Black soldier fly larvae meal (hermetia illucens) in poultry diets: nutritional value and inclusion as a functional ingredient

• Grant number: 24/22649-3
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: May 01, 2025
• End date: April 30, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Animal Nutrition and Feeding
• Principal Investigator: Felipe Dilelis de Resende Sousa
• Grantee: Felipe Dilelis de Resende Sousa
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Felipe Machado de Sant'Anna ; Gerson Barreto Mourão ; José Fernando Machado Menten ; Luiz Lehmann Coutinho

Abstract

The integration of sustainable practices in poultry production not only reduces environmental impact but also promotes One Health by minimizing pressure on natural resources and the emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogens. Utilizing ingredients with a lower carbon footprint represents an effective strategy for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, while alternatives to antimicrobials as growth promoter (AGPs) reduce the selective pressure for antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs). Black Soldier Fly larvae meal (BSFM) is a protein-rich ingredient produced from organic waste with a low environmental impact. It contains molecules such as chitin, antimicrobial peptides, and lauric acid, which can benefit bird health through various mechanisms. This research aims to establish a nutrient matrix for BSF and investigate the effects of its inclusion on the performance and intestinal health of broiler chickens. Four trials will be conducted: (i) Metabolizable energy; (ii) Digestible amino acids; (iii) Digestible phosphorus; of three BSFM produced in Brazil. With the determined nutritional values, (iv) Four levels of BSFM inclusion (0%, 1.5%, 3.0%, and 5.0%) and an AGP diet will be evaluated for broiler chickens from 1 to 35 days of age, with responses assessed in terms of performance, intestinal histopathology, volatile fatty acids, microbiota composition in the cecal contents, resistome and jejunum transcriptomic. A total of 1,400 one-day-old chicks will be distributed in a completely randomized design with 5 treatments and 7 replicates of 40 birds each. The results will provide a comprehensive characterization, supporting discussions on the advantages and challenges of using BSF in broiler diets. (AU)