Evaluation of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae meal as partial or total replacement of marine fish meal in practical diets for Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei)

Abstract

Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) meal, produced from the larvae of Hermetia illucens, has shown promise as a fish meal (FM) replacement in diets for rainbow trout, catfish and tilapia, but has not been examined as an alternative protein source in shrimp diets. Six isonitrogenous (35% crude protein, as fed) and isoenergetic (16.7 KJ available energy g-1 of diet) diets containing graded levels of BSFL as replacements for protein from menhaden FM were fed to juvenile (1.24 g ± 0.01; mean ± SE) Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei. Diet 1 (the control) was formulated similar to a commercial shrimp diet containing 25% menhaden FM and 23% soybean meal. Diets 2-6 were formulated as a dose-response series that progressively replaced protein from menhaden FM with BSFL meal at inclusion rates of 7%, 14%, 21%, 28%, and 36% of diet; this equated to progressively replacing 16.5 % of dietary protein provided by menhaden FM. Diets were fed to juvenile shrimp stocked into eighteen 110-L saltwater aquaria (30 ppt) (three replicates per dietary treatment) at a density of 15 shrimp per aquarium (50/m 2) for 63 d. Nonlinear and spline regression analysis of responses indicated that the maximum level of BSFL meal inclusion varied significantly with the response being modeled. Generally, without modification of the ingredient or replacement diet nutrient profiles, 95% to 100% of most growth responses, i.e., shrimp final weight, weight gain, specific growth rate, and food conversion, could be obtained if replacement of FM by BSFL meal was limited to less than 25% of the diet, depending on performance measure. Similarly, 95% or greater of maximum whole-body protein and lipid content could be achieved when BSFL inclusion was restricted to less than 29% and 15%, respectively. Comparison of amino acid profiles in the test diets with recent requirement estimates for limiting amino acids in BSFL meal also suggest future strategies for increasing dietary substitution of FM with BSFL.

Efficacy of insect larval meal to replace fish meal in juvenile barramundi, Lates calcarifer reared in freshwater

“…Although WG and SGR decreased with fish meal replacement, no significant differences were recorded in these parameters among those of fish fed the BSFL-free diet and those fed-fish meal replaced with 25 and 50% of BSFL meal (P \ 0.05). Whereas, published reports on BSFL meal as an alternative of fish meal are extremely few, but has been increasing recently (Cummins et al 2017). Our results are in consistence with those of previous studies, suggesting an optimum fish meal replacement level of 20-50% using insect meal (Wing-Keong et al 2001;StHilaire et al 2007b;Alegbeleye et al 2002;Cummins et al 2017) in different aquaculture species.…”

“…Whereas, published reports on BSFL meal as an alternative of fish meal are extremely few, but has been increasing recently (Cummins et al 2017). Our results are in consistence with those of previous studies, suggesting an optimum fish meal replacement level of 20-50% using insect meal (Wing-Keong et al 2001;StHilaire et al 2007b;Alegbeleye et al 2002;Cummins et al 2017) in different aquaculture species. Similar to our observation, these aforementioned studies also reported the limitations in replacing fish meal beyond 50% of diet using insect meal.…”

“…Whereas, these authors found no difference in whole-body crude protein content in trout-fed different experimental diets. Likewise, in a recent study, the nutrient profile of shrimp whole body has been reported not much affected by fish meal replacement with dietary black soldier fly larval meal (Cummins et al 2017). Our findings closely resembled with these two previous studies, suggesting negligible effects of dietary black soldier fly larval meal inclusion on the whole-body nutrient profile of aquaculture species.…”

“…Similar to our observation, these aforementioned studies also reported the limitations in replacing fish meal beyond 50% of diet using insect meal. The possible reason for the reduction in fish growth performance with a corresponding increase in the dietary insect meal inclusion could be due to the substantial increase in chitin content (Sanchez-Muros et al 2015) in addition to the deficiency in essential amino acid content (Cummins et al 2017). Insect exoskeletons contain chitin and the b1, 4 bond in chitin has been reported to be indigestible for several fish species (Rust 2002).…”

“…Unfortunately, despite three decades of numerous replacement research, fish meal remains the prime protein ingredient in the majority of commercial fish feeds. Among plant protein, soybean meal is the extensively used ingredient in aquaculture diets due to its wide availability, comparatively low market price and promising nutrient profile (Akiyama et al 1989;Gatlin et al 2007;Trosvik et al 2012;Cummins et al 2013;Cummins et al 2017). However, the price of soybean Values are average from duplicate groups of samples a Diets represent; control (without black soldier fly larval meal inclusion), BSFL25 (25%), BSFL50 (50%), BSFL75 (75%) and BSFL100 (100% fish meal replacement using black soldier fly larval meal) meal and other plant feedstuff has also increased dramatically due to their growing demand for the direct human consumption (FAO 2009).…”