Use of Hermetia illucens larvae as a dietary protein source: Effects on growth performance, carcass traits, and meat quality in finishing pigs. (December 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yu, Miao; Li, Zhenming; Chen, Weidong; Rong, Ting; Wang, Gang; Li, Jianhao; Ma, Xianyong
• Is Part Of: Meat science. Volume 158(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-12
• Subjects: Meat quality -- Intramuscular fat -- Finishing pigs -- Hermetia illucens larvae -- Lipid metabolism; Meat -- Periodicals; Meat industry and trade -- Periodicals; Viande -- Périodiques; Viande -- Industrie -- Périodiques; Meat; Meat industry and trade; Periodicals; 641.36
• DOI: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2019.05.008
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0309-1740

Abstract

Abstract: This study investigated the effects of feeding Hermetia illucens larvae (0, 4, and 8%; HI0, HI4, and HI8 groups, respectively) on growth performance, carcass traits, and meat quality of finishing pigs. Results showed that the HI4 diet increased ( P < .05) final body weight and average daily gain and decreased ( P < .05) feed to gain ratio compared with HI0 and HI8 group. HI4 and HI8 diets increased ( P < .05) loin-eye area, marbling scores, and inosine monophosphate content of longissimus thoracis (LT) compared with HI0 diet. The intramuscular fat content was greater ( P < .05) in HI4 group than in the HI0 group. Furthermore, HI4 diet up-regulated ( P < .05) lipogenic genes and MyHC-IIa mRNA levels in LT compared with HI0 diet. Our results indicated that dietary inclusion of H. illucens larvae has a beneficial impact on growth performance and meat quality, and the underlying mechanism may be due to the altered lipogenic potential induced by H. illucens larvae. Highlights: Hermetia illucens larvae are evaluated as a diet ingredient for finishing pigs 4% Hermetia illucens larvae increased the ADG, while decreasing F:G 4% H. illucens larvae affected meat quality via up-regulating genes expression related to lipogenic potential in the LT