Influence of substrate inclusion of quail manure on the growth performance, body composition, fatty acid and amino acid profiles of black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens)

Abstract

In recent years, monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), especially palmitoleic acid (omega-7, POA) and oleic acid (omega-9, OA), have gained increasing notoriety; however, traditional sources of MUFAs have not achieved sustainability. Black soldier fly (BSF) larvae can convert low-quality products into high-quality biomass to be used in many industrial applications. Therefore, this study aims to assess increasing of quail manure on the biological traits of BSF larvae and the bioaccumulation of MUFAs by BSF larvae reared on quail manure, which causes many harmful effects to the environment. Different concentrations of quail manure from 0 to 100% were mixed with wheat bran. The inclusion of quail manure in the substrate resulted in (1) a decrease in saturated fatty acids by 20.20%, (2) accumulation of OA (47.36%), (3) biosynthesis of POA (157.73%) in BSF larvae, and (4) no significant differences in total protein (~38%) or essential amino acids (~43%) of BSF larvae. Inclusion of 40% of quail manure improved the performance of BSF larvae. Therefore, rearing BSF larvae on quail manure is considered to be a renewable and sustainable source of omega-7 and omega-9 for nutraceutical production, pharmaceutical uses, or animal food additives to achieve circular food production.