Shrimp Protein Hydrolysate (SPH) and Squid Meal (SM), derived from seafood by-products, contain high levels of amino acids and antioxidant capacity, which improve digestibility and enhance beneficial gut microbiota. These effective and sustainable protein sources reduce environmental impact on the pet food industry.
As the pet food industry grows with high demand for quality and sustainable protein sources, this new research offers a novel approach: protein from seafood processing by-products not only ensures nutritional content but also enhances the digestibility and gut health of pets, thereby reducing negative environmental impacts and improving economic efficiency.
Experiment information:
- Location: University of Porto, Portugal
- Year: 2023
- Duration: 30 days
- Subjects: 12 Beagle dogs (2.2 years old, 12.6kg initial weight)
- Products: in powder form
- SPH is produced by enzymatic hydrolysis of shrimp heads and cephalothoraxes (L. vannamei)
- SM is obtained by steaming and pressing for liquid extraction from squid (D. gigas).
Experimental design:
- Dogs were fed three meals daily with food supplemented with 50, 100, and 150 g/kg of SPH or SM.
- Digestibility evaluations included apparent total tract digestibility – ATTD, metabolizable energy content, fecal characteristics, and gut microbiota.
Results:
- SPH and SM provided 445 gkg -1 and 652 gkg -1 dry weight total amino acid content, respectively.
- SPH and SM – supplemented diets had higher apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) compared to basal diet, indicating high digestibility of the supplemented foods.
- SPH-supplemented diets had higher levels of volatile fatty acids like acetate, propionate, iso-butyrate, and iso-valerate (these constitutes the main source of energy for colonocytes, maintenance of cell growth and differentiation in gut, prevention in inflammation and colon cancer, regulation host metabolic / acetate and propionate regulates host metabolic, immune response, and lowers cholesterol).
- SPH showed higher antioxidant activity compared to SM in different antioxidant assays like ABTS: 19.8 > 4.35 mgQ g -1, FC: 10.4 > 1.58 mgQ g -1, FRAP: 2.27 > 0.36 mgQ g -1 [ ABTS, FC, FRAP: the antioxidant activity assays]
- While SM did not impact gut microbiota, SPH supplement increased the populations of beneficial bacteria such as Turicibacter, Blautia, Oscillosperaceae, Firmicutes, and Lactobacillus.
The potential of protein from seafood by-products (squid meal and shrimp protein hydrolysate) opens new sustainable pathways for the pet food industry, contributing to reduce environmental impact and raise consumers awareness and responsibility in choosing products that protect pet health.
Source: Joana Guilherme-Fernandes (2024), Squid meal and shrimp hydrolysate as novel protein sources for dog food, LINK