Evaluation of black soldier fly larvae oil in broiler diets: effects on growth performance, meat quality, and fatty acid profile

The objective of this experiment was to investigate black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) oil as a sustainable energy source in broiler diets by comparing its effects with those of soybean oil and tallow. A total of 180 1-d-old broiler chickens were randomly allotted to 1 of 3 dietary treatments with 5 replicates. Each replicate had consisted of 6 male and 6 female birds. Experimental diets were formulated to contain 3% of either soybean oil, tallow, and BSFL oil. These diets were provided on an ad libitum basis for 5 wk. Results indicated that replacing soybean oil and tallow with BSFL oil had no significant effects on growth performance, relative organ weight, stress indicator, liver antioxidant, jejunal morphology, jejunal permeability, and animal welfare assessment among treatment groups. However, broiler chickens fed diets containing BSFL oil and tallow had less (<italic>P</italic> < 0.05) of 24 h postmortem pH than those fed diets containing soybean oil. For meat color, redness values were greater (<italic>P</italic> < 0.05) in the soybean oil group than in the other groups. The BSFL oil group showed greater (<italic>P</italic> < 0.05) saturated fatty acid concentrations in the breast meat than the soybean oil and tallow groups. On the other hand, the soybean oil and tallow groups had greater (<italic>P</italic> < 0.05) unsaturated fatty acid concentrations in the breast meat than the BSFL oil group. The BSFL oil group had greater (<italic>P</italic> < 0.05) docosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid in the breast meat than the other groups. Serum aspartate aminotransferase concentration was greater (<italic>P</italic> < 0.05) in the BSFL oil group than in the soybean oil group, while serum uric acid concentration was less (<italic>P</italic> < 0.05) in the BSFL oil group than in the tallow and soybean oil groups. These results suggest that BSFL oil can be used as an alternative energy source in broiler diets without affecting growth performance, but influencing meat quality and fatty acid profiles.