Standardized ileal digestible amino acids and net energy contents in full fat and defatted black soldier fly larvae meals (Hermetia illucens) fed to growing pigs

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted to determine standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of AA (Exp. 1) and net energy (Exp. 2) in two black soldier fly larvae meal (BSFLM) samples [full fat (FF; 42.5% CP, as-fed) and defatted (DF; 40.8% CP; as-fed)] for growing pigs. Two cornstarch-based diets were formulated with FF and DF BSFLM as the sole sources of AA. A nitrogen-free diet was also used and the corn starch:sucrose:oil ratio was kept constant among diets to calculate DE by difference method. In each Exp., pigs were fed 2.8 × estimated maintenance energy requirement. In Exp. 1, 8 ileal-cannulated barrows (25.1 ± 0.41 kg initial BW) were used in a replicated 2 × 2 Latin square design (n = 8). In each period, pigs were adapted to diets for 5 days followed by 2 days of continuous ileal digesta collection for 8 hours. The SID of AA were calculated using basal endogenous losses for pigs fed a nitrogen-free diet. In Exp. 2, 8 barrows (23.4 ± 0.54 kg initial BW) were used in a partially replicated Latin square design (n = 8). In each period, pigs were adapted to diets for 7 days, followed by 5 days of total urine collection and fecal grab sampling. The SID of CP (80.6 ± 1.1 %) and Lys (88.0 ± 1.4 %) were not different between FF and DF BSFLM. The SID of Arg, Val, Ala, and Pro tended to be less, and the SID of Met tended to be greater for the FF versus the DF BSFLM (P = 0.034, 0.090, 0.053, 0.065, 0.074, respectively). Digestible energy (4927 vs 3941± 75 kcal/kg), ME (4569 vs 3396 ± 102 kcal/kg), and predicted NE (3477 vs 2640 ± 30 kcal/kg, using equations from Noblet; 3479 vs 2287 ± 28 kcal/kg, using equations from Blok, respectively) were greater for the FF versus the DF BSFLM (P < 0.05). The apparent total tract digestibility of NDF and ADF were greater for the FF versus the DF BSFLM (P ≤ 0.05). Both FF and DF BSFLM had high SID for most AA, however, FF BSFLM was a better source of net energy for growing pigs. Therefore, both FF and DF BSFLM could be used as protein alternatives in growing pig diets.

The effects of partially replacing animal protein sources with full fat black soldier fly larvae meal (Hermetia illucens) in nursery diets on growth performance, gut morphology, and immune response of pigs

“…One full fat (FF; Oreka Solutions, Markham, ON, Canada) BSFLM source was used and was ground using a 0.6 mm screen size ( Crosbie et al, 2020 ). Two control diets were generated (CON− with no antibiotics; CON+ with 220 mg Aureomycin/kg of complete feed; Table 1 ), which contained highly digestible animal proteins (i.e., dried whey, fish meal, spray dried blood meal, and blood plasma) and crystalline amino acids, to mimic commercial nursery diets.…”

“… d Provided, per kilogram of diet, 12,000 IU vitamin A as retinyl acetate, 1,200 IU vitamin D3 as cholecalciferol, 48 IU vitamin E as dl -α-tocopherol acetate, 3 mg vitamin K as menadione, 18 mg pantothenic acid, 6 mg riboflavin, 600 mg choline, 2.4 mg folic acid, 30 mg niacin, 18 mg thiamine, 1.8 mg pyridoxine, 0.03 mg vitamin B12, 0.24 mg biotin, 1,200 mg Ca from CaCO 3 , 18 mg Cu from CuSO 4 ∙5H 2 O, 120 mg Fe from FeSO 4 , 24 mg Mn from MnSO4, 126 mg Zn from ZnSO 4 , 0.36 mg Se from Na 2 SeO 3 , and 0.6 mg I from KI (DSM Nutritional Products Canada Inc., Ayr, ON, Canada). e Calculated on the basis of the NRC (2012) ingredient values with BSFLM ingredient values from Crosbie et al (2020) . f Standardized ileal digestible.…”

“… e Calculated on the basis of the NRC (2012) ingredient values with BSFLM ingredient values from Crosbie et al (2020) . …”

“…Nursery pig diets often contain highly digestible sources of animal proteins to promote increased absorption of nutrients and minimize the postweaning growth lag that is caused, in part, by exposure to food allergens and pathogens, an immature gastrointestinal tract, and reduced feed intake ( Lallès et al, 2004 ). Recent studies in pigs ( Crosbie et al, 2020 ) and poultry ( Mwaniki and Kiarie, 2019 ) have demonstrated that the amino acid digestibility coefficients of BSFLM are high (i.e., 88% standardized ileal digestibility of Lys for growing pigs and 84% apparent ileal digestibility of Lys for broilers, respectively) and comparable to protein sources that are commonly used in nursery pig diets. While black soldier fly larvae meal ( Hermetia illucens ; BSFLM) is still cost-prohibitive compared to other commonly fed animal proteins, such as blood and fish meals, its proposed functional benefits may make it useful for inclusion in nursery diets, as these diets are typically fed for shorter durations and when feed intake is low ( Biasato et al, 2019 ).…”

“…The favorable amino acid profile and digestibility and functional attributes of BSFLM make it a possible protein source for inclusion in pig diets during instances of reduced digestive capacity and low feed intake ( Crosbie et al, 2020 ). Therefore, the objective of the current study was to determine the effect of partially replacing animal protein sources with BSFLM in nursery pig diets on growth performance, gut morphology, and immune response.…”