Substitution potential of black soldier fly larvae meal (Hermetia illucens) for meat bone meal in IPB-D1 chicken diets

Abstract Black soldier fly ( Hermetia illucens ) larvae present a promising and sustainable solution for high protein feed, given their rich nutrient profile and minimal environmental impact. This study examined the effects of substituting meat bone meal (MBM) with black soldier fly larvae meal (BSFLM), both regular and defatted, on the growth performance and feed utilization efficiency of IPB-D1 chickens. Three hundred IPB-D1 day-old chicks were randomly allocated to three treatment diets with 10 replications each; P1 = diet containing 5% MBM, P2 = diet containing 5% BSFLM, and P3 = diet containing 5% defatted BSFLM, reared for 11 weeks. Data of feed intake, body weight gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR), and mortality were collected and analized using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Duncan’s multiple range test. The result indicated that 5% defatted BSFLM increased body weight gain and decreased FCR value compared to 5% MBM and 5% BSFLM diets, with no significant effect on performance except for feed intake. In conclusion, the defatted black soldier fly larvae meal can substitute meat bone meal in IPB-D1 chicken diets.