Animal Health: Potential Benefits of Edible Insects

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Nutrition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 August 2024 | Viewed by 1132

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Veterinary Prevention and Feed Hygiene, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
Interests: veterinary entomology; edible insects; veterinary parasitology; companion animals; veterinary prevention; one health; epidemiology; molecular biology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce a Special Issue entitled “Animal Health: Potential Benefits of Edible Insects”. Animals is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal that provides an advanced forum for any multidisciplinary studies that involve veterinary sciences, animal sciences, zoology, animal-derived food, animal diseases and public health, entomology, and animal nutrition. This Special Issue responds to the current trends in the implementation of insects into the food chain and the development of animal products based on edible insects.

This Special Issue aims to explore the potential benefits of edible insects in human and animal nutrition. "Six-legged livestock" have been recognized as one of the most innovative food and feed substrates in recent years. In addition, edible insects are described as a milestone in the diversification of protein sources and a safeguard for the global food chain. Currently, many scientific and commercial initiatives are being launched in world, developing the idea of entomophagy. On the basis of the available studies and analyses, the possibility of the safe admission of insect protein to human and animal nutrition has been positively assessed. According to EU regulations, Processed Animal Protein (PAP) from insects can be used to produce feed for companion animals, aquaculture, poultry, and pigs. The positive effect on the digestive tract, clinical status, hypoallergenicity, or the health-promoting aspect will be a significant added value for insect-delivered products. It is essential that research on the use of edible insects in animals is based on evidence-based medicine.

In this Special Issue, original research articles, short communications, case reports, opinion papers, and reviewers are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

Edible insects;

Animal nutrition;

Pharmacology;

Animal gut health;

Neurological system;

Immunology;

Physiology;

Biochemistry;

Microbiology;

Companion animals;

Livestock;

Functional ingredients;

Feed additives;

bioactive compounds;

Clinical evaluation.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Remigiusz Gałęcki
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • edible insects
  • domestic animals
  • animal nutrition
  • animal health
  • bioactive compounds
  • clinical evaluation
  • in vitro studies
  • animal gut health
  • functional ingredients
  • insect-delivered compounds
  • ethnopharmacology

Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

23 pages, 1485 KiB  
Article
A Model for Consumer Acceptance of Insect-Based Dog Foods among Adult UK Dog Owners
by Joanne Pinney and Montserrat Costa-Font
Animals 2024, 14(7), 1021; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ani14071021 - 27 Mar 2024
Viewed by 945
Abstract
The use of alternative proteins is becoming more common in pet feed, and insect-based dog foods (IBDFs) are becoming more widely available. However, little research has been conducted to date in respect of the drivers for consumers’ acceptance of IBDF. This study aimed [...] Read more.
The use of alternative proteins is becoming more common in pet feed, and insect-based dog foods (IBDFs) are becoming more widely available. However, little research has been conducted to date in respect of the drivers for consumers’ acceptance of IBDF. This study aimed to investigate the acceptance of IBDF among adult UK dog owners and the factors influencing the decision to try and buy such products. A theoretical model was developed following a review of the existing literature. An online survey of 280 participants was carried out and the results were analysed using structural equation modelling (SEM) to test the theoretical model. The following constructs all had a significant impact on attitudes towards IBDF and/or intentions to try and buy IBDF: food preferences for animal welfare, health and environment; attitudes towards uses of animals; beliefs about insect sentience; disgust; perceptions of benefits and risks; and social norms. Social norms had the strongest influence of any single construct. Consumer acceptance of IBDF is multi-faceted including social, cultural and ethical components, and it is likely that the better availability of information and opportunities for consumers to familiarise themselves with IBDF would help to drive consumer acceptance. In order to allow dog owners to make informed decisions in line with their ethical preferences, further research is needed to establish the overall health and welfare implications of IBDF on the animals involved in production, as well as the companion animals, who are the ultimate consumers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Animal Health: Potential Benefits of Edible Insects)
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