ABSTRACT
The escalating demand for meat, driven by global population growth, necessitates sustainable solutions for animal feed production. This study investigated the effects of substituting conventional protein resources in sow and piglet dietary regimens with black soldier fly (BSF; Hermetia illucens) meal on reproductive efficiency, blood profile, piglet growth, and intestinal tissue morphology. The results indicate that substituting animal-derived and soy proteins with BSF meal does not compromise sow reproductive performance. Although no notable disparities were observed in piglet growth, the feed conversion ratio from the 28- to 35-day age marks were lower in the BSF-fed groups. This suggests that the animal protein-BSF substitution rate may require optimization, potentially involving chitin removal from BSF meal to enhance digestibility. Minor variations in the hematological composition and properties in piglets, with elevated high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in the high BSF group at the 28-day mark, were potentially attributable to the unique fatty acid composition of BSF meal. Moreover, this study potentiates future exploration into the efficacy of complete animal protein substitution with BSF meals on piglet nutrition and physiology, particularly in fattening pigs. The practical implementation of BSF meals in animal feed production holds promise for enhancing the sustainability of the swine industry.
ABSTRACT
This study investigated the effects of bamboo powder as an alternative feed for rabbits. The normal hay diet of rabbits was replaced with bamboo culm powder (10% and 20%) and fed to the rabbits until they were 90 days old. The blood samples were collected when the rabbits were 46, 66, and 90 days old to assess the effects of bamboo powder on blood parameters. The organs and intestinal contents were harvested at the age of 90 days, and the functions and morphologies of different organs were evaluated. The concentration of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and the composition of microbiota in the cecum were measured. Substituting bamboo powder did not affect the growth, hematology profile, intestinal morphologies, and cecum SCFA concentration in rabbits. In contrast, it significantly altered the cecum microbiota composition, particularly the abundance of Ruminococcus and Bacteroides related to fiber degradation and Tyzzerella spp., associated with large intestine inflammation. These findings suggest that the substitution of hay with bamboo powder in rabbit diets does not negatively affect the overall health of rabbits and could be considered an alternative feed for rabbits; nevertheless, the protein and lipid deficiency in the bamboo powder should be taken into account.
