The introduction of insect meal as a supplement in ruminant rations: a strategy to be adopted in the short term in the face of raw material scarcity. A review

World population growth is causing an increase in the demand for food of animal origin, including ruminant meat and milk. But this need is confronted by an ideology rejecting this sector because it considers its food to be in direct competition with the resources destined for human consumption while contributing to the degradation of soils and natural spaces. Faced with this situation, it is urgent to look for new sources that can partly supply some components of the ration, while providing an added value to the final product (meat/milk). The consumption of insect meal, duly processed and under strict regulations that ensure its safety, emerges as a possibility that could be extended to cattle, sheep and goats. In this revision, we intend to offer the latest studies regarding European legislation, the allowed insects, and all those studies carried out in vivo and in vitro in these species. All of them show that, although the quality of insect meal depends on the species and rearing method, its introduction as a supplement in the ration, does not cause any damage in ruminal dynamics or production and can be a profitable and environmentally friendly solution.