THE IMPACT OF BLACK SOLDIER FLY LARVAE IN THE DIET ON DUCK PRODUCTIVITY: AN EVALUATION OF THE POTENTIAL OF ALTERNATIVE PROTEIN SOURCES

In recent years, increasing attention has been directed toward the search for sustainable and efficient alternative protein sources in animal nutrition. Among such alternatives, Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL) have gained particular interest due to their high protein content, favorable amino acid profile, and capacity for sustainable production. The integration of BSFL into traditional feed formulations is considered a promising strategy for enhancing growth performance and optimizing feed resource utilization. The present study was conducted to evaluate the impact of dietary supplementation with BSFL on the productive performance of the experimental subjects over a 49-day rearing period. Four groups were formed, each with an equal distribution of males and females, to ensure balanced representation of sex and age groups and to minimize biological variation. The control group received a standard feed mixture based on the primary recipe, while the three experimental groups were fed the same basal diet supplemented with 2%, 4%, and 6% BSFL, respectively. The aim of the experiment was to evaluate the dose-dependent effect of the inclusion of larvae of black lion flies on productivity, in particular on slaughter performance. The findings of this study are expected to contribute to a deeper understanding of the role of insect-based protein sources in animal nutrition and to provide practical recommendations for their application in feed formulations