Chemical composition and protein quality of BSF larvae reared with different media in Lombok

Abstract

The black soldier fly larvae (BSFL), scientifically known as Hermetia illucens, possess a substantial protein and fat content, enhancing their viability for incorporation into poultry feed. This characteristic positions them as one of the most favorable insect species for commercial productio. Its protein and fat content, however, varied among rearing media. This study aims to evaluate and compare the chemical composition, protein quality, and Apparent metabolizable energy (AME) value of BSFL reared with different media in Lombok Island. Three fourteen-day-old BSFL samples were collected from three BSFL farms rearing BSFL with different media i.e., rejected bread and expired sweetened condensed milk (A), organic household waste (B), and broiler manure (C). The samples were analyzed for their proximate composition, amino acids, and gross energy contents using the standard method. The results showed that protein and fat contents of BSFL reared with media A, B and C were 40.11 and 20.29 %; 39.09 and 37.17%, 28.37 and 29.49 % respectively. All samples were good sources of lysine and threonine with a chemical score over 100, but deficient in sulfur-containing amino acids and tryptophan. The AME value ranged from 5447 to 6085 Kcal/kg, and protein digestibility was between 72.78 and 78.67%. It can be concluded that BSFL has a high AME value and is rich in lysine and threonine but deficient in methionine, cysteine, and tryptophan.