Browsing by Author "Driemeyer, Hayden"
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- ItemEvaluation of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae as an alternative protein source in pig creep diets in relation to production, blood and manure microbiology parameters(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2016-12) Driemeyer, Hayden; Pieterse, Elsje; Esposito, Giulia; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Agrisciences. Dept. of Animal Sciences.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In the animal nutrition industry it has become a necessity to seek sustainable and alternative protein sources for animal production. As an alternative protein source, insect meals have been reported to have various beneficial effects in both production and health of animals. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the potential of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae, grown on kitchen waste, as an alternative protein source in pig creep diets. The current trial included two treatment diets, i.e. a control diet containing no black soldier fly larvae meal (BSFLM) and an inclusion diet containing 3.5% BSFLM of the total diet. These diets were fed to 315 pure bred Large White and Landrace piglets from 10 to 28 days of age in a four week phase-over feeding scheme. The BSFLM contained, on a dry matter basis, a crude protein content of 35.9%, 48.1% crude fat, 6.5% crude fibre and 7.8% ash. Both the treatment diets were formulated to contain similar chemical compositions with a crude protein content of 22%, 6% crude fat, 2-4% crude fibre and 4-6% ash, as this provides for the piglet’s requirements (PIC, 2008). The first part of this study was to investigate the effect of larvae meal inclusion on the production parameters of the piglets. There were no significant (P>0.05) differences achieved for cumulative feed intake, 0.276 kg and 0.282 kg, and average daily gain (ADG), 0.203 kg and 0.199 kg, for the control and inclusion diets per piglet, resepectively. It was concluded that the BSFLM sustained normal growth and development of the young pigs and could be effectively utilized to partially replace other protein sources. In the second phase of this study the effect of the BSFLM on the piglet blood parameters, specifically on immunology and mineral bioavailability characteristics, was investigated. There were no significant (P>0.05) differences observed in the haematological and biochemical concentrations (refer to Chapter 4 results), however, the inclusion diet showed increasing levels for both Haemoglobin (HGB) and Haematocrit (HCT) over the trial. Although not statistically different, this phenomena may have biological value as higher values may be correlated with better oxygen binding capacity and transport of the oxygen to the tissues of the body. These results may also be considered as an indication of immunological stress, however, the animals showed no physical signs of distress when compared to the control diet. Due to the issues of both a dilution effect and sample collection mediated stress experienced during the data collection, the exact correlation between the inclusion of BSFLM and obtained HGB and HCT values (immunological influence) could not be pin pointed. Therefore, further research is needed to validate the results achieved in this part of the study. The third and final part of this study investigated the effect of BSFLM on the piglet manure microbiology (bacterial shedding load) and texture. However, due to the unintended administration of antibiotics which had a significant (P<0.05) influence on both treatments’ second collection, the results could not provide for valid conclusions. Therefore, further research is required to discover any possible effects associated with the inclusion of BSFLM on piglet manure matter. Although there were no beneficial effects on the blood and manure parameters, the fact that similar results were achieved between the control and inclusion diets leads to the conclusion that BSFLM could be regarded as a safe protein source that can be utilized to partially replace other traditional sources in the ability to sustain piglet performance, with no adverse effects. However, due to the fact that antibiotics were administered, the negative effects may have been neutralised.