Effect of rearing substrate on growth performance, waste reduction efficiency and chemical composition of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae1. (26th June 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Meneguz, Marco; Schiavone, Achille; Gai, Francesco; Dama, Andrea; Lussiana, Carola; Renna, Manuela; Gasco, Laura
• Is Part Of: Journal of the science of food and agriculture. Volume 98:Number 15(2018)
• Page Start: 5776
• Page End: 5784
• Publication Date: 2018-06-26
• Subjects: organic waste -- agro‐industrial by‐product -- Hermetia illucens -- animal feed -- crude protein -- fatty acid profile; Food -- Periodicals; Agriculture -- Periodicals; 664
• DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.9127
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-5142

Abstract

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Wastes can be used as rearing substrate by black soldier fly (BSF) larvae, the latter being exploitable as a protein source in animal feed. This research aimed to assess the influence of four rearing substrates (Trial 1 (organic wastes): a mixture of vegetable and fruit (VEGFRU) vs . a mixture of fruits only (FRU); Trial 2 (agro‐industrial by‐products): brewery (BRE) vs . winery (WIN) by‐products) on BSF larvae development, waste reduction efficiency and nutritional composition. RESULTS: If respectively compared to FRU and WIN, VEGFRU and BRE larvae needed less time to reach the prepupal stage (22.0, 22.2, 20.2 and 8.0 days of trial, respectively) and had higher protein content (229.7, 257.3, 312.9 and 395.7 g kg −1 dry matter). The waste reduction index ranged from 2.4 (WIN) to 5.3 g d −1 (BRE). BRE larvae showed the lowest saturated and the highest polyunsaturated fatty acid proportions (612.4 and 260.1 g kg −1 total fatty acids, respectively). CONCLUSION: Vegetable and fruit wastes and winery by‐products can be used as rearing substrates for BSF larval mass production. Brewery by‐products led to very promising larval performance and nutritional composition. However, given BRE limited availability, low BRE dietary inclusion levels could be used with the purpose of increasing larval performance. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry