Honors Theses and Capstones

Date of Award

Spring 2023

Project Type

Senior Honors Thesis

College or School

COLSA

Department

Animal Science

Program or Major

Animal Science

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science

First Advisor

Peter Erickson

Second Advisor

Andrew Conroy

Abstract

In attempts to increase livestock production and decrease waste products from the seafood industry, crab meal and lobster meal were tested as a potential cattle feed ingredient. Jonah crab waste, Atlantic Red crab waste, soybean meal, and blood meal were collected from various vendors and utilized in an in vitro study, an in situ study, and a nitrogen analyzer to determine crude protein in each feed. After allowing the samples to sit in a DAISY incubator for 48 h, mimicking a rumen environment, degradability for the soybean meal, blood meal, lobster meal, and crab meal were 100.13%, 76.36%, 43.77%, and 45.80% respectively. After separate samples sat in a live rumen for 48 h, the degradability results were 95.7%, 76.36%, 38.7%, and 44% respectively. Although the degradability in the blood meal varied highly between the two study methods, the crab, lobster, and soybean meal degradability were similar in both in vitro and in situ. It was determined that the crab and lobster meal have a lower degradability percentage than soybean and blood meal, as well as a lower crude protein component. However, these feeds were an excellent source of calcium, which is an important nutrient for milk production, and could be a great way to reduce waste from the seafood industry.

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