Work

Effects of dietary replacement of fish meal by defatted black soldier fly larvae on growth performance, blood profiles, immune response, and diarrhea incidence in weaning pigs

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of dietary replacement of fish meal (FM) by black soldier fly (BSF) larvae on growth performance, blood profiles, immune response, and diarrhea incidence in weaning pigs. METHODS: A total of 160 weaning ([Yorkshire×Landrace]×Duroc) pigs (7.47±0.02 kg body weight [BW]) were assigned to four treatments according to sex and initial BW, with five replicates of eight pigs per pen in a randomized complete block design. Experimental diets with BSF larvae replaced FM at 0%, 25%, 50%, and 100% for phase I (0 to 2 weeks). During the phase II (3 to 4 weeks) treatments were as follows: 1) Control: corn‒soybean-based diet containing FM 4%, 2) BSF25: corn‒soybean-based diet containing FM 3% and BSF larvae 1%, 3) BSF50: corn‒soybean-based diet containing FM 2% and BSF larvae 2%, 4) BSF100: corn‒soybean-based diet containing BSF larvae 4%. RESULTS: There were no significant differences among the treatment groups in BW and average daily gain during the experimental period. However, an increased tendency of average daily feed intake was observed (linear, p = 0.09), and gain to feed ratio tended to decrease as the replacement rate of FM with BSF larvae increased (linear, p = 0.06). During phase I, creatinine concentration decreased linearly as BSF larvae level increased (linear, p = 0.02). During phase II, the glucose concentration linearly changed as an increase in BSF larvae level (linear, p = 0.02). Meanwhile, pigs fed with increasing BSF larvae levels showed increased albumin and total protein concentration trends (linear, p = 0.05, p = 0.05). CONCLUSION: In weaning pig diets, defatted BSF larvae can substitute up to 50% of FM without negatively affecting immunological response, blood metabolites, or performance. These encouraging results imply that BSF larvae may be a viable and efficient substitute for FM in pig diets.

Source: Animal Bioscience

DOI: 10.5713/ab.25.0426

Authors: Sooduc Noh, Xinghao Jin, Minhyuk Jang, Minsoo Park, Yooyong Kim

Institutions: Seoul National University, Yanbian University

Language: English

Topic: Insect Utilization and Effects

Subfield: Insect Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDGs: Zero hunger, Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $700