Partial Replacement of Soybean Meal with Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) Larva Meal Maintains Stable Reproductive Performance and Health Status of Sows and Their Offsprings

The objective of this study was to evaluate the responses of the reproductive performance, milk composition, and blood profile of sows, as well as the performance of their offspring when their dietary soybean meal is partially replaced by black soldier fly <i>Hermetia illucens</i> larva meal (BSFLM). A total of 18 multiparous (Landrace × Yorkshire) Duroc mated sows were randomly allocated to one of three dietary treatments based on parity from gestation to lactation on day 21. Each treatment has six replications. The dietary treatments were as follows: CON, basal diet based on corn-soybean meal; BSFLM1, basal diet soybean meal partially replaced with BSFLM (0.5% of diet); BSFLM2, basal diet soybean meal partially replaced with BSFLM (1.0% of diet). Our results revealed that sows fed with 0.5% of BSFLM had significantly increased (<i>p</i> < 0.05) BW at the initial and weaning period. Also, the BSFLM2 group sows showed significantly increased (<i>p</i> < 0.05) backfat thickness at weaning. Compared to CON, piglets born from the BSFLM group sows showed a tendency (<i>p</i> > 0.1) of having increased BW (at initial and at weaning) and ADG. Furthermore, sows fed with 0.5% BSFLM showed a tendency (<i>p</i> > 0.1) of having increased protein and fat % in milk at week 1. The serum concentration of IGF-1 was significantly <i>(p</i> < 0.05) increased in the BSFLM1 group sows compared to the BSFLM 2 group sows initially and it was equalized at weaning. In summary, partial replacement of soybean meals with 0.5% and 1% BSFLM could be beneficial for improving the reproductive traits, milk composition, and health status of sows and their offsprings.