Quality of eggs from Lohmann Brown Classic laying hens fed black soldier fly meal as substitute for soya bean

Abstract

Soya bean is the main protein source in poultry feed but rising prices make an alternative protein source necessary. Insects, such as the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens), may be an attractive solution for hens, although little information is available on their effect on egg quality. The present study aims to fill this gap by testing the effect of 100% replacement of soya bean with H. illucens larva meal in the diet of Lohmann Brown Classic laying hens for 21 weeks. At the end of the trial, the eggs were characterized for parameters such as weight, colour, proximate composition of albumen and yolk, and content of carotenoids, tocopherols and cholesterol. The fatty acid profile of yolks was also determined. Hens fed the insect-based diet produced eggs (HIM group) with a higher proportion of yolk than the group fed the soya bean-based diet (SBM group). HIM was associated with redder yolks (red index 5.63 v. 1.36) than SBM. HIM yolks were richer in γ-tocopherol (4.0 against 2.4 mg/kg), lutein (8.6 against 4.9 mg/kg), β-carotene (0.33 against 0.19 mg/kg) and total carotenoids (15 against 10.5 mg/kg) than SBM yolks. The fatty acid composition of HIM yolks was almost identical to that of SBM yolks. Finally, HIM yolks contained 11% less cholesterol than SBM yolks. These results suggest that H. illucens larva meal is a suitable total substitute for soya bean meal in the diet of Lohmann Brown Classic laying hens. A sustainable alternative to the plant protein source therefore seems feasible.

Effect of Breed and Diet Type on the Freshness and Quality of the Eggs: A Comparison between Mos (Indigenous Galician Breed) and Isa Brown Hens

“…Moreover, it was observed that a reduction in the amount of corn led to lower values of redness and yellowness. In the same line, Secci et al [11] also obtained variations in the redness values, when comparing a soy-based diet with another diet based on insects in Lohman Brown hens; meanwhile, parameters L* and b* were not affected. However, Kostogrys et al [33] did not find changes in a*, but they found L* and b* varied, when pomegranate seed oil was incorporated into the diet of Isa Brown hens.…”

“…The fat content in eggs can be increased, modifying the final diet [40], by increasing the cashew amount in the diet. In contrast, Secci et al [11] did not obtain significant changes in the eggs' composition when they compared a soy-based diet to an insect-based diet. In another study, where standard commercial feeding was compared with a fodder enriched in pomegranate seed oil, the group of hens fed with pomegranate seed oil obtained lower values for protein percentage, but the ash and moisture contents were higher in comparison with those of the control group's [33].…”

“…However, Krawczyk et al [46] reported that the addition of yellow lupine to the bird diet resulted in a decrease of oleic acid (C18:1n9c) and consequently the MUFA content; but on the other hand, the PUFA content increased, as well as n6 content and the n6/n3 ratio. Recently, Secci et al [11] replaced soybean by black soldier fly meal in the Lohmann Brown Classic hen feed and observed changes in all fatty acids, except oleic acid (C18:1n9c). Moreover, MUFA and PUFA were higher in the diet based on soybean, while SFA was higher in the diet based on insects.…”

Standardized ileal digestible amino acids and apparent metabolizable energy content in defatted black soldier fly larvae meal fed to broiler chickens

“…Insects have been proposed as a high quality, efficient, and sustainable alternative protein source (De Marco et al 2015;Marono et al 2017;Dabbou et al 2018;Mwaniki et al 2018;Secci et al 2018). Using insects as a protein source can contribute to global food security via feed or as a direct food source for humans (Schader et al 2015).…”

EAACIposition paper: Comparing insect hypersensitivity induced by bite, sting, inhalation or ingestion in human beings and animals

“…Insect meal is included as a substitute for soya and fish meal in feed for fish and poultry and is envisaged also for farm animals such as pigs and cattle. The use of insects in dog and cat food is a developing market especially in the USA.…”