Chilling to sustain: short-term cold storage of Tenebrio molitor larvae as a preservation strategy under rearing constraints for animal feed production

The yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) is increasingly recognized as a sustainable source of protein for food and feed, owing to its high nutritional value and efficient conversion of low-grade organic matter. As commercial insect farming expands, short-term cold storage has been proposed as a practical method to manage larval development, optimize production cycles, and align harvest timing. This study aimed to investigate the biological and nutritional impacts of short-term cold exposure (۴°C for ۴ weeks) on early-instar of T. molitor larvae. A completely randomized design was implemented with two treatments: one control group reared continuously at ۲۷±۱ °C, and one experimental group subjected to cold storage at ۴ °C before being returned to optimal conditions. Key performance indicators—including growth rate, feed consumption, and feed conversion ratio—were measured to evaluate the feasibility of cold storage as a management tool in insect farming. Results showed that cold exposure significantly reduced food consumption, food assimilation, relative growth rate, and relative consumption rate (p<۰.۰۵), while no significant effects were observed on feed conversion efficiency, approximate digestibility, or adult development traits. Despite statistical significance, the observed differences were biologically moderate. These findings suggest that T. molitor larvae exhibit physiological resilience to short-term cold stress, and that controlled refrigeration can be safely integrated into rearing systems to improve operational flexibility and supply chain management. The results support cold storage as a viable approach to improve production planning in the growing insect-based food and feed sector.

کلیدواژه ها:

yellow mealworm ، feed conversion efficiency ، food sustainability