Black soldier fly defatted meal as a dietary protein source for broiler chickens: effects on carcass traits, breast meat quality and safety

A total of 672 male 7-day-old broiler chicks were used in a 14-day cage study to evaluate the interactive effects of dietary protein source and exogenous protease on nutrient digestibility and intestinal physiology. Birds were fed a common starter diet from Days 0 to 7 and switched to experimental diets from Days 7 to 21. Four corn-based dietary treatments were arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with factors being two major sources of protein [soybean meal (SBM) or canola meal] and diets offered with or without exogenous protease. Bodyweight gain and gain:feed were higher (P < 0.001) in the diets based on SBM than in the diets based on canola meal and protease was more effective (P < 0.05) in enhancing performance in SBM-based diets. Ileal nitrogen digestibility was increased (P < 0.01) by protease use in diets based on both major protein sources. However, ileal digestible energy was increased (P < 0.05) by protease only in the SBM-based diet resulting in an interaction between diet protein source and exogenous protease. Jejunal villus height tended to be higher (P = 0.07) in birds fed diets based on SBM and protease use increased (P < 0.05) crypt depth only in the SBM-free diets resulting in a significant interaction between protein source and protease use. Patterns of gene expression in jejunal tissue suggested that both dietary protein source and exogenous protease influence the expression of genes responsible for mucin secretion, amino acid transport and immune functionality in an age-dependent manner. It can be concluded that SBM may be a more suitable protein source for young broiler chickens than canola meal and that use of canola meal as a major source of dietary protein may have negative implications for performance, nitrogen digestibility and gut health. However, exogenous protease appears to be more compatible with substrates presented by SBM than is the case for canola meal based on advantages conferred in nutrient digestibility and performance. The beneficial effects of exogenous protease may be linked both to enhanced protein and energy digestibility and improved gut morphological characteristics, secretory and absorptive dynamics and immune resilience.

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Effect of dietary protein source and lysine:DE ratio on growth performance, meat quality, and body composition of growing-finishing pigs.

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.2527/2001.79112857x ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 79 (11) ◽

pp. 2857 ◽

Cited By ~ 36

Author(s):

C Szabó ◽

A J Jansman ◽

L Babinszky ◽

E Kanis ◽

M W Verstegen

Keyword(s):

Body Composition ◽

Growth Performance ◽

Meat Quality ◽

Dietary Protein ◽

Protein Source ◽

Finishing Pigs ◽

Dietary Protein Source

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Evaluation of microwave-dried black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae meal as a dietary protein source in broiler chicken diets

Journal of Insects as Food and Feed ◽

10.3920/jiff2021.0113 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-12

Author(s):

B. Kim ◽

H.R. Kim ◽

Y.-C. Baek ◽

C.H. Ryu ◽

S.Y. Ji ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

Soybean Meal ◽

Dietary Protein ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Protein Source ◽

Black Soldier Fly ◽

Hermetia Illucens ◽

Distribution Width ◽

Dietary Protein Source ◽

Hermetia Illucens Larvae

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.

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