Application of black solider fly larvae as alternative source of protein in poultry nutrition. A Review

Abstract

This review gives an overview on black soldier fly larvae meal (BSFM) as substitute ingredients available to the chicken business, their sustainability, and strategies for promoting them as important protein sources. Traditional sources of protein for chicken feed include soy beans and canola meal. The cost of poultry feeds is largely comprised of energy and protein sources. This is so because in chicken feed, 25-40% of the feed is based on sources of protein, whereas 50-65% of the feed is based on energy. The best strategy to lower the cost of feed is to offer affordable resources or to locate and utilise alternative resources. Insects have attracted a lot of interest as alternative protein sources to replace traditional protein sources used in animal production because of the rising demand for feed protein sources and environmentally friendly production. The nutritional benefits of BSFM, which is distinguished by a balanced amino acid composition and a high concentration of protein, energy, mono-and poly-unsaturated fatty acids, have proven to be the most attractive to the feed industry. Previous studies have demonstrated that the dietary low inclusion of BSFM as an alternative to soybean oil has positive effects on energy availability, attributed to improving growth performance and meat quality in species of poultry. These encouraging results suggested that there would be a promising practical application of the BSFM in the formulation of poultry diets.