly larvae in dog food and treats in 2021. These bugs are good for dogs, providing amino acids and minerals. They have things like magnesium, calcium, zinc, and iron.
Mealworms
In January 2024, Ÿnsect got the green light from the AAFCO to use defatted mealworms in dog food. Defatted mealworm flour is full of protein, similar to pork, beef, and salmon.
Crickets
Crickets are also common in dog food, ground into flour. This flour is added with veggies and minerals to make kibble or treats. Cricket protein is 58-78%, like soybean and fishmeal. Studies show that dog food with crickets is good for your dog’s gut bugs.
Why should I feed my dog insect-based food?
Choosing insect-based food for your pet helps the planet. It’s better than using up lots of land and water for animals we eat. By feeding insects to your dog, you can help make the earth healthier.
Lower Carbon Footprint
Ÿnsect’s Sprÿng Protein70 has half the CO2 of lamb or soy flour. And it produces 22 times less CO2 than beef flour. Hilucia, a brand by Innovafeed, makes pet food with 50% lower carbon emissions than traditional food.
Water Conservation
Mealworms are better for the environment because they eat leftover crops. Making their food uses less water than making beef or chicken. For example, it takes only 19 litres of water to make as much plant protein as you can get from one gram. But it takes 112 litres for beef and 34 litres for chicken.
Reduced Land Usage
Insect farming needs less space than farming animals. It takes about 3.5 m2 for insect protein, but 250 m2 for beef protein. Plus, by using less land for animals, we can protect more nature. Otherwise, about seven football fields of land gets used for animals every minute.
Nutritional Advantages of Insect-Based Dog Food
Insects are great for providing nutrients to our dogs. Studies show that insects have as much or more protein than traditional sources. These include meat, fish, and soy.
Protein-Rich Alternative
Insects are an awesome protein option for dogs. They are packed with 35-78% protein. This is as good as, or better than, what’s in regular pet food. It’s a strong nutritional choice for our pets.
Novel Protein Source for Allergies
Insects are a new kind of protein for dogs. So, using insect-based food might help pets who are sensitive to common proteins. Putting insect protein in grain-free food can make a unique, allergy-friendly meal.
Beneficial Fiber Content
Insects like crickets offer a special fiber called chitin. It’s unlike the fiber in veggies and fruits. This special fiber aids digestion and makes good bacteria in the gut.
Safety and Regulations
We care deeply about our pets’ safety. This is why we focus on ensuring our dog food is top quality. Studies show that bug-based food brings great nutrition. But, we check thoroughly to be sure it’s all good.
We follow strict rules to keep the food clean. We make sure it has no bad stuff like mold or toxic things. Our insect farms are very careful. They watch over the insects’ food and homes closely to guarantee safety and quality.
We’re a big name in our field. And we team up with groups like the AAFCO to follow all pet food rules. Thanks to our teamwork, pet owners can trust what they’re feeding their pets. They get to choose a safer and very healthy protein option.
