Black Soldier Meal in Feed Could Adversely Affect Organic Broiler Meat Quality When Used for the Total or Half Replacement of Diet Proteins

Abstract

Organic poultry sector needs high-quality proteins sources to meet specific requirements. The EU’s organic regulation forbids synthetic amino acids; therefore, soybean, with its balanced essential amino acid content, has become the most used protein source, though much of it is imported from non-EU countries, with sustainability and crop competition issues; therefore, it should be substituted with a high-protein-value alternative such as insect meal. In this study, 900 Aviagen Savanna broilers were fed with three different organic diets: soybean only (S100), 50% black soldier fly larvae meal (BSL) and 50% soybean (BSL50), and 100% BSL only (BSL100). Broiler performance, welfare, and fatty acids (FA) were analyzed. BSL50 and BSL100 negatively affected growth, while only BSL100 worsened all of the market-related performances. Meat showed a significant increase in saturated FA (SFA) (p < 0.000) and a corresponding decrease in polyunsaturated FA (PUFA), in BSL50 and BSL100, but α-linolenic acid was not affected by BSL50 treatment (p < 0.000). The SFA increase could represent a negative aspect for human health (e.g., cardiovascular diseases), but, as reported by other authors, medium chain SFA, (i.e., lauric acid), may show beneficial effects as well (i.e., antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties).

Fatty Acid Profile and Dietary Value of Thigh Meat of Broiler Chickens Receiving Mineral or Organic Forms of Zn

“…In our study, the HPI in all groups was above 2.7, implying a very high degree of protection against atherogenic diseases. Contrary to AI and TI, the available literature does not provide reference values for HPI in broiler meat; this index is most often used for milk, fish, and plant products [34]. The HPI values for broiler-chicken thigh meat measured by other authors typically range from ca.…”

“…The HPI values for broiler-chicken thigh meat measured by other authors typically range from ca. 1.5 to more than 3 [22,[34][35][36].…”