Objective: The objective of this study was to determine whether dietary black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens, HI) larvae oil (HILO) could serve as an alternative fat source to soybean oil (SBO) in laying hen diets.Methods: We randomly assigned 25-week-old Hy-line Brown laying hens (n = 144) to receive (n = 6 hens/group; eight replicates) a control or an experimental diet in which SBO was replaced with 50% (50HILO) or 100% HILO (100HILO).Results: Dietary HILO did not negatively affect body weight or productive performance during the study. The eggs also had similar quality parameters, proximate composition, and cholesterol levels. However, the yolk color index was significantly higher (p<0.01) in the 100HILO than in the other groups. Dietary HILO significantly altered the composition of fatty acids (FAs) in abdominal fat and eggs. Total saturated fatty acids (SFAs) and total polyunsaturated FAs (PUFAs) were significantly increased and decreased in the 50HILO and 100HILO groups, respectively, compared with those in the control group (p<0.001 and p<0.0001, respectively). Specifically, the medium-chain FAs lauric and myristic acids were remarkably increased in the abdominal fat of laying hens fed HILO (p<0.0001), whereas only myristic acid increased in eggs (p<0.0001). Undesirable heavy metal (aluminum, fluorine, arsenic, lead, mercury, and cadmium) concentrations were below permissible limits in eggs.Conclusion: We considered that HILO could be an alternative dietary fat to SBO for laying hens with maintained productive performance and good egg quality.

Limited information is available regarding the use of microwave-dried Hermetia illucens larvae meal (HILM) as a dietary protein source for broiler diets. Therefore, we investigated the effects of microwave-dried HILM on carcass traits, meat quality, fatty acid (FA) profiles of abdominal fat and meat, and heavy metal residues of the meat in broilers. A total of 126 male broilers were randomly assigned to three dietary treatment groups (6 replicates and 7 birds/pen): a control diet and two experimental diets in which soybean meal was replaced with 25 or 50% HILM. The broilers were slaughtered at 35 days; the carcasses were weighed, and breast and leg meats were excised from 12 birds per treatment (2 birds/pen) for meat analysis. The breast meat quality and proximate composition showed satisfactory results. For the higher HILM diet, the content of saturated FA in the abdominal fat was increased and that of polyunsaturated FA was decreased (p < 0.001); the FA profile of leg meat did not significantly differ between groups. The concentrations of undesirable heavy metals in the HILM and leg meat were below permissible levels. However, the carcass weight was decreased (p < 0.001) in the 50% HILM group. Microwave-dried HILM is a potential ingredient for broiler diets, with up to 25% substitution showing no detrimental effects on carcass traits, meat quality, FA profiles, and heavy metal residues in the meat.

Black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae meal (HILM) is a promising alternative to soybean meal (SBM). However, little information is available on the effect of microwave-dried HILM as a dietary protein source in the diets of laying hens. We studied the effect of dietary inclusion level of microwave-dried HILM on productive performance, cecal volatile fatty acid profile, egg quality, overall fatty acid profile, and heavy metal residues of the egg in laying hens. A total of 144 laying hens (25-week-old) were randomly assigned to three dietary groups (eight replicates and six birds/cage): a control diet, and two experimental diets in which SBM was replaced with 2% HILM (2HILM) and 4% HILM (4HILM). The laying hens that fed the HILM showed satisfactory results in productive performance and egg quality. Branched-chain fatty acid levels increased linearly (p < 0.001) with dietary treatment in the cecal digesta. Total monounsaturated fatty acid increased linearly (p < 0.01), while total polyunsaturated fatty acid decreased linearly (p < 0.01) in the eggs by dietary treatments. Heavy metals, magnesium, zinc, and aluminum were increased linearly with dietary treatment; however, undesirable heavy metals were under permissible levels. Thus, microwave-dried HILM could be a possible alternative to SBM in the diets of laying hens; however, improvements in fatty acid profile are needed.

The objective was to determine the effects of drying and blanching methods on the nutrient utilization of black soldier fly larva (BSFL; Hermetia illucens) meal by pigs using in vitro assays. Two-step and three-step in vitro assays were employed to simulate the gastrointestinal tract of pigs. Four BSFL meals were prepared using the following pretreatment methods: (1) microwave drying at 80 °C for 32 min, (2) hot-air drying at 60 °C for 17 h, (3) blanching for 5 min in boiling water and hot-air drying at 60 °C for 17 h, and (4) 2% citric acid solution blanching for 5 min in boiling solution and hot-air drying at 60 °C for 17 h. After the drying process, each BSFL was defatted and ground to obtain BSFL meals. The nitrogen (N) concentration in the test ingredients ranged from 8.5 to 9.4%, and the ether extract ranged from 6.9 to 11.5% on an as-is basis. The amino acid (AA) concentration in the BSFL meals ranged from 2.80 to 3.24% for Lys and 0.71 to 0.89% for Met on an as-is basis. Hot-air-dried BSFL meal had a greater in vitro ileal disappearance (IVID) of N compared with microwave-dried BSFL meal (p < 0.05). However, blanched BSFL meals in water or 2% citric acid solution before hot-air drying had a lower (p < 0.05) IVID of N compared with microwave-dried or hot-air-dried BSFL meal. Blanched BSFL meals in water or 2% citric acid solution before hot-air drying showed a lower (p < 0.05) in vitro total tract disappearance of dry matter and organic matter compared with microwave-dried or hot-air-dried BSFL meal. Microwave-dried BSFL meal had a lower (p < 0.05) IVID of indispensable AA, except for His, Lys, Met, and Phe, compared with hot-air-dried BSFL meals. However, blanched BSFL meals in water or 2% citric acid solution before hot-air drying showed a lower (p < 0.05) IVID of indispensable AA compared with microwave-dried or hot-air-dried BSFL meal. In conclusion, hot-air-dried BSFL meal presented greater nutrient utilization compared with microwave-dried BSFL meal for pigs. However, blanching in water or citric acid solution negatively affected the nutrient digestibility of BSFL meal based on in vitro assays.

Journal of Animal Science and Technology (JAST) is a peer-reviewed, open access journal publishing original research, review articles and notes in all fields of animal science. Topics covered by the journal include: genetics and breeding, physiology, nutrition of monogastric animals, nutrition of ruminants, animal products (milk, meat, eggs and their by-products) and their processing, grasslands and roughages, livestock environment, animal biotechnology, animal behavior and welfare.

Here, the effect of microwave-dried black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae meal (HILM) as a dietary protein source on the growth performance and health of broilers was evaluated. A total of 126 male broilers were randomly allocated to three treatments (six replicates of seven birds per group): control diet (CON) of corn and soybean meal and two experimental diets in which soybean meal was replaced with 25% (25HILM) or 50% (50HILM) HILM. The broilers were slaughtered at 35 d to determine the apparent ileal digestibility (AID), volatile fatty acid (VFA) profiles, and length and weight of the small intestine. Blood samples were collected from 36 randomly selected birds (12 broilers per treatment) to determine serum parameters and haematological traits. Average daily gain, feed intake, and AID of protein were decreased (P<0.05) in the 50HILM group compared with those in the CON group. Dietary HILM increased (P<0.05) the relative length of the entire digestive tract and total VFAs in the caecal digesta. Serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was the lowest (P<0.01), but the triglyceride levels were the highest (P<0.05) in the 50HILM group. The serum phosphorus level was lower in both HILM diet-fed groups (P<0.01), whereas the creatine phosphokinase level was lower in the 50HILM group than in the CON group. In contrast, the 50HILM group showed higher (P<0.05) monocyte and red blood cell distribution width-standard deviation. In conclusion, dietary microwave-dried HILM positively influenced the VFA and cholesterol levels; however, growth performance was negatively affected by malnutrition caused by low protein digestibility in the 50HILM group. Microwave-dried HILM is a valuable ingredient for broiler diets, with up to 25% substitution showing no detrimental effects on growth performance and health. Further studies are needed to improve HILM digestibility.