Locust meal

Scientific name: Schistocerca gregaria

Description:  

Locusts (Schistocerca gregaria) are consumed by many African tribes. They can also be used as animal feed when large amounts of dead locust are available. Locust killed with dinitro-ortho-cresol can be fed to livestock, but those killed with arsenic should not be fed. Dried locust meal is palatable to swine and poultry. Most of the CP is derived from keratin, so it has a low digestibility and needs to be properly supplemented. It will cause a fishy smell to develop in the meat of swine that are fed excessive amount, so normally it is only fed to breeding animals. Grasshoppers have been fed to poultry without observing this problem. Up to 20% has been used in swine rations and 16% in poultry rations.

Source: 

Locust can be available in some areas in large quantities.

Feeding Experiments:  

Locust meal that had been sprayed with an insecticide was compared to a non-sprayed in a feeding trial with broiler chicks. The sprayed locust meal reduced intake (2) (AGRIS 1998-022326) (Gibril, 1997). It was also found to be deficient in lysine (2) (AGRIS 1998-022326) (Gibril, 1997).

Feeding and Handling Characteristics:  

Fresh locust when mashed has an offensive odor, but this odor is absent when the locust has been sun-dried and made into a meal.

Nutrient Characteristics: