Dietary inclusion of black soldier fly larvae as a partial protein source: effects on growth performance, carcass traits and meat quality of broilers

Key Points

• The aim is to evaluate the effects of black soldier fly larvae as a partial protein source on broiler growth performance and meat quality.
• Broilers were fed diets containing varying amounts of black soldier fly larvae as a protein source.
• Growth performance, carcass traits, and meat quality were assessed post-harvest.
• Microbial composition and gene expression related to muscle development were analyzed.
• Dietary inclusion of black soldier fly larvae improved gut microbial composition and muscle development conditional on diet type.
• Broilers fed with larvae showed enhanced growth performance and carcass traits compared to traditional protein sources.
• Inclusion of BSF altered the fatty acid profile of breast meat, impacting its quality.