Pythons on the menu: A sustainable protein source for the future

Snakes, specifically pythons, are now considered an option for an ecological source of protein. Scientists claim they are more efficient at converting feed into protein than chickens or cattle.

Scientists from Macquarie University claim that pythons could be a viable food source for humanity. Due to their high efficiency, they could ensure food security while offering an ecological solution.

Research on commercial python farms has shown that these animals convert feed into body weight more efficiently than traditional livestock. According to Dr. Dan Natusch, pythons have better food and protein conversion rates than any other major agricultural species studied before, and their meat is white and rich in protein.

The research team includes scientists from Macquarie University, Oxford University, University of Adelaide, University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, and the Vietnamese Academy of Science and Technology in Hanoi. They compared reticulated and Burmese pythons bred in Thailand and Vietnam, testing various feeding regimes.

According to Dan Natusch, challenges such as climate change and issues related to conventional agriculture have spurred the search for alternative food sources. Ectothermic snakes, more efficient at converting feed into meat than any warm-blooded animal, could be a solution. Python farming is popular in Asia and, as the lead research scientist suggests, could augment current food systems and contribute to food security.

- "Snakes require very little water and can even absorb dew that settles on their scales in the morning. They need minimal food and consume rodents and other pests that attack food crops. Historically, in many places, they were considered delicacies," comments the scientist.

Rick Shine, a co-author of the research, notes that farmers who raise pythons instead of pigs see economic advantages. This research is the first to accurately analyze the costs and benefits of snake farming. Birds and mammals use about 90% of their food's energy to maintain their body temperature. Since snakes bask in the sun, their efficiency in converting food to meat is notably higher.

While pythons in the wild consume solely meat, research has found they can digest soy and other plant proteins. Feeding them a mix of protein waste and plants could be economically viable – processing about 82% of a python's weight results in usable products, including a high-protein meat, skin, and fat and gallbladder with medicinal uses. From an ecological standpoint, this is advantageous as snakes emit fewer greenhouse gases than mammals.

Pythons can fast for up to four months without significant weight loss, then quickly resume growth once feeding recommences. This resilience allows farming to continue even when food is scarce. Another benefit of snake farming is their ability to control rodent populations.

Although the figures are promising, one question remains – who among us would be willing to eat snake meat? The scientists conducting the study acknowledge the limited appeal. Professor Shine doubts Europe or Australia will embrace python farming for meat. So, it seems we can continue to enjoy our usual mammal and bird meats without concern.