The utilization and industrialization status of resource insects in the poultry feed

Resource insects are not only abundant in protein and other essential nutrients, but also rich in functional active substances, which exert positive effects on animal health. Five hundreds of them have been identified as usable for feed development. With the continuous growth of human demand for animal protein, poultry has gained recognition from consumers due to its advantages such as low feed conversion rate, short life cycle, high land use efficiency, rich nutritional value, and so on. However, in order to meet the increasing demand, the poultry industry is confronted with the difficulty of a lack of sustainable feed sources. This review demonstrates that the major potential feed insect species among resource insects are rich in protein with a well-balanced amino acid profile and high fatty acid content, while the dominant fatty acid components vary across different species. In addition, these insects are abundant in antimicrobial peptides, chitin, mineral elements, etc.. Meanwhile, it further clarifies the supplementation of these major potential feed insects in poultry diets can improve growth performance, meat quality and egg quality, as well as enhance the immune function of poultry. Finally, the current status of the utilization and industrialization of resource insects in the poultry industry is summarized, and their application prospects and critical role in the overall circular agricultural are prospected.