Alternative Animal Protein Source Research Articles

Analysis of chicken and pig DNA content in commercial dry foods for adult cats.

Among pets, cats are the most popular in Europe. Despite the fact, the interest in the safety and quality of their food is much lower compared to the interest of caregivers in the nutrition of dogs. In this research, 27 commercial cat foods were analyzed for mislabeled component composition. Cat foods were divided into a control group, a group of fish foods and a group of other foods with alternative sources of animal protein. Chicken and pig DNA detection was performed using real-time PCR. In this research, 100% of the cat foods contained chicken DNA and 96% of the foods - pig DNA, despite the lack of declaration of these ingredients on the product label. The results indicate that cat food appear to be mislabeled to an even greater extent than dog food. Moreover, manufacturers' declarations in terms of ingredient composition do not reflect the actual composition of commercial products available on the market and intended for everyday feeding of animals. Mislabeling of these products also poses a risk for animals suffering from food allergies.

Nugget Processing with Addition of Egg Shell Flour in Kotabaru Village, Jambi

Calcium is an essential micronutrient for children to the postmenopausal women. In practice, consumption of calcium-rich foods sourced from animal protein foods for family members, especially children, is still low. Egg shells contain calcium which can be fortified into nuggets to produce calcium-rich nuggets. Thus, the high benefits of egg shells will be obtained and reduce the negative environmental waste impact. Kota Baru Village, Geragai Subdistrict, Tanjung Jabung Timur Regency was chosen as the location for community service because apart from being an UNJA’s integrated laboratory village, this area is one of the location for stunting reduction in Jambi Province. This community service project has target of producing nugget products with the addition of egg shell flour, as well as increasing the knowledge and skills of village business group members. Evaluation of participants' knowledge and skills was carried out using pre-test and post-test questionnaire and checklist of nugget-making procedures. The results of this community service showed that there was a difference in 10 participants' knowledge compared to before the training (test score from 72 to 88). The hedonic test showed that more participants really liked the eggshell and carrot nuggets formulation in terms of smell, texture, and taste. Processing of nuggets with the addition of eggshell flour can be an alternative local food source of animal protein which is also of economic value.

A Comparative Approach to Sustainable Fish Meal: Prussian carp meal (Carassius gibelio Bloch, 1782)

In the present study, the usability of Prussian carp (Carassius gibelio) meal (PCM) as an alternative animal protein source in fish feeds was investigated by comparing it with anchovy (Engraulis encrasicholus) and sprat (Sprattus sprattus) meals in terms of their biochemical, fatty acid, amino acid and element compositions. Prussian carp were obtained by fishing and made into a meal (PCM). Anchovy (AM), and sprat (SM) meals were purchased from a commercial company. The amino acid analysis results show that PCM's total, essential, and non-essential amino acid values were lower than that of AM and SM (P < 0.05). The polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and Omega-6 values of PCM were higher than AM and SM; and lower than saturated fatty acids (SFA), Omega-3, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), atherogenicity index (AI) values (P < 0.05). According to the element analysis, the P and Ca values of the PCM were higher than the AM and SM (P < 0.05), and the Na, K, Fe, Cu, Zn and Se values were lower. According to the results of the present study, PCM can be utilized in the feed industry to boost the sustainability of fish meals used in feed production, which in turn will reduce the foreign dependency on vegetable and fish meals, and lower feed costs.

Physicochemical and sensory characterisation of Salvator merianae meat as a sustainable alternative

SummaryConsidering the escalating consumer preference for health‐conscious commodities, reptile species' meat can be presented as an alternative animal protein source because of its notable nutritional characteristics. The aim of this study was to evaluate the physicochemical parameters (pH, tenderness, cooking loss, colour and fatty acid profile) and sensory profile of black‐and‐white Tegu meat. The black‐and‐white Tegu meat was assessed through to consumer‐based sensory Analysis alongside the Yellow Anaconda, Broad‐snouted Caiman and broilers through. The samples of reptile species' meat were obtained from sustainable use programs. In terms of physicochemical parameters, the results indicate that black‐and‐white Tegu meat exhibits moderate brightness, displaying a pale pink/yellowish tone. Oleic acid was the most abundant fatty acid in black‐and‐white Tegu meat, comprising approximately 22.5%, while the content of polyunsaturated fatty acids was approximately 34%. Regarding overall liking, all four types of meats scored higher than indifference. However, black‐and‐white Tegu meat presented a lower acceptability (P < 0.001), likely attributed to its dry texture and unpleasant colour, as perceived by consumers. Our findings underscore the need to explore preparation methods for enhancing the sensory characteristics of black‐and‐white Tegu meat. This will enable its promotion as a healthy food choice in the future. The utilisation of black‐and‐white Tegu meat as a food source will benefit families participating in the sustainable use and conservation program, the ‘Proyecto Tupinambis’.

Nutritional value of mangrove snails Littoraria melanostoma from Desa Bakau West Kalimantan

Desa Bakau Village is a coastal area in Sambas Regency, West Kalimantan, which has the potential for mangrove forests with a high level of diversity. The mangrove ecosystem is a habitat for various types of biota, such as gastropods, generally known as snails. People often consume multiple gastropods using different processing methods. The nutritional content of the gastropods consumed by the people of Desa Bakau is not yet known. Therefore, this study aims to determine the nutritional composition of a gastropod from Desa Bakau (Littoraria melanostoma), including carbohydrates, protein, fat, ash content, water content, and minerals. Sampling was carried out in August 2022 in the mangrove area of Desa Bakau using the exploration method. Determination of nutritional content is carried out by referring to AOAC (2005). Proteins were analyzed by the Kjeldahl method. Fat was analyzed using the Soxhlet method. Macrominerals (Na, K, Mg, Ca, and P) were determined using an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). The nutritional content of Littoraria melanostoma is water content (1.51%), ash content (22.81%), protein (49,00 %), fat (3.60%), and carbohydrates (23.08%). The highest macromineral in Littoraria melanostoma is calcium at 71.38%. Thus, this mangrove snail can be used as a good alternative source of animal protein for human consumption at a relatively affordable price.

The impact of diets containing Hermetia illucens meal on the growth, intestinal health, and microbiota of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata)

The present study investigated the effect of replacing fishmeal (FM) with insect meal of Hermetia illucens (HI) in the diet of Sparus aurata farmed inshore on growth, gut health, and microbiota composition. Two isolipidic (18% as fed) and isoproteic (42% as fed) diets were tested at the farm scale: a control diet without HI meal and an experimental diet with 11% HI meal replacing FM. At the end of the 25-week feeding trial, final body weight, specific growth rate, feed conversion rate, and hepatosomatic index were not affected by the diet. Gross morphology of the gastrointestinal tract and the liver was unchanged and showed no obvious signs of inflammation. High-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons (MiSeq platform, Illumina) used to characterize the gut microbial community profile showed that Proteobacteria, Fusobacteria, and Firmicutes were the dominant phyla of the gut microbiota of gilthead seabream, regardless of diet. Dietary inclusion of HI meal altered the gut microbiota by significantly decreasing the abundance of Cetobacterium and increasing the relative abundance of the Oceanobacillus and Paenibacillus genera. Our results clearly indicate that the inclusion of HI meal as an alternative animal protein source positively affects the gut microbiota of seabream by increasing the abundance of beneficial genera, thereby improving gut health and maintaining growth performance of S. aurata from coastal farms.

The potential of Azolla and maggot flour in fermented feed for poultry and their effect on the quality of hybrid chicken eggs

Maggot flour is an alternative source of animal protein, on the other hand, azolla contains vegetable protein. This research aims to determine the potential and effect of using maggot flour and azolla in fermented feed on egg quality. The design used was a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) which consisted of 5 treatments with 4 replications. The types of treatment used were as follows: T0 (commercial 100% CP 524 basal feed), T1 (90% basal feed + 5% maggot flour + 5% azolla flour), T2 (85% basal feed + 5% maggot flour + 10 % %azolla flour %), T3 (85% basal feed + 10% maggot flour + 5% azolla flour), and T4 (80% basal feed + 10% maggot flour + 10% azolla flour). The parameters measured are egg shape, egg weight, egg HU value, egg yolk colour and egg grade. The results showed that the use of maggot flour and azolla in fermented feed did not have a significant effect (P>0.05) on egg chicken quality. This shows that in general the quality of eggs from purebred chickens fed fermented feed containing maggot and azolla flour up to 10% is equivalent to the control treatment, without reducing egg quality.

Обґрунтування та перспективи використання комах як джерела білка у кормах для риб (огляд)

Purpose. Analysis of the prospects and experience of using insects as an alternative source of animal protein in aquaculture. Scientific and practical substantiation of the introduction of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) into fish feeds. Evaluation of the effeciency of the use of insect protein in solving the issues of sustainable development of aquaculture. Findings. World resources and trends in the use of animal protein in feed production have been characterized. The biological and functional characteristics, as well as the quality and safety of animal protein have been analyzed. Insect protein is considered a non-traditional feed component for Ukrainian aquaculture. It should be noted that the use of insect protein in feeding different fish species requires special approaches, in accordance with the biological needs of their body and the stage of ontogenesis. Also, the efficiency of the use of insect protein in fish feeds depends on the methodological approaches of its introduction, the amount of use, as well as the feed component replaced in the basic diet. On the example of the results of scientific studies on the introduction of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) in fish feeds, promising directions and methods of using this insect species have been identified. The positive effect of experimental feeding on productive parameters, feed conversion, quality and safety of farmed fish products have been noted. The limiting factors for increasing insect protein production in accordance with technological parameters and biological characteristics have been analyzed in detail. It is noted that the industrial production of insects can be a solution to the problem of processing industrial and organic waste as a result of their use for nutrition. The feasibility and prospects of using insect protein in aquaculture in Ukraine have been outlined. The authors have analyzed modern sources of professional scientific literature in accordance with the study of the state and prospects of using traditional and non-traditional sources of animal protein in fish feeds. Using the example of the black soldier fly, the authors characterize the efficiency of the use of insect protein in aquaculture, its biological characteristics and technological parameters of production. Practical value. The literature review covers modern approaches and prospects for optimizing aquaculture. It can be used by fish farming specialists for scientific studies and practical experimental developments. Keywords: animal protein, insect protein, black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens, fish feeds, non-traditional feed components, tenological parameters, biological characteristics, aquaculture.

Diversity of Bivalvia Types in the Mangrove Area of Sungai Nyirih Village, West Kalimantan

Desa Sungai Nyirih, as one of the coastal villages in Jawai District, West Kalimantan, has the potential for a mangrove ecosystem with a diversity of aquatic biota, including bivalves. Most of the coastal communities in West Kalimantan catch and consume shellfish because it contains high nutrients. Therefore, shellfish can be an alternative source of animal protein. The aim of the study was to identify the genus of bivalves in the mangrove area of Desa Sungai Nyirih, Jawai District, West Kalimantan. The collection of bivalves was carried out using the exploratory method, as many as ±5 individuals of each genus were collected and all genera of bivalves were identified. The results showed that there were two genera found, such as the cockle (Geloina expansa) and the blood clam (Tegillarca nodifera).

The potential of insects as alternative animal protein source for livestock feeding

The livestock industry as an important component of general agriculture is a key contributor to economic growth and development of any nation. In addition to having the capacity for earning revenue for the governments, it provides employment, food, farm energy, manure, fuel and transport. Currently, important protein ingredients for animal feed are fish meal, processed animal proteins and soybean meal. However, in the European Union the use of processed animal proteins in animal feed is prohibited due to the TSE legislation, globally land availability for soya cultivation is limited, while marine overexploitation has reduced the abundance of small pelagic forage fish from which fish meal and fish oil is derived. The growing scarcity of resources to produce these increasingly demanded ingredients has doubled prices during the last five years, while it already represents 60-70% of production costs. So, alternative (animal) protein sources for livestock and aquaculture are urgently needed.Insects are such an alternative animal protein source, which can sustainably reared on organic side streams. Reasons are that they have a favorable feed conversion efficiency, likely because they are cold-blooded. Insects contain between 30% and 70% protein on a dry matter basis. The protein content of the insect species is within the soybean/fish meal range and fat content is higher especially compared to (defatted) soybean meal. This review, however highlighted the environmental, health, livelihood and social benefits of insects. Recent efforts in feeding livestock, challenges limiting the use of insects as feed ingredients and moreover, the strategies for commercial production of insects as feed ingredients just to mention a few of the potentials of using insects for feeding livestock.

The Effect of Dietary Supplementation of Hong Kong Caterpillar (Tenebrio molitor) on Quail Egg Quality

The Hong Kong caterpillar (HC) is an alternative source of animal protein for feed. This research aimed to study the effect of using Hong Kong caterpillars in the quail diet on egg quality. A total of 200 quail aged 8-14 weeks, weighing 110 ± 10 g, were used in the study, with 40% production. This study used a completely randomized design with five treatments and four replications. The laying quail diets were formulated with varying levels of HC, including 0% HC for group A, 3% HC for B, 6% HC for C, 9% HC for D, and 12% HC for E. The egg quality parameters measured were egg yolk fat, egg yolk cholesterol, egg white protein, and eggshell thickness. The results indicated that including 12% HC in the quail diet significantly reduced egg yolk cholesterol and egg yolk fat. However, eggshell thickness and egg white protein remained unaffected. Consequently, it can be concluded that Hong Kong caterpillars can be used in quail diets up to a maximum of 12% to reduce egg yolk cholesterol and fat while maintaining eggshell thickness and egg white protein levels.

Master plan design in developing village tourism potential with a Community Participatory Model

Pait Village, located in Kasembon Sub-district of Malang Regency, is a village with high natural tourism potential. However, the allure of tourism in Pait Village, which is located in a green area and surrounded by rivers and waterfalls, still lacks development. Carrying the main mission to increase the tourism potential in Pait Village, the community service team will develop a water tourism design in the form of a multifunctional fishpond. This fishpond will solve the problem of water surplus due to agricultural land runoff. In addition, this pond can be an alternative source of animal protein for residents and an integrated water tourism location in the Kasembon Area. The implementation method carried out in this program is to analyze the needs of the Pait village integrated Master Plan design with a community participatory model. The results of the Pait Village water tourism master plan design are in the form of a 3D mockup of water tourism and a cultivation pond that can be used as an amphitheater along with the regional expenditure budget plan (RAB).

Serum-free alginate-C2C12 cells microcapsule as a model of alternative animal protein source.

Due to the climate change crisis, and environmental impacts of the traditional meat sector, the production of artificial animal protein based on in vitro cell culture technology is proposed as an alternative. Furthermore, since traditional animal serum-supplemented cultures pose scientific challenges such as batch variation and contamination risks, artificial animal protein cultures are currently in urgent need of not only serum-free cultures, but also microcarrier culture systems for scalability. However, serum-free microcarrier-based culture system for the differentiation of muscle cells is not available to date. Therefore, we established an edible alginate microcapsules culture system for the differentiation of C2C12 cells in serum-free conditions. Furthermore, metabolites related to central carbon metabolism were profiled based on targeted metabolomics using mass spectrometry. The C2C12 cells cultured in alginate microcapsules displayed high viability throughout 7 days and successfully differentiated within 4 days in serum and serum-free cultures except for AIM-V cultures, which was confirmed by CK activity and MHC immunostaining. Lastly, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to compare metabolite profiles between monolayer and alginate microcapsule culture systems. Alginate microcapsule culture showed higher levels of intracellular glycolysis and TCA cycle intermediates, lactate, and the contribution of essential amino acids compared to the monolayer culture. We believe our serum-free alginate microcapsule culture system is adaptable to different species of muscle cells and contributes to future food technology as a proof of concept for the scalability of alternative animal protein source production.

Nutritional Value of Gastropod Cassidula from the Mangrove Area of Desa Bakau, Sambas Regency, West Kalimantan

Desa Bakau is located in Sambas Regency, West Kalimantan which has the potential for mangrove forests with an area of ± 305 Ha. Ecologically, mangrove forests have various roles, one of them is as a habitat for various types of aquatic biota, including gastropods. Several gastropods have important economic value for the community as food and medicine. The local community catches and consumes the mangrove gastropods. As a food ingredient, gastropods have a high nutritional content and essential macro minerals. Gastropods can be used as an alternative source of animal protein at an affordable price. This study aimed to determine the nutritional value of the gastropod Cassidula from the mangrove area of Desa Bakau, Sambas Regency, West Kalimantan. Quantitatively, nutrient content such as protein, carbohydrates, fat, moisture, and ash content were determined according to the AOAC (2005) standard method, whereas macro minerals content (Na, K, Mg, Ca, and P) was carried out according to the AOAC method (2016) using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). The result showed that Cassidula had a protein content (57.02%) with the highest value compared to other types of nutrients. In addition, Cassidula also contained an essential macro mineral, such as calcium (37.0006 mg/kg) with the highest value followed by sodium (21.7364 mg/kg), respectively. The results showed that Cassidula can be used as an alternative food ingredient for human.

STATUS AND PROSPECTS FOR THE USE OF INSECTS IN COMPOUND FEED PRODUCTION

Due to the rapid growth of the population and the growing consumption of meat products, the issue of finding alternative sources of animal protein in feed production is more acute than ever. Insects are a promising protein component in feed production today. The article examines the state and prospects for the use of insects that have a high nutritional value, consume less resources and are environmentally friendly. The volumes of protein production obtained from fly larvae, flour worms and other insect species are given. The distribution of the use of insects for different types of animal husbandry, poultry farming and aquaculture in recent years is given. The main world leaders companies engaged in the cultivation of larvae and breeding of worms are presented. A comparative analysis of the content of crude protein and fat in various types of insects and traditional protein sources such as fish and soy meal is presented. A literature review of the results of the use of insects in the feeding of pigs and poultry by the world's leading scientists is presented. Insect-based animal feeds have been shown to have advantages over grain-based feeds. Test results are shown showing that crickets, black soldier flies and worms have the same protein digestibility as soy and provide more lipids, vitamins and minerals. The inclusion of insects in compound feed is one of the strategies for finding alternatives to create conditions for animal feeding that would be consistent with the concept of sustainable development. Data from a study on the effect of insects on egg production is also presented, which showed that yolk color, shell tear strength, and shell thickness were significantly increased by the addition of black soldier fly larvae. The results of studies on the use of insects in feeding fish are analyzed. The use of protein-chitin concentrate of Hermetia illucens larvae in feeding tilapia showed that it almost completely corresponds to fishmeal in terms of nutritional value.

Effect of dietary supplementation withTenebrio molitor wholemeal and fermented flour modulating adipose lipogenesis gene expression in obese mice

The use of insects recently emerged as an alternative source of high-quality animal protein for both animal and human food supplementation use with lower environmental impact. Recent evidence indicates that an insect-based diet provides an improved animal production mass gain and showed benefits for human health. The present study evaluated the dietary supplementation effect of theTenebrio molitor fermented and wholemeal flour on the metabolism of diet-induced obese mice. Male Swiss mice were divided into 4 groups treated for 4 weeks as follows: standard diet, high-fat diet, high-fat diet + wholemeal flour and high-fat diet + fermented flour. The 15% wholemeal or fermented flour were added to the diet. Several parameters such as food/energy intake, body weight, adipose tissue weight, biochemical levels, adipose tissue histology and mRNA expression were evaluated. The main results showed that the inclusion of wholemeal and fermentedT. molitor flour induced body weight loss, adiposity reduction and specific changes in biochemical and histological parameters. In addition, was observed significant changes in lipogenic gene expression. The insect flour negatively modulated the expression of the SREBP1α, CEBP1α, FAS, ACC gene and positively modulated PGC1α. In conclusion, the main findings showed theT. molitor flour potential use to improve dyslipidaemia and adiposity with beneficial effects on metabolic diseases.

Sago caterpillar: ALTERNATIVE LOCAL FOOD SOURCES OF NUTRITION POST PANDEMIC FAMILY

The existence of sago caterpillars as an alternative source of animal protein brings its own color in food diversity because it is unique and potentially available in sago crop areas. Sago caterpillars are included in the class of food ingredients that are easily damaged, so it is necessary to carry out an innovative processing, one of which is by using a vacuum dryer to maintain shelf life and aesthetics so that it is easily accepted. During the pandemic, animal food sources have increased in price, so it is important to look for other rich local foods. protein, amino acids, zinc, minerals, albumin, are needed to increase the body's immune system and maintain stamina. The purpose of introducing sago caterpillars in the community as an alternative source of animal protein during the pandemic. This research is a descriptive qualitative approach, namely to obtain information about the use of sago caterpillars as a food source. The results of the chemical laboratory analysis of sago caterpillars studied from the Wolasi sub-district of South Konawe Regency showed that the average water content of fresh sago caterpillars was 57.92%, total energy 265.67 kcal, protein 8.52%, total fat 20.07% and carbohydrates 12, 74%. While the mean water content of dry sago caterpillar was 4.31%, total energy was 374.80 kcal, protein was 16.66%, total fat was <0.02% and carbohydrates was 77.04%.. In conclusion, in terms of nutritional content, sago caterpillars have the potential to be an alternative source of animal protein

English

African giant snail is a popular alternative source of animal protein in Ghana and many other countries. The meat is high in lean protein and mineral elements. Ready-to-use meat obtained from snails can compete with animal proteins found on the market. After shelling, snails produced some slime that interfered with preparation and processing of the meat. This study aimed to provide consumers with ready-to-use fresh snails conveniently available on the market. The best treatment for eliminating slime from snails was determined using a 2×10×3 factorial design. Vinegar plus salt treatment was the most effective slime removal treatment which led to a significant weight loss. Irradiation at all doses most effectively reduced the microbial load of snails after slime removal. A 6×4×3 factorial design was used for the shelf-life study. Irradiation at 1.5 and 3 kGy extended the shelf life of fresh snails by 14 extra days with the lowest microbial load. Radiation did not affect the fat and mineral content, but the protein content increased. Panelists preferred irradiated snails even though they had different odours and aromas. This study concluded that irradiating fresh snails even at lower doses can extend the shelf-life of fresh snails under refrigeration temperature.   Key words: Contamination, irradiation, Achatina achatina, A. marginata.

A plant-based diet supplemented with Hermetia illucens alone or in combination with poultry by-product meal: one step closer to sustainable aquafeeds for European seabass

BackgroundIncreasing demand for high-value fish species and pressure on forage fish is challenging aquaculture to ensure sustainable growth by replacing protein sources in aquafeeds with plant and terrestrial animal proteins, without compromising the economic value and quality of the final fish product. In the present study, the effects of a plant protein-based diet (CV), two plant-based diets in which graded amounts of plan protein mixtures were replaced with Hermetia illucens meal alone (VH10) or in combination with poultry by-product meal (PBM) (VH10P30), a fishmeal (FM) diet (CF) and an FM diet supplemented with H. illucens (FH10) on growth performance, gut health and homeostasis of farmed subadult European seabass were tested and compared.ResultsFish fed the VH10 and VH10P30 diets showed the highest specific growth rates and lowest feed conversion ratios among the tested groups. Expectedly, the best preservation of PI morphology was observed in fish fed the CF or FH10 diets, while fish fed the CV diet exhibited significant degenerative changes in the proximal and distal intestines. However, PBM supplementation mitigated these effects and significantly improved all gut morphometric parameters in the VH10P30 group. Partial substitution of the plant mixture with insect meal alone or PBM also induced most BBM genes and activated BBM enzymes, suggesting a beneficial effect on intestinal digestive/absorption functions. Regarding intestinal microbiota, fish fed diets containing H. illucens meal (FH10, VH10, VH10P30) had the highest richness of bacterial communities and abundance of beneficial genera such as Lactobacillus and Bacillus. On the other hand, fish fed CV had the highest microbial diversity but lost a significant component of fish intestinal microbiota, the phylum Bacteroidetes. Finally, skin pigmentation most similar to that of farmed or even wild seabass was also observed in the fish groups fed CF, FH10 or VH10P30.ConclusionPlant-based diets supplemented with PBM and H. illucens pupae meal have great potential as alternative diets for European seabass, without affecting growth performance, gut homeostasis, or overall fitness. This also highlights the importance of animal proteins in diets of European seabass, as the addition of a small amount of these alternative animal protein sources significantly improved all measured parameters.

Black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens, L.) larvae meal improves growth performance, feed efficiency and economic returns of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus, L.) fry

AbstractInsects have been proposed as potential alternative animal protein sources to replace fishmeal (FM), which is expensive and has limited availability for fish feed formulation. However, studies on the effects of replacing FM with black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae (BSF‐L) on growth performance of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fry, water quality and economic benefits are currently limited. This study determined the effects of replacing 100% FM, 75% FM, 50% FM, 25% FM and 0% FM with cheap BSF‐L meal, hereafter referred to as BSF‐L0, BSF‐L25, BSF‐L50, BSF‐L75 and BSF‐L100 diets, respectively for rearing all‐male Nile tilapia fry produced by YY technology. The study further determined the optimum percentage of BSF‐L meal for maximum growth of Nile tilapia fry. A total of 2400 visually healthy Nile tilapia fry weighing 0.001 g were randomly stocked into 20 plastic tanks (120 fry per tank, four replicates per treatment) and fed the BSF‐L diets for 12 weeks. The BSF‐L75 diet increased significantly specific growth rate, total weight gain, Zihler's index of fry and nitrate in the culture water but reduced feed conversion ratio of diet and total suspended solids in the culture water (p < 0.05). Feeding the Nile tilapia fry with BSF‐L50 diet increased significantly hepatosomatic index (p < 0.05). The diets with BSF‐L75 and BSF‐L100 reduced significantly the incidence cost by 31.97% and 28.77% (p < 0.05), and increased profit index by 3.97 and 3.44%, respectively. The optimum percentage of BSF‐L inclusion required for maximum growth performance of Nile tilapia fry was estimated as 81% to 84% based on polynomial analysis. Taken together, feeding Nile tilapia fry with diets containing 81% to 84% BSF‐L meal improved growth performance. The BSF‐L75 diet enhanced feed efficiency and had no deleterious effect on the liver and intestines. Meanwhile, it improved nitrate concentration for increased natural productivity. Incorporating 75% BSF‐L meal in diets for Nile tilapia fry reduced 30% of feed cost leading to 4% higher economic returns.