Search Results (556)

This study investigated whether black soldier fly larvae meal (BSFL; Hermetia illucens L.) produced on polyphenol-rich agro-industrial by-products could enhance broiler meat lipid quality and oxidative stability during refrigerated storage. A total of 200 one-day-old Arbor Acres broilers were allocated to five dietary treatments: control diet, 5% standard full-fat BSFL meal, 10% standard full-fat BSFL meal, 10% full-fat BSFL meals produced on olive leaf and spent tea residues, and 10% defatted BSFL meal. Compared with standard full-fat BSFL meal, the olive leaf–spent tea BSFL meal showed markedly higher total phenolic content (6.74 vs. 1.82 mg GAE/g DM), DPPH radical-scavenging activity (54.80 vs. 22.40%) and ABTS antioxidant capacity (38.20 vs. 15.60 umol TE/g DM), together with lower peroxide value (1.46 vs. 2.38 meq O₂/kg lipid) and TBARS (0.24 vs. 0.39 mg MDA/kg meal). Also, when compared with 10% standard full-fat BSFL meal, the olive leaf–spent tea BSFL meal improved final body weight (2592.8 vs. 2511.6 g) and feed conversion ratio (1.53 vs. 1.58). Breast meat from this group contained higher oleic acid (40.52 vs. 37.48%) and a-linolenic acid (1.72 vs. 1.29%), while showing a lower n-6/n-3 ratio (11.81 vs. 14.49) and thrombogenicity index (0.78 vs. 0.92). After 10 days of refrigerated storage, breast meat from birds fed the polyphenol-enriched BSFL meal showed markedly lower oxidative deterioration, as indicated by reduced TBARS values (0.60 vs. 1.12 mg MDA/kg), protein carbonyl formation (2.16 vs. 3.35 nmol/mg protein) and hexanal abundance (5.10 vs. 11.90 a.u.; internal-standard-normalized peak area). This treatment also better-preserved redness, as reflected by higher CIE values (3.52 vs. 2.40), compared to the control group. Overall, these results suggest that substrate-tailored BSFL meal may serve as a functional feed ingredient for improving the lipid quality of broilers’ breast meat and delaying oxidation-driven quality deterioration during refrigerated storage. Full article

Industrial black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) production commonly relies on stacked tray systems, yet little is known about how tray position and biological load influence production heterogeneity. This study evaluated whether different initial biological loads, imposed by varying the initial larval mass while maintaining a constant numerical density, together with tray position, influence larval biomass and dry frass production. Same-age third-instar larvae were seeded at a constant density of 9000 larvae per tray under five biological-load treatments (29, 54, 64, 97 and 200 g tray⁻¹, fresh weight basis). Initial biological load affected wet larval biomass, dry larval biomass, and dry frass production. However, higher initial biological load did not produce proportional gains in final biomass. The lowest initial biological load resulted in the greatest final wet larval biomass (3.54 kg tray⁻¹) whereas the highest initial biological load resulted in only 1.75 kg tray⁻¹ ($p=0.025$). Intermediate tray positions produced significantly greater wet larval biomass than the bottom tray. Mean substrate temperature did not differ among tray positions, whereas moisture declined over time and varied by position. These findings demonstrate that production consistency in stacked H. illucens rearing systems depends not only on biological load but also on tray-level microenvironmental heterogeneity, providing practical guidance for the design and management of industrial stacked-rearing systems. Full article

Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL; Hermetia illucens) oil and flaxseed oil provide contrasting fatty acid profiles and may serve as alternative lipid feed materials in ruminant nutrition. This study assessed low-α-linolenic/high-linoleic flaxseed oil, BSFL oil, and their blends using an in vitro rumen fermentation screening with pooled bovine rumen inoculum and a randomized prepartum feeding trial in 32 twin- or triplet-bearing Olkuska ewes. In vitro, the single oils and a 1:1 blend were evaluated at two inclusion levels; total VFA concentration was unchanged, whereas propionate proportion, the acetate-to-propionate ratio, methane, ammonia, and incubation-fluid fatty acid profiles showed treatment-dependent responses. In vivo, an unsupplemented control was compared with flaxseed oil, BSFL oil, and a 2:1 blend supplied at 30 g/day for 21 days before expected parturition. Colostrum fat concentration differed among treatments (p = 0.036); the 2:1 blend group had a higher value than the control group (11.29% vs. 8.26%; Dunnett-adjusted p < 0.05), while major fatty acid classes did not differ. Supplementation was also associated with differences in selected minor colostrum fatty acids and several serum metabolic variables. Colostrum yield was not measured; therefore, this finding reflects fat concentration rather than total colostrum fat output. Serum total antioxidant status (TAS) was unaffected, while a treatment-by-time interaction was observed for γ-glutamyl transferase. The tested plant- and insect-derived oils therefore modified ruminal lipid transformations and selected maternal and colostrum traits without a detectable change in TAS. Full article

Efficient nitrogen (N) management in calcareous soils remains challenging due to limited nutrient availability, poor synchronization between N supply and crop demand, and low fertilizer use efficiency. While black soldier fly frass (BSFF) represents an emerging organic amendment, its comparative effects relative to vermicompost (VC) and mineral N fertilizers under calcareous soil conditions remain insufficiently understood. In this study, we evaluated the effects of BSFF- and VC-based integrated organic–mineral fertilization strategies involving urea (U) and ammonium sulfate (AS) on maize productivity, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), and selected soil chemical properties. A two-year field experiment was conducted at Quzhou Experimental Station, China Agricultural University, using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with nine treatments: unfertilized control (CK), sole mineral fertilizers (U and AS), sole organic amendments (BSFF and VC), and integrated combinations (UBSFF, UVC, ASBSFF, and ASVC). All fertilizer treatments received 180 kg N ha⁻¹ and were replicated three times. Our results showed that ASBSFF increased maize grain yield by 101.9–114.6% compared with CK across both growing seasons, while ASVC increased yield by 92.5–103.9%. ASBSFF also resulted in the highest N uptake, increasing it by 121.3% compared with CK, and achieved the highest agronomic efficiency (26.01–27.51 kg grain kg⁻¹ N applied), apparent recovery efficiency (63.2%), and physiological efficiency (57.13–59.18 kg grain kg⁻¹ N uptake). BSFF-based integrated treatments increased soil NH₄⁺-N, NO₃⁻-N, available phosphorus, and available potassium compared with VC-based treatments, likely due to differences in nutrient composition between BSFF and VC. Overall, combining BSFF with mineral N fertilizers, particularly AS, improved maize productivity and NUE in calcareous soils, demonstrating its potential as a sustainable nutrient management strategy. Full article

Lauric acid (LA), a medium-chain fatty acid abundant in coconut oil and Hermetia illucens larvae, has been reported to promote growth performance and exhibit antimicrobial and immunostimulatory properties. This review examines current studies on its effects on growth performance, intestinal health, microbiota modulation, and immune responses in aquatic species. Studies in finfish and crustaceans were evaluated according to the LA source, distinguishing purified LA, LA derivatives such as monoglycerides, and LA rich ingredients, when considering LA rich ingredients. Overall, LA was associated with changes in growth performance, feed efficiency, survival, intestinal morphology, gut microbiota, and immune and antioxidant responses, although effects varied with source, dose, species, and experimental conditions. Reported effects include increased villus height and goblet cell density, modulation of gut microbiota, altered cytokine expression, increased antioxidant enzyme activity, and reduced lipid peroxidation. Overall, LA appears to be a promising functional component in aquafeeds for finfish and crustacean species. Nevertheless, inconsistent experimental designs, differences in LA sources, and species-specific responses make direct comparisons among studies difficult. Further studies that use standardized experimental protocols, including consistent LA sources, dietary inclusion levels, trial durations and evaluation criteria, are needed to define optimal inclusion levels in different aquatic species. Full article

Several global challenges are converging: rising organic solid waste generation, growing food demand, and increasingly unfavorable conditions for food production, including more frequent and severe droughts, water scarcity, and limited agricultural land for expansion. Bioconverting organic waste into alternative protein sources has emerged as a promising strategy to address waste management and feed production challenges simultaneously. This study presents a comprehensive systematic literature review on protein production through the bioconversion of residual biomass using the black soldier fly (BSF, Hermetia illucens). The BSF is a highly voracious organism during its larval stage and can substantially reduce organic waste volumes while converting them into biomass rich in proteins and lipids with high nutritional value for livestock and aquaculture feed formulations. The review examines Waste-to-Protein systems from three perspectives: technical, economic, and environmental. The technical perspective focuses on production system operations and substrate properties. The economic perspective addresses profitability indicators, capital and operating costs, economies of scale, and the economic performance of incorporating insect-derived protein into animal production systems. From an environmental perspective, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is the predominant method for evaluating WtP-BSF systems. Among the systems assessed using LCA, 63% rely on crop-derived substrates for larval feeding. These substrates have intrinsic commercial value, and together with the environmental burdens associated with energy consumption during BSFL rearing, they may constrain the overall sustainability and profitability of WtP-BSF systems. By evaluating factors such as feed dosage, larval density, actual organic waste, and eco-efficiency metrics for livestock feed, opportunities for a circular economy could be developed in developing countries, helping to decrease dependence on landfills. Full article

Black soldier fly larvae meal has emerged as a sustainable alternative to fishmeal (FM) in aquafeeds. However, the use of full-fat black soldier fly larvae meal (FF-BSFL) may be limited by its relatively high lipid and chitin contents, which could affect nutrient digestibility and fish performance. This study determined the apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs) of FF-BSFL and evaluated the effects of replacing 0%, 30%, 60%, and 100% of FM with FF-BSFL in diets for juvenile pacu (Piaractus brachypomus). A 60-day feeding trial was conducted using 320 juvenile pacu (initial weight: 3.0 g) to evaluate growth performance, serum biochemical parameters, and intestinal histomorphology. The results showed high ADCs for protein (88.76%), lipids (97.09%), and gross energy (85.96%) in FF-BSFL. Fish fed the diet containing 30% FM replacement exhibited growth performance comparable to the control group. However, replacement levels of 60% and 100% significantly reduced growth and feed efficiency. Furthermore, high fishmeal replacement levels decreased mucosal thickness and muscularis thickness, reduced goblet cell abundance, and increased serum triglyceride concentrations and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity. In conclusion, FF-BSFL was highly digestible for juvenile pacu. Replacement of up to 30% of FM maintained growth performance and intestinal integrity, whereas higher replacement levels negatively affected growth performance and intestinal health. Full article

Microbial contamination remains a major challenge in food systems, creating demand for stable natural antimicrobials. This study investigates the inducible antibacterial response of Hermetia illucens and characterized the black soldier fly defensin-like peptide DLP4. Larvae were challenged with Staphylococcus aureus or Escherichia coli, and hemolymph activity, antimicrobial-peptide gene expression, C18 solid-phase extraction fractions, and LC–MS/MS profiles were evaluated. Synthetic mature DLP4 was further assessed for antibacterial spectrum, physicochemical stability, and structural properties. Hemolymph antibacterial activity varied with treatment and time, while DLP4 and CLP1 showed distinct transcriptional responses. Antibacterial activity was concentrated in early fractions, with F3 showing the greatest activity. LC–MS/MS detected a conserved DLP-family motif and a cysteine-rich defensin-like peptide in F3, whereas the complete 40-amino-acid sequence of synthetic DLP4 was confirmed. DLP4 showed strong, strain-dependent activity against Gram-positive bacteria, including Bacillus subtilis, Listeria ivanovii, and Staphylococcus spp., while no MIC endpoint was detected for the tested E. coli strains. DLP4 retained substantial activity after heat, ultraviolet, storage, pH, NaCl, and most metal-ion treatments, although Fe³⁺ reduced activity. These findings support DLP4 as a stable, Gram-positive-active antimicrobial candidate for further evaluation in food systems. Full article

To evaluate the economic and ecological potential of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) slurry as a fishmeal alternative, 270 juvenile Pangasius (initial body weight: 7.20 ± 0.07 g) were acclimated for two weeks and randomly allocated to three dietary treatments (T0, T1, T2), with three biological replicates per treatment. The feeding trial lasted six weeks (42 days). Fish in T0 were fed the basal diet, while T1 and T2 diets replaced 50% and 100% of fishmeal with BSFL on an isonitrogenous basis, respectively. At trial termination, whole-body proximate composition, muscle texture, and intestinal microbiota were analyzed. BSFL inclusion at 50–100% fishmeal replacement did not compromise growth performance. Moisture and ash content did not differ among treatments (p > 0.05), whereas BSFL supplementation significantly altered muscle texture, reducing hardness and resilience while increasing springiness, chewiness, cohesiveness, and adhesiveness. Both 50% and 100% BSFL replacement enhanced hepatic antioxidant capacity, evidenced by significantly higher superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity (p < 0.05). BSFL also modulated intestinal microbiota and enhanced community evenness, though without significant intergroup differences in bacterial abundance (p > 0.05). This study demonstrated that BSFL could replace 50–100% of fishmeal in diets for juvenile Pangasius, maintaining growth performance while modifying nutritional profiles, muscle texture, hepatic antioxidant status, and intestinal microbiota. Nevertheless, 100% fishmeal replacement triggered distinct shifts in intestinal microbial composition despite satisfactory growth, and the 50% substitution level was, therefore, recommended as a safe proportion for practical aquafeeds. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of partially (50%) or completely (100%) replacing soybean oil with Hermetia illucens larvae fat (HI fat) in diets for laying hens on productive performance, egg quality, yolk lipid composition, and ovarian follicle characteristics during a 20-week feeding period. Sixty Lohmann LSL Classic hens were randomly allocated to three dietary treatments (Control, HI50, and HI100; n = 20 hens per treatment). Due to space limitations within the experimental facility, each treatment was housed in a single pen, which precluded statistical analysis of production performance data. Nevertheless, descriptive evaluation revealed no obvious differences in laying rate, egg weight, egg mass, feed intake, or feed conversion ratio among the dietary treatments. Most egg quality traits, including albumen height, Haugh units, shell strength, and yolk color, remained unaffected, although minor transient differences were detected at individual sampling time points. Dietary treatments altered yolk fatty acid composition, reflecting the fatty acid profile of the experimental diets. Replacement of soybean oil with HI fat increased the proportions of saturated fatty acids, particularly lauric (C12:0), myristic (C14:0), and palmitic acids (C16:0), while reducing both n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. In conclusion, the findings of this exploratory study indicate that HI fat may have potential as an alternative lipid source in layer diets. Under the conditions of the present experiment, no obvious adverse effects on productive performance, egg quality, or ovarian follicle characteristics were observed. However, because each dietary treatment was represented by a single pen, the results should be interpreted with caution and require confirmation in studies with replicated experimental units. Full article

Fruit and vegetable waste (FVW) from large-scale retail is an abundant, relatively homogeneous feedstock for black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae, an alternative to composting. This study assessed, by life cycle assessment (LCA), the environmental performance of a pilot plant producing 15-day-old larvae as animal protein and tested whether the additive conditioning of the FVW changes that performance. Three substrates were compared (FVW with 20% bakery waste, 20% bran, and 2% sawdust, respectively) using climate change (GWP100a, IPCC 2007), economic allocation, Monte Carlo simulation, and transport distance sensitivity. The scenario ranking depended on the functional unit: per Mg of waste, the sawdust substrate was lowest (39.75 kg CO₂eq), whereas, per kg of protein, the bran substrate was best (8.87 kg CO₂eq, ~66% below bakery waste). Electricity, additive, and starter diet dominated the footprint. The conditioning additive, not the waste itself, governed sustainability; the bran–bakery waste difference was statistically discernible. Full article

Wenchang chicken, a premium indigenous yellow-feathered broiler in China, faces production constraints due to high feed costs and soybean meal dependence. Black soldier fly larvae meal (BSFLM) is a promising alternative protein source, but its effects on Wenchang chickens are largely unknown. This study evaluated the effects of dietary BSFLM on growth performance, meat quality, intestinal health, and cecal microbiota. A total of 192 fifty-day-old female Wenchang chickens were randomly assigned to diets with 0%, 5%, 10%, or 15% full-fat BSFLM for 42 days. The 15% BSFLM inclusion increased final body weight (p < 0.05) while reducing the feed conversion ratio (p < 0.01) and feed cost per kg gain (p < 0.001). Regarding meat quality, 15% BSFLM enhanced redness (a*) and reduced shear force, 48 h drip loss, and cooking loss (p < 0.05). It also elevated antioxidant enzyme activities, upregulated Nrf2–Keap1, improved intestinal villus architecture and tight junction proteins, and reduced serum diamine oxidase (p < 0.05). Cecal microbiota underwent distinct restructuring, with dose-dependent proliferation of beneficial taxa. Overall, BSFLM exerts beneficial effects on the feed efficiency, meat quality, and intestinal health of Wenchang chickens, and the 15% inclusion level achieved relatively better comprehensive outcomes. This study provides a scientific reference for insect protein utilization and contributes to sustainable high-quality Wenchang chicken production. Full article

Insect protein farming offers sustainable advantages in land efficiency, emission reductions, and bioconversion, yet optimizing the nutrient composition remains a major challenge for cost-effective production. This study investigates the co-regulatory mechanism between alkali-soluble protein (SpA) and the gut microbiota in black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) and their effect on protein conversion efficiency. Feeding trials with varying alfalfa/SpA ratios identified a wheat middlings/alfalfa meal blend at a (5:0 ratio) as optimal for promoting larval protein accumulation. SDS-PAGE and 16S rRNA analyses revealed a strong positive correlation between SpA and larval crude protein (R² = 0.82). The network analysis and Pearson correlation heatmap further confirmed positive correlations among SpA, larval protein, Enterococcus, and Ignatzschineria (p < 0.05), suggesting that high SpA in the substrate was associated with the enrichment of these taxa, which synergistically enhanced proteolysis through alkaline protease secretion (R² = 0.85) and chitinase-mediated gut remodeling. Multi-linear regression modeling verified SpA as a superior predictor of the crude protein content compared with total nitrogen (TN), improving the model’s coefficient of determination (R²) from 0.40 to 0.82. These findings highlight SpA’s higher bioavailability and its direct role in metabolic utilization. By integrating the feed composition, microbiome function, and host metabolism, this study established a regulatory network driving larval protein biosynthesis. The targeted modulation of dietary SpA content may offer a promising approach to enhance beneficial microbial communities and improve protein conversion efficiency in BSFL-rearing systems. These findings provide a theoretical basis for optimizing feed formulations to support sustainable insect protein production from organic waste. Full article

Heavy metals (HMs) and rare earth elements (REEs) increasingly co-occur in environmental waste streams and soils, yet their comparative neurotoxic mechanisms and sublethal effects on invertebrate decomposers remain poorly understood. This study used black soldier fly larvae (BSFL, Hermetia illucens) to perform a comparative behavioral and transcriptomic assessment of 23 HMs and 16 REEs across two acute exposure concentrations. High-throughput video tracking and phenomic analysis showed HMs produced broader disruption than REEs, with low-concentration HMs inducing locomotor suppression, thigmotaxis, reduced fractal dimension and entropy, progressing to severe motor inhibition and rigid low-entropy states. In contrast, REEs showed a biphasic profile, shifting from selective locomotor suppression with preserved organization at low concentrations to hyperactive, fragmented, high-entropy movement with increased thigmotaxis at high concentrations. PCA and hierarchical clustering integrated endpoints into four neurobehavioral fingerprints segregating metal class and concentration, with partial overlap of high-concentration REEs with HMs along a shared high-toxicity axis. Transcriptomic profiling showed that cobalt as a representative HM activated DNA damage and cell-cycle pathways, perturbed energy signaling, and suppressed neuroactive ligand–receptor interaction, whereas samarium as a representative REE downregulated xenobiotic metabolism, oxidative phosphorylation, glutathione metabolism, and synaptic vesicle cycling. These findings demonstrate distinct concentration-dependent neurotoxic modes of action for HMs and REEs and establish BSFL behavioral phenomics integrated with transcriptomics as a mechanistically informative platform for ecological risk assessment in contaminated waste systems. Full article

Bioconversion of chicken manure by Hermetia illucens (black soldier fly, BSF) larvae offers a sustainable route for organic waste disposal and protein production, yet how carbon source bioavailability regulates this process remains unclear. We conducted 13-day trials on chicken manure across 27 combinations of three supplement-to-manure mixing ratios (SMMRs, 3:1, 1:1, and 1:3, dry weight basis) and nine carbon blends (sawdust, straw, and corn flour). Measured endpoints included larval yield, substrate temperature dynamics, GHG emissions, global warming potential (GWP), ammonia volatilization, carbon–nitrogen fixation, and frass characteristics. Carbon source identity showed a much stronger association with performance than did the manure-to-supplement mixing ratio. Dry-basis larval yield ranged from 3.5% to 13.2% (mean 7.4%), total GWP ranged from 5105.6 to 8737.2 mg kg⁻¹, and ammonia emissions from 419.6 to 1114.1 mg kg⁻¹. Optimal larval yield was combined with a 3:1 SMMR with corn-flour-rich blends, which boosted productivity and C-N retention. Labile carbon was associated with enhanced lipogenesis, amino acid accumulation, C-N sequestration, and reduced GHG emissions. In contrast, recalcitrant carbon (sawdust) restricted degradation, intensified microbial competition, and induced energy shortage and nutrient losses, impairing conversion efficiency. These findings are consistent with carbon bioavailability rather than C/N, being a key correlate of BSF performance through energy–microbe–substrate interactions. We further propose that substrate formulation targeting labile carbon enrichment can serve as a practical strategy to simultaneously improve larval production and mitigate environmental impacts, though the inferred mechanisms await direct microbiological validation. Full article