Abstract

The nutritional potential of insect protein source as potential feed ingredient has been widely researched. Cockroach meal (Periplanata americana) being a readily available renewable resource animal protein food is hereby investigated for its chemical composition and fatty acid content. The proximate composition revealed crude protein content 53.10±0.09%, fat 10.56±0.11%, fibre 11.69±0.23%, ash 8.37±0.13%, moisture content 5.22±0.08%, NFE 11.10±0.32% and metabolisable energy 1482.12±9.38 KJ kg-1. Mineral content analysis showed K as the highest (10007.69±79.68 mg/kg), while the other elemental nutrients were lower in concentration; P (4527.40±90.64 mg/kg), Na (4518.72±213.33 mg/kg), Ca (2174.10±15.01 mg/kg), Mg (1180.50±14.06 mg/kg), Fe (1303.37±9.77 mg/kg), Zn (185.66±2.70 mg/kg), Cu (50.22±1.52 mg/kg) and Mn (20.85±1.55 mg/kg). The essential amino acid profile revealed leucine as highest (8.29 g/100g) and tryptophan least (0.97 g/100g) with the limiting methionine (2.40 g/100g) and lysine (5.65 g/100g) while the non-essential amino acid glutamic acid was highest (13.17 g/100g) and cysteine (0.84 g/100g) was least. The saturated fatty acid ligonoceric C24:0 (21.45±0.38%) was highest and butyric C4:0 (2.72±0.26%) was least; mono-unsaturated fatty acid oleic C18:1n9 (17.35±0.24%) was highest and palmitoleic C16:1n7 (17.02±0.45%) while poly-unsaturated fatty acid linoleic C18:2n6 (16.72±0.06) was highest and arachidonic C20:4n6 (12.97±0.19) was least. This study validates the outcome of previous researches on the Periplanata americana and new information on its fatty acid profile. Hence, the need for further research into its digestibility and utilization as a protein source in animal feed and its health implication on livestock.