Sustenance Trial to Analyze the Effects of Black Soldier Fly Larvae Meal on the Reproductive Efficiency of Sows and the Hematological Properties of Suckling and Weaning Piglets.

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.

Effects of dietary bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens Mazel) culm powder on blood properties and intestinal environment of rabbits.

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.

Effect of Dietary Meat Content on Weight Gain, Mortality, and Pre-Pupal Rate in Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) Larvae.

This study aimed to determine the protein content and the ratio of meat that can be added to the diet of black soldier fly (BSF) larvae for the sustainable recycling of food waste using insects. We conducted experiments feeding refined diets to BSF larvae with adjusted protein content and diets with minced pork, and analyzed the correlations between dietary nutrients and larval weight gain, mortality, and pre-pupal rate. The nutrient that was positively correlated with increased larval body weight and pre-pupal rate in both experiments was nitrogen-free extract (NFE). Diets with high concentrations of minced pork showed higher mortality of BSF larvae and were negatively correlated with dietary NFE content. It has been suggested that BSF larvae have reduced body weight and survival due to excessive protein and fat in their diet. Depending on the raw material and ratio of food waste, it may be necessary to adjust dietary protein and fat contents before treatment. The results of this study suggest that the NFE content of a larval diet influences the larval weight gain, mortality, and pre-pupal rate of BSF larvae in a great extent, a finding that has not been reported by previous studies.

Piglets can secrete acidic mammalian chitinase from the pre weaning stage.

Fishmeal substitutes (such as insect-based feeds) in pig diets can promote sustainable pork production. Insect powders contain chitin, a nitrogen-containing indigestible material, and pigs must have the capacity to secrete chitin-degrading enzymes to benefit from these diets. The chitin-degrading enzyme (acidic mammalian chitinase; AMCase) and its gene expression have been detected in the stomach tissue of approximately 6-month-old fattening pigs; however, it remains unclear from which stage chitin-degrading enzymes are secreted. In the present study, the stomach tissue of piglets was collected from the suckling stage (14 d old) to 56 d to evaluate chitin-degrading enzymes and associated gene expression. AMCase mRNA and protein expression was detected in the stomach tissue of all piglets from days 14 to 56. AMCase secretion might increase with the increase in stomach tissue weight as piglets grow. Insect powders can therefore be used in the diets of pre-weaning piglets. The gastric AMCase level was approximately 30% that of fattening pigs. The appropriate inclusion of insect meals in the diets of pigs at different growth stages still needs to be determined.