The nutritional potential of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae as a protein source for broiler chicken diets

Date
2018-03
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Insect protein is becoming an increased area of interest because of the potential positive effects that it may have in animal feeds. Insect protein is believed to have beneficial nutritional components desirable for livestock while reducing the amount of environmental pollution due to their ability to be reared on bio-waste streams. Soya meal and fishmeal are the most commonly used protein sources in livestock diets. However, due to competition with human consumption and bio-fuel utilisation of soya and decreasing fish stocks for the production of fishmeal (making both these raw materials unsustainable), alternative protein sources in the form of insects are being investigated. The black soldier fly (BSF) (Hermetia illucens) is regarded as the insect with the highest potential for waste recycling. There is limited research of the use of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) incorporated into layer hen diets. In this investigation, BSFL were processed with three different techniques: a full fat, dry rendered and an extruded meal. All three treatments were incorporated into three different layer diets at 15% inclusion levels. The diets were fed to layer hens for a period of 41 days and compared to a control maize soya diet. Positive results as pertaining to production and egg quality parameters were found. The full fat and extruded meal had the highest egg lay percentage (amount of eggs laid throughout the duration of the trial per treatment) and differed (P≤0.05) from the control diet. No differences between treatments were found with regard to categorical data which included blood and meat spots, albumin spread and yolk colour and yolk membrane. With regard to egg quality parameters, a difference (P≤0.05) was found between the albumin weights. All three insect meals differed from the control diet with heavier albumin weights. The results obtained in this study are in favour of the use of black solider fly larvae processed using any of the three techniques in poultry feeds.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Insekproteïen word ʼn al groter veld van belangstelling vir die moontlike positiewe effek wat dit op dierevoere mag inhou. Dit word geglo dat insek proteïen voordelige voedingkundige voedings komponente bevat terwyl dit die hoeveelheid omgewingsbesoedeling verminder aangesien dit op voedsel afval geproduseer kan word. Soja meel en vismeel is die mees algemene proteïenbronne wat in die dierebedryf gebruik word. Die gebruik van hierdie bronne is egter in kompetisie met die voorsiening van mens voedsel en bio-brandstof. Die invloed wat soja verbouing het op biodiversiteit en die uitputting van vis reserwes dui daarop dat beide hierdie bronne nie volhoubaar is nie. ‘n Alternatiewe proteïenbron moet dus gevind word. Die venstervlieg (BSF) (Hermetia illucens) word beskou as die insek met die grootste potensiaal vir afval hersirkulasie. Daar is beperkte navorsing op die gebruik van venstervlieg larwe (BSFL) meel in lêhenvoeding. In hierdie ondersoek is die BSFL geprosesseer op drie verskillende maniere: ʼn volvet, droog ontvet en geëkstrueerde produk. Al drie behandelings is ingesluit in lêhen diëte teen ʼn insluitingspeil van 15%. Die voere is aan lêhenne vir ʼn periode van 41 dae voorsien en resultate is met ʼn standaard mielie soja dieet vergelyk. Produksie en kwaliteitsparameters het positiewe resultate gelewer. Die volvet en geëkstrueerde meel het die hoogste eiersgelê persentasie gelewer (aantal eiers gelê gedurende die totale proef tydperk) en het van die kontrole dieet verskil (P≤0.05). Geen verskille tussen behandelings is gevind vir die kategoriese data soos insidensie van bloedspikkels, vleis spikkels, albumien verspreiding, geel kleur of membraan integriteit nie. Verskille (P≤0.05) was wel gevind vir albumien massa met al drie die insekdiëte wat hoër albumien massas gelewer het as die kontrole dieet. Die resultate van hierdie studie het aangetoon dat meel van die venstervlieg larwes suksesvol vir lêhenproduksie gebruik kan word met besliste voordele ongeag van prosesserings metode.
Description
Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2018.
Keywords
Poultry -- Feeding and feeds, Black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae feed., Broiler chicken diet, UCTD
Citation