An Evaluation of the Protein Quality of Mormon Crickets (Anabrus simplex Haldeman) When Used as a High Protein Feedstuff for Poultryt

AIISTIIACT' Two fectling trials rveie conducted to evaluate the protein quality of Mormon crickets (Anabrtts simplex llaldeman) whcn fed to broiler chicks. The first trid was designed to idcntify the limiting amino acids in Mormon crickets using purified diets. The basal diet wessupplemcnted rvith amino acids based on an amino acid analysis of Mormoncricketsandpreliminary fccrling trials, anrl thc rcsults indicated that metlrioninc and arginine u'ere probably colimiting. In the secontl expcriment A{ormon crickcts rvere incorporated into practical diets replacing soybcan nrcal as thc major souice of protcin. In an 8-week feeding trial the corn-cricket diet compared favorably rvith a corn-vryhean meal dict rvith no significant differences in weight gain or feed/gain ratios. 'l'hcre rras no atlvcrse effect on tht: tastc of the meat from birds fed the corn-cricket diet as dcternrined by a taste panel. (Kc.y u,or,ls, crickets, protein feedstuffs, protein quality)