Why We Never Use Wheat Bran

The Wind River Bug Ranch is proud to say, we never use wheat bran to raise  mealworms or any of our other insects. This is despite the fact that wheat bran is  cheap, readily available, and the industry standard for raising several insect  species, especially mealworms. The reason why we instead use organic chicken  feed for our bugs boils down to one thing: phytic acid. 

Also know as phytate, phytic acid is naturally found in wheat, but especially in the  bran portion. This makes wheat bran a highly concentrated source of phytate. 

The problem with high levels of phytate is that it naturally binds to minerals, like  calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc. It locks these minerals into a form your  animals cannot use, setting the stage for mineral deficiencies that can be difficult  to treat or reverse. 

What happens is this: the factory-farmed insects are fed a diet of wheat bran, and  they have guts full of phytic acid as a result. When your bearded dragon or gecko  eats these insects, it also consumes the phytate inside them. This sets the stage  for possible mineral deficiencies in your pet down the road. 

Low calcium content is a natural condition for mealworms, but when the mineral blocking power of phytic acid comes into play, it becomes that much more difficult  to provide your pet with the calcium and other minerals it needs. 

Incidentally, chicken feed is made largely of grains, which contain phytic acid.  However, the manufacturers are well-aware of the situation, and include an  enzyme, called phytase, in their feed. This serves to counter the bad affects of  phytic acid, and allows minerals to be properly absorbed. 

At The Wind River Bug Ranch, we raise all out insects to the same high standards,  whether they are for our own animals, or for yours.