Chemical Composition and Fatty Acid Profile of the Pectoralis major Muscle in Broiler Chickens Fed Diets with Full-Fat Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) Larvae Meal.

Tomasz Daszkiewicz,Jolanta Han,Daria Murawska,Dorota Kubiak

doi:10.3390/ani12040464

Abstract

Simple SummaryInsect meal (processed insect protein) can effectively cater to the growing demand for protein sources in animal diets. However, insect meals have to be thoroughly analyzed before they can be incorporated into the diets of monogastric animals (such as poultry) because animal nutrition is directly correlated with the quality (including chemical composition) of meat, which was confirmed by the present study. Further research is needed to determine the efficacy of full-fat Hermetia illucens (HI) larvae meal in broiler chicken nutrition. Lower dietary inclusion levels of insect meal than those analyzed in this study, and insect meal with a modified fatty acid profile should be investigated to optimize the nutritional value and health benefits of poultry meat.The aim of this study was to determine the effect of full-fat Hermetia illucens (HI) larvae meal used as a substitute for 50%, 75% and 100% of soybean meal (SBM) in diets fed to male Ross 308 broiler chickens on the proximate chemical composition and fatty acid profile of the Pectoralis major (PM) muscle. The muscles of chickens fed HI larvae meal were characterized by a higher (p < 0.05) total concentration of pigments and lower (p < 0.05) ash content. At the lowest dietary inclusion rate (50%) of HI larvae meal, the PM muscle had a lower (p < 0.05) content of fat and collagen, compared with the remaining treatments. An analysis of the fatty acid profile of the PM muscle revealed that the total concentrations of saturated fatty acids increased (p < 0.05) and the total concentrations of polyunsaturated fatty acids decreased (p < 0.05) with increasing inclusion levels of HI larvae meal. The changes in the fatty acid profile of muscles in birds receiving HI larvae meal led to a decrease in the nutritional value of fat. The present findings indicate that the ≥50% inclusion rate of full-fat HI larvae meal as a protein source alternative to SBM in broiler chicken diets is too high due to its negative effect on the fatty acid profile of meat.

Highlights

Rapid population growth increases the demand for food
The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of full-fat Hermetia illucens (HI) larvae meal used as a substitute for 50%, 75% and 100% of soybean meal (SBM) protein in broiler chicken diets on their growth performance, and on the proximate chemical composition and fatty acid profile of meat
It should be stressed that the results of an analysis of the chemical composition of the Pectoralis major (PM) muscle cannot be directly compared with the findings of other authors due to the effects exerted by various factors such as broiler chicken nutrition

Summary

Introduction

Rapid population growth increases the demand for food. The dynamic economic growth of many countries has induced changes on the global food market and has contributed to a higher demand for animal-based products [1]. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations [2], global poultry production reached 131.6 million tons in 2019 and was expected to increase to 133.3 million tons in 2020. The dynamic growth of poultry farming has increased the demand for highprotein feed components. Soybean meal (SBM) is the main source of protein in intensive poultry production systems [3]. Soybean meal for animal diets is produced mainly from genetically modified (GM) soybean plants. The USA and Argentina are the world’s leading producers of soybeans [7]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion