Animals (2021)
- What was tested
- Healthy adult dogs fed diets with 10% or 20% house cricket (Acheta domesticus) meal replacing poultry meal for 29 days
- Reported finding
- No adverse effects on health or nutrient digestibility at up to 20% inclusion.
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Applications
Cricket protein for pet food
Cricket powder, whole dried crickets, and frozen crickets for exotic-pet feed, plus development support for dog and cat food formulators.
What Protanica supplies
Three cricket formats for feed and pet brands
Pet food makers use cricket protein as a novel protein for treats, toppers, and formulated foods. Exotic-pet suppliers use whole crickets as feed for insect-eating animals.
Protanica already supplies the feed industry for birds, fish, and lizards. For dog and cat products, we work with formulators as a development partner and review each application on its own requirements.
- Feed formats
- Cricket protein powder, whole dried crickets, frozen crickets
- Served today
- Exotic-pet applications, including birds, fish, and lizards
- Dogs and cats
- Development inquiries welcome for treats, toppers, and formulated foods
- Not available
- Cricket pellets. Production would need an external partner.
- Positioning
- Ingredients and feeds, not complete diets
Formulation considerations
What pet food developers should plan for
Cricket protein can replace part of a conventional animal protein, but the finished food still has to meet the species' full nutrient needs.
Choose the right format
Powder suits kibble, baked treats, and toppers made by formulators. Whole dried crickets suit treats and feed for insect-eating birds, fish, and reptiles. Frozen crickets need cold-chain handling, so discuss packing and delivery early.
Inclusion and complete-diet balance
In one canine study, house cricket meal replaced poultry meal at 10 and 20 percent of the diet without adverse effects on health or digestibility. Your finished food still needs balancing by an animal nutritionist for the target species and life stage.
Species differences
Another dog study used tropical house cricket (Gryllodes sigillatus), a different species from Protanica's Acheta domesticus. Read results with the species in mind, and run palatability and acceptance trials with your own formula.
Novel protein claims
Cricket is marketed as a novel protein for pets that react to common proteins. Health claims about allergies or skin need substantiation and must follow your market's pet food rules, so keep claims factual until you have product-specific evidence.
Regulation and documents
Pet food rules vary by country. In the United States, check AAFCO ingredient definitions and state feed rules. In the EU, check feed and pet food rules for insect proteins. Ask for the specifications and certificates your importer requires.
Published research
What studies found in dogs and pet nutrition
Peer-reviewed feeding and laboratory studies support cricket as a protein source for companion animals.
Kilburn et al., Journal of Animal Science (2020)
- What was tested
- Healthy adult dogs fed tropical house cricket (Gryllodes sigillatus) meal
- Reported finding
- Cricket meal did not affect general health and had minimal effect on apparent total tract digestibility.
Bosch et al., Journal of Nutritional Science (2014)
- What was tested
- In vitro protein quality of several insect species as potential dog and cat food ingredients
- Reported finding
- House crickets showed relatively high in vitro nitrogen digestibility compared with several other insects.
Kilburn et al. is summarised as cited in the Animals (2021) paper. Results come from the researchers' own diets, so confirm performance with your formula and a Protanica sample.
How we can help
Supply today, development when you need it
Buy an existing feed format, or work with us on a new pet product.
Existing feed products
Cricket powder, whole dried crickets, and frozen crickets, with specifications and packing details on request.
See feed productsWhole dried crickets
Whole oven-dried Acheta domesticus for treats, feed, distribution, and further processing.
View whole cricketsPet food development
Discuss formulation, pilot production, and testing for a dog, cat, or exotic-pet product.
Explore R&D supportDocuments for your QA team
Review our SGS GHPs and HACCP certificates, farm GAP certificate, and export establishment registration.
Review quality documentsSourcing FAQ
Buyer Questions, Answered
Which cricket feed products does Protanica supply?+
Protanica supplies cricket protein powder, whole dried crickets, and frozen crickets for feed. Powder and whole dried crickets currently go to exotic-pet applications, including birds, fish, and lizards.
Can cricket protein be used in dog food?+
Research supports it as a protein source. In one study, healthy adult dogs ate diets with 10 or 20 percent house cricket meal in place of poultry meal for 29 days without adverse effects on health or nutrient digestibility. Protanica welcomes dog-food development inquiries and reviews each project on its own requirements.
Is cricket protein suitable for cat food?+
Published in vitro work found relatively high nitrogen digestibility for house crickets as a potential dog and cat food ingredient, but feeding trials in cats are limited. Treat cat food as a development project with your nutritionist.
Are Protanica's cricket products complete diets?+
No. Protanica's cricket products are ingredients and feeds, not complete diets. Formulate finished pet foods with a qualified animal nutritionist to meet the nutrient needs of the target species.
Do you make cricket pellets or kibble?+
Cricket pellets are not a current production product. Pellet production would need an external manufacturing partner. You are welcome to share your requirements so we can understand demand.
What regulations apply to cricket protein in pet food?+
Rules differ by market. In the United States, check AAFCO ingredient definitions and state feed rules. In the EU, check feed and pet food rules for insect proteins. Ask our team for the documents your importer or regulator needs.
Sources and scope
- Animals (2021), house cricket or silkworm pupae meal replacing poultry meal in canine diets
- Bosch et al. (2014), protein quality of insects as potential ingredients for dog and cat foods
Published studies used their own ingredients, formulas, and equipment, so treat their results as starting points rather than a specification for Protanica products. This page is not legal or regulatory advice. Check product permission, allergen wording, labelling, and claims for your exact product and destination market.
Plan your cricket pet product
Tell us the target animal, product format, and market. Early ideas are welcome, and you do not need exact volumes to start.