285 Black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae oil improves growth performance of nursery pigs

Abstract

Abstract Insect-derived protein and lipid sources are sustainable, alternative ingredients for the feed industry. The present study was conducted to determine the impact of increasing levels of supplemental black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) oil on growth performance and serological and hematological indices in nursery pigs. Newly weaned, 21-day old pigs (n = 192; BW=6.9±0.15 kg) were randomly assigned within sex and BW blocks to 1 of 4 dietary treatments, using 48 pens (4 pigs/pen; 12 replicates/treatment). Treatments consisted of 0, 2, 4, and 6% supplemental BSFL oil (mainly contained C12:0, C18:2, C16:0, C18:1, and C14:0 at 36.9, 17.3, 14.6, 13.1, and 9.8 g/100 g of lipid, respectively), replacing equal amounts of corn oil. Dietary treatments were fed in 3 dietary phases (14, 11, and 15 d for Phase 1 to 3, respectively). Supplementation of BSFL oil linearly increased BW (P ≤ 0.052) on d 14, 21, 25, 33, and 40 (final BW of 27.83, 27.62, 28.84, and 28.44 kg, respectively) and ADG during Phase 1 (P = 0.017), 2 (P = 0.055), and overall (P = 0.048; 523, 518, 548, and 539 g/d). Gain:feed was improved linearly during Phase 1 (P = 0.001) and 2 (P = 0.049), but ADFI was not affected (P > 0.36). Supplemental BSFL oil did not affect (P > 0.18) serum concentrations of total protein, albumin, globulin, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, γ-glutamyltranspeptidase, urea N, creatinine, glucose, Ca, P, Mg, K, Na, Cl, triglycerides, amylase, lipase, or creatine phosphokinase, but linearly increased (P < 0.001) serum cholesterol. White blood cells, red blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils were not affected (P > 0.17) by BSFL oil, but platelet count tended to linearly increase (P = 0.082). All serological and hematological analytical results were within normal expected ranges. In conclusion, BSFL oil is a promising, high energy feed ingredient that can be successfully fed to nursery pigs, while improving their growth performance.