Effects of meal processing of black soldier fly on standardized amino acids digestibility in pigs

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of incorporating black soldier fly (BSF) larvae and its processed form as an alternative source of protein to fish meal on the digestibility of amino acids (AA) in weaned pigs. Four cannulated pigs with an initial bodyweight of 13.25 ± 0.25 kg and aged 30 days were subjected to a 4 × 4 Latin square design with three treatments, as well as a nitrogen-free treatment. The diets used for each treatment consisted of a fish meal diet (FM), a diet containing BSF larvae meal (BSFM), and a diet containing extruded BSF (BSFE). The study was conducted over four stages, with a total duration of 28 days. The apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of protein was higher in the FM treatment compared with the BSFM. Among essential AA, the AID of Arg, His, Leu, and Thr were higher in the FM compared with the BSFM and BSFE. A greater AID of Ile and Phe was observed in pigs in the FM treatment compared with the BSFM. The average AA digestibility did not show any difference between treatments. Among non-essential AA, the AID of Ala (p = 0.054) and Glu (p = 0.064) tended to be increased in the FM compared with the BSFM. Among essential AA, the standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of Arg, His, Ile, and Leu were higher in the FM compared with the BSFM. Among non-essential AA, the SID of Cys (p = 0.074) tended to be increased in the FM compared with the BSFM. In conclusion, the processing and thermal conditioning techniques utilized for BSF larvae meal showed a tendency for increased AA digestibility. Therefore, when formulating a diet, it is important to take into account the difference in AA digestibility between fish meal and BSF larvae meal.

Quality Characteristics of Black Soldier Flies Produced by Different Substrates

“…Using food waste and vegetables as a feed source for BSF larvae is an attractive option for promoting sustainable agriculture [ 6 , 13 , 19 ]. The nutritional composition of BSF larvae is affected by the composition of the rearing substrate, which may vary in terms of macronutrient and mineral content [ 3 ]. Several studies have reported that BSF larvae are rich in CP and EE [ 1 , 9 , 26 , 27 ].…”

“…In the present study, we found no difference in chitin levels across the substrates. Chitin levels are influenced by factors such as species, substrate, and stage [ 3 , 5 ]. In this study, there was no difference in the chitin level across the substrates.…”

“…Sustainable agriculture aims to provide nutritious food while minimizing negative impacts on the environment [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. In addition, the cost of feed ingredients has been steadily increasing as a result of population growth.…”

A metanalysis to evaluate the effects of substrate sources on the nutritional performance of black soldier fly larvae: implications for sustainable poultry feed

“…Although BSF larvae are known to have a broad dietary range, the precise effects of substrate composition on larval growth, nutrient composition, and bioconversion efficiency remain not completely understood. Previous research has largely been confined to individual substrate types ( Meneguz et al, 2018 ; Fuso et al, 2021 ; Isibika et al, 2021 ; Hosseindoust et al, 2023b ), and thus far, a comprehensive, comparative analysis across a wide range of substrates has been lacking.…”

Effect of black soldier fly larvae as substitutes for fishmeal in broiler diet

“…Previous studies have reported that feeding BSFL as a substitute for soybean meal or fishmeal can improve the broiler feed conversion ratio (FCR) [ 13 , 14 ]. Also, insects may be processed in various ways, such as hydrolysis, defatting, and heat processing, and used in animal diet ingredients [ 15 , 16 ]. When insects are defatted, they can be stored for a longer period by preventing the oxidation of lipids occurring during drying and storage [ 17 , 18 ].…”