Blog: Process broiler feed
28 September 2020
The use of black soldier fly larvae in broiler feed
Due to the acute protein shortage in the EU, the protein sources, which are used in animal feed, have been under severe pressure in recent years. By far the most important protein-rich raw material currently used is soy. However, most of this soy is not produced sustainably from an environmental, economic and social perspective.
The use of protein-rich insects in feed is a possible addition to the existing protein-rich raw materials. After all, insects can efficiently convert low-value biomass into high-quality raw materials that can be used as a sustainable and high-quality ingredient in animal feed. Notwithstanding European legislation is clear that insect meal and protein are only permitted for use in pet food and fish feed, research into the effect of using insects in feed for farm animals such as chicken and pig is certainly on the agenda.
In a Flemish Tetra project carried out by Ghent University, Catholic University of Leuven and Thomas Moore Hogeschool Geel (Belgium) in a poultry experiment, 30% of the soy flour present was replaced by BSF flour with an inclusion of 10% dried BSF flour ( at 88% dry matter) in the feed. Feed production was carried out via steam conditioning and pelleting. Three types of feed were compared, namely conventional feed, feed with BSF meal and feed with defatted BSF meal. Feed production as well as the growth experiments were performed under strict conditions in accordance with legislation.
The use of protein-rich insects in feed is a possible addition to the existing protein-rich raw materials
Both the growth performance and the quality of the chicken meat were assessed. The trial was performed in duplicate over two years. In both experiments, no effects were observed for any feed, neither on the zootechnical results of the animals (Figure 1), nor on consumer appreciation of the chicken meat (Figure 2).
Naturally, other matters also count before use can become a fact, in particular the microbial and chemical safety of the insect meal, the tracing of the insect feeds and substrates and the acceptance of the consumer and the farmer.
Figure 1. Zootechnical results of broilers (weight, feed intake and feed conversion ratio) after feeding a conventional soy-containing feed, a feed with 10% BSF meal to replace soy and a feed with defatted BSF meal.
Figure 2. Sensory appreciation of chicken meat (breast) from chickens fed conventional feed (red); feed with 10% dried BSF larvae and feed with degreased, dried BSF larvae.
