scholarly journals Providing live black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) improves welfare while maintaining performance of piglets post-weaning

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Allyson F. Ipema ◽  
Eddie A. M. Bokkers ◽  
Walter J. J. Gerrits ◽  
Bas Kemp ◽  
J. Elizabeth Bolhuis

AbstractDuring weaning, piglets experience concurrent social, physical, and nutritional stressors. Consequently, piglets often have poor feed intake and display increased oral manipulative behaviours post-weaning, indicative of compromised welfare. Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) possess many attractive properties for pigs and could therefore function as effective edible enrichment, potentially alleviating weaning stress by facilitating exploration and promoting feed intake. In this study, pairs of piglets received a small amount of either live BSFL or wood shavings (8 pens/treatment) scattered throughout the pen twice a day for 11 days after weaning. Home-pen behaviour was scored by instantaneous scan sampling on day 2, 5 and 8, and behavioural responses to a novel environment and novel object were scored on day 10/11. Performance-related parameters were observed regularly. Larvae provisioning increased floor-directed exploration and decreased object-directed exploration, pig-directed oral manipulation, fighting and eating of pellets, and reduced neophobia towards a novel object. Pellet intake was significantly decreased by BSFL provisioning during day 4–11 post-weaning, although feed and net energy intake including BSFL never differed between treatments. BSFL provisioning did not influence piglet growth, feed efficiency, energy efficiency, and faecal consistency. To conclude, live BSFL provisioning positively affected post-weaning piglet behaviour while maintaining performance.

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelina Crosbie ◽  
Cuilan Zhu ◽  
Anna K Shoveller ◽  
Lee-Anne Huber

Abstract Two experiments were conducted to determine standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of amino acids (AA; Exp. 1) and net energy (Exp. 2) in two black soldier fly larvae meal (BSFLM) samples [full fat (FF; 42.5% crude protein (CP), as-fed) and defatted (DF; 40.8% CP; as-fed)] for growing pigs. Two cornstarch-based diets were formulated with FF and DF BSFLM as the sole sources of AA. A nitrogen-free diet was also used, and the corn starch:sucrose:oil ratio was kept constant among diets to calculate digestible energy (DE) by difference method. In each experiment, pigs were fed 2.8 × estimated maintenance energy requirement. In Exp. 1, eight ileal-cannulated barrows (25.1 ± 0.41 kg initial body weight) were used in a replicated 2 × 2 Latin square design (n = 8). In each period, pigs were adapted to diets for 5 d followed by 2 d of continuous ileal digesta collection for 8 h. The SID of AA were calculated using basal endogenous losses for pigs fed a nitrogen-free diet. In Exp. 2, eight barrows [23.4 ± 0.54 kg initial body weight (BW)] were used in a partially replicated Latin square design (n = 8). In each period, pigs were adapted to diets for 7 d, followed by 5 d of total urine collection and fecal grab sampling. The SID of CP (80.6 ± 1.1%) and Lys (88.0 ± 1.4%) were not different between FF and DF BSFLM. The SID of Arg, Val, Ala, and Pro tended to be less, and the SID of Met tended to be greater for the FF versus the DF BSFLM (P = 0.034, 0.090, 0.053, 0.065, 0.074, respectively). Digestible energy (4,927 vs. 3,941 ± 75 kcal/kg), metabolizable energy (4,569 vs. 3,396 ± 102 kcal/kg), and predicted net energy (3,477 vs. 2,640 ± 30 kcal/kg, using equations from Noblet; 3,479 vs. 2,287 ± 28 kcal/kg, using equations from Blok, respectively) were greater for the FF versus the DF BSFLM (P < 0.05). The apparent total tract digestibility of neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber were greater for the FF versus the DF BSFLM (P ≤ 0.05). Both FF and DF BSFLM had high SID for most AA; however, FF BSFLM was a better source of net energy for growing pigs. Therefore, both FF and DF BSFLM could be used as protein alternatives in growing pig diets.


2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 301-311 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Veldkamp ◽  
T.G.C.M. van Niekerk

Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL; Hermetia illucens) are a suitable protein source for poultry. However the effect of live BSFL supplementation on growth performance and behaviour has never been demonstrated and quantified in turkeys. Wild turkeys eat insects during the first two weeks of life which is in contrast with commercially fed crumbs or pellets. Damaging pecking behaviour is a severe problem in turkeys. More lively diets may improve natural behaviour and decrease damaging pecking behaviour. The aim of the experiment was to stimulate natural behaviour of young non-beak treated turkeys by supply of live BSFL to avoid damaging pecking behaviour. Two treatments with seven replicates were studied in 14 floor pens (1.5 m2/pen and 20 turkeys per pen) from 0 to 35 days of age. Control groups were fed commercial diets and BSFL groups received live BSFL. The daily BSFL intake was calculated to be 10% of the expected daily feed intake (based on fresh weight) and dietary nutrient composition was adjusted in a way that control and BSFL groups were fed iso-nutritious. Daily feed intake and body weight gain of BSFL groups were significantly higher compared to control groups resulting in a significantly higher body weight at five weeks of age (2,190 vs 2,015 g; P=0.003) and a significantly lower feed conversion ratio. In the first week there was a tendency for more foraging related behaviour for the BSFL groups, but in the third and fifth week BSFL groups showed less foraging related behaviour compared to control groups. Provision of BSFL reduced aggressive pecking directed at the back and tail base at 5 weeks of age. Although the incidence of feather and skin damage was low, this type of damage tended to be lower in the BSFL groups.


2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 63-63
Author(s):  
Michelina M Crosbie ◽  
Cuilan Zhu ◽  
Anna Kate Shoveller ◽  
Lee-Anne Huber

Abstract Two experiments were conducted to determine the standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of AA (Exp. 1) and available energy (Exp. 2) in two black soldier fly larvae meal (BSFLM) sources [full fat (FF) and defatted (DF)] for growing pigs. Two corn starch-based diets were formulated with FF and DF BSFLM as the sole sources of AA. A nitrogen-free diet was also used and the corn starch:sucrose:oil ratio was kept constant among diets to calculate digestible energy. In Exp. 1, 8 ileal-cannulated barrows (25.1±0.41 kg initial BW) were used in a replicated 2 x 2 Latin square design (n = 8). In each period, pigs were adjusted to diets for 5d followed by 2d of continuous ileal digesta collection for 8 h. The SID of AA were calculated using basal endogenous losses for pigs fed a nitrogen-free diet. In Exp. 2, 8 barrows (23.4±0.54 kg initial BW) were used in a partially replicated Latin square design (n=8). In each period, pigs were adjusted to diets for 7d, followed by 5d of total urine and fecal grab sample collection, and 24hr in indirect calorimetry chambers to determine heat production. The SID of Arg, Val, Ala, and Pro tended to be less, and the SID of Met tended to be greater for the FF versus the DF BSFLM (P=0.034, 0.090, 0.053, 0.065, 0.074, respectively). Digestible, metabolizable, and net energy (4101 vs 3257±224 kcal/kg) were greater for the FF versus the DF BSFLM (P< 0.05). The ATTD of phosphorus, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber were greater for the FF versus the DF BSFLM (P< 0.05). In conclusion, the SID AA in FF and DF BSFLM were high and similar to those of soybean meal. The FF BSFLM is a better source of available energy for growing pigs compared to DF BSFLM.


animal ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 1672-1681 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Mancini ◽  
I. Medina ◽  
V. Iaconisi ◽  
F. Gai ◽  
A. Basto ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
pp. 101034
Author(s):  
M. Heuel ◽  
C. Sandrock ◽  
F. Leiber ◽  
A. Mathys ◽  
M. Gold ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
pp. 101400
Author(s):  
Fernanda M. Tahamtani ◽  
Emma Ivarsson ◽  
Viktoria Wiklicky ◽  
Cecilia Lalander ◽  
Helena Wall ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 6074
Author(s):  
Esther Khayanga Sumbule ◽  
Mary Kivali Ambula ◽  
Isaac Maina Osuga ◽  
Janice Ghemoh Changeh ◽  
David Miano Mwangi ◽  
...  

The acceptance of eco-friendly black soldier fly larvae meal (BSFLM) as sustainable alternative protein ingredient in poultry feeds continues to gain momentum worldwide. This study evaluates the impact of BSFLM in layer chick and grower diets on the growth, carcass quality and economic returns. Mean weekly weight gain and total live weight per chick and grower varied significantly. The highest final weight gain was achieved when birds were provided diet with 25.6% BSFLM. Average daily feed intake (ADFI), average daily weight gain (ADG) and overall weight gain of the chick varied significantly, except for the feed conversion ratio (FCR). For grower birds, ADFI, ADG, FCR and overall weight gain did not vary significantly across the various feeding regimes. The weight of the wings and drumsticks had a quadratic response with a maximum weight obtained at 33% inclusion of BSFLM. The weight of the internal organs were not significantly affected by dietary types. Positive cost–benefit ratio and return on investment was recorded for diet types with higher BSFLM inclusion levels (>75%). Diets with 25% and 100% BSFLM inclusion were the most suitable and cost-effective, respectively. Thus, BSFLM represents a promising alternative source of protein that could be sustainably used in the poultry industries.


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