Abstract
We evaluated the effects of full-fat black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) on broiler carcass composition, cut yield, and breast meat quality. Broilers were fed for 42 days with up to 20% dietary inclusion of BSFL (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20%). On day 42, 120 broilers were slaughtered, and images were taken using computed tomography. Breasts, drumsticks, and thighs were collected for cut yield determination. The pH, color, lipid oxidation, cooking loss, shear force, amino acid profile, and fatty acid profile of the breast meat were assessed. There was no dietary effect on carcass composition or meat quality parameters except for fatty and amino acids compositions. When 20% BSFL was included in the diet, individual fatty and amino acids, such as lauric and myristic acids, aspartic acid, glutamine, and lysine, increased by 22.0-, 5.50-, 1.08-, 1.06-, and 1.06-fold, respectively (p < 0.05). Although total polyunsaturated fatty acids decreased, eicosapentaenoic fatty acids (EPA) increased by 78% in the 20% BSFL inclusion group. In conclusion, up to 20%, dietary full-fat BSFL did not affect key meat characteristics but positively increased the levels of the health-claimable omega-3 fatty acid EPA.
Highlights
The quality of broiler meat has substantive economic impact as poultry meat accounts for the highest quantity of consumed meat globally—an average of 30.6 kg per person per year [1]
There were no effects of the black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) dietary inclusions on the broiler breast meat, drumstick, thigh, or any cut yield evaluated such as breast/body weight, drumstick/body weight, and thigh/body weight ratios (Table 4)
The effects of BSFL on meat quality parameters were mainly related to the changes in the fatty acid profile of the meat caused by the fatty acid profile of the BSFL
Summary
The quality of broiler meat has substantive economic impact as poultry meat accounts for the highest quantity of consumed meat globally—an average of 30.6 kg per person per year [1]. Consumer preference for chicken meat is driven by its relatively low purchase price and a lack of religious barriers, and because it is a leaner source of animal protein compared to pork, beef, and lamb meat [2,3]. This preference for leaner meat sources reflects the awareness and demand for healthy food. Full-fat or defatted black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) have been used to partially replace common dietary ingredients such as soybean meal and soybean oil in poultry diets [5,6,7]. BSFL and soybean meal have high crude protein content, ranging from 25 to 53% in full-fat BSFL and from 45.1 to 49.5% in soybean meal [8,9]
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