Effect of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) meals on the meat quality in broilers

Abstract

The experiment aimed to assess the effect of dietary inclusion of meals derived from Black soldier fly (BSF) larvae on the meat quality in broilers. The birds were divided into three groups according to the formulated diets: control (CON)– receiving standard diet, Т1 – receiving 5% partially defatted and Т2 – receiving 5% full fat BSF meal during the finishing period (14–35 d). At the age of 35 days, 10 broilers from each group were slaughtered for meat quality evaluation. The dietary inclusion of the BSF meals was associated with decrease of pH and lighter colour of the meat. The total amount of the saturated fatty acids (SFA) and atherogenic index (AI) were increased, while polyun-saturated fatty acids (PUFA), the ratios between PUFA and SFA (P/S), n-6/n-3 PUFA and hypo/hypercholesterolemic fatty acids (h/H) were decreased in the meat of the broilers consuming insect meals. The results of the study suggest good prospective for further research with the examined BSF meals for broiler nutrition to formulate feeding strategies that will not alter negatively meat quality and its healthy value.