Ruminal Degradability and Intestinal Digestibility of Mealworm (Tenebrio molitor L.) Larvae Protein With Drying Methods and Chemical Treatments.

Abstract

This study examined the impact of drying methods and various chemical treatments on the ruminal protein degradability and the intestinal digestibility of mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor, TML). The TML was drying using oven-drying and freeze-drying (lyophilization) methods. Tannic acid and formaldehyde were applied to the TML. Tannic acid was applied at three doses (30, 60, and 90 g/kg of the dry matter content), or formaldehyde was used at a concentration of 0.8% of the crude protein content in the dry matter to treat TML. The in-situ nylon bag technique was employed to ascertain the degradability of protein in the rumen, while the in vitro method was used to determine the intestinal digestibility. Consequently, the freeze-drying technique significantly improved the protein content and the presence of essential amino acids in TML. The ruminal degradability of TML protein decreased in oven drying and chemical treatments, that mostly in formaldehyde treatment. The intestinal protein digestibility was improved in the oven-dried samples by chemical treatments. While freeze-drying is suggested to improve protein quality, it has been found that oven drying, formaldehyde treatment, or treatment with 90 g/kg tannic acid effectively increases the ratio of bypass protein and intestinal digestibility.