INOVAÇÃO DE PRODUTO ALIMENTAR VETERINÁRIO A BASE DE TENEBRIO MOLITOR

Abstract

Tenebrio molitor, also known as mealworm, is an insect that has been studied for use as a source of protein in veterinary food due to its high sustainability, practicality and low emission of polluting gases. This project seeks to develop an innovative veterinary food in the form of a biscuit rich in proteins, vitamins and essential nutrients for muscle, bone and cardiovascular health and obesity control, for older dogs, using Tenebrio molitor derivatives as the main component. The biscuit should have a pleasant flavor and a crunchy texture that will encourage dogs to chew and its formulation will be composed of glucosamine and chondroitin, type II collagen, which are substances that help in the regeneration of cartilage and in the prevention of joint diseases, as well as vitamins and enzymes that help in the absorption of the large amount of proteins present in the product. It is concluded that the product is an innovation that could bring both environmental and economic benefits, in addition to promoting a better quality of life for healthy dogs that are athletes, as well as those that have some physiological weakness that require nutritional attention to replace cartilage and strengthen bones and muscles, as this will depend on the dose administered to the animal.