The effects of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens L.) on the sustainable poultry nutrition production systems

Abstract

The rapid increase in humans’ population, changing dietary patterns, and increasing competition between food and feed production spotlight the crucial need for the search of new sustainable food production chains. Intensive research has been carried out on the use of different protein sources as in the livestock diets, however, there are still limits on the suitability of amino acid profiles, nutrient availability, and yield.  Consequently, there is a necessity for new, sustainable, and easy-to-produce substitute protein sources for the modern industry production. Insects do not compete with humans for resources, and they efficiently utilize organic waste to grow. Recently, insect products have gained increasing attention as a new animal’s protein and fat alternative for the animal’s feed. In this line, the black soldier fly (BSF) meals have been highlighted as a solution in the livestock, particularly, poultry production. In the poultry feeding systems, BSF could be directly incorporated in diets as larva, powder, or oil to improve the general health conditions of birds. Therefore, this article was designed to investigate the different impacts of adding BSF to the diets of poultry regarding the performance, carcass traits, gut health, mortalities, blood parameters, immunity, as well as the oxidant and microbial status of the fed birds.