Black Soldier Fly Larvae’s Optimal Feed Intake and Rearing Density: A Welfare Perspective (Part II)
The large-scale insect rearing sector is expected to grow significantly in the next few years, with <i>Hermetia illucens</i> L. (black soldier fly, BSF) playing a pivotal role. As with traditional livestock, it is essential to improve and ensure BSF welfare. A starting point can be an ad...
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MDPI AG
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Insects |
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| author | Arianna Cattaneo Simona Belperio Luca Sardi Giovanna Martelli Eleonora Nannoni Sihem Dabbou Marco Meneguz |
| author_facet | Arianna Cattaneo Simona Belperio Luca Sardi Giovanna Martelli Eleonora Nannoni Sihem Dabbou Marco Meneguz |
| author_sort | Arianna Cattaneo |
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| description | The large-scale insect rearing sector is expected to grow significantly in the next few years, with <i>Hermetia illucens</i> L. (black soldier fly, BSF) playing a pivotal role. As with traditional livestock, it is essential to improve and ensure BSF welfare. A starting point can be an adaptation of the Five Freedoms framework. Feed availability must be optimized to meet larvae nutritional needs (freedom from hunger) while maximizing substrate conversion efficiency. Similarly, rearing density needs to be optimized to ensure well-being, particularly in large-scale operations. In this study, Control (commercial laying hen feed) and Omnivorous substrates (vegetable and meat) were used as dietary regimes. In the first trial, three feeding rates were tested: 50, 100, and 200 mg feed/larva/day; in the second trial, three rearing densities were evaluated: 5, 10, and 15 larvae/cm<sup>2</sup>. Performance parameters, including final larval weight, final frass biomass, growth rate, substrate reduction, feed conversion ratio, larval length, survival rate, larvae chemical composition, and process optimization, were studied. Our results show that a feeding rate of approximately 90 mg feed/larva/day in the Omnivorous diet and 175 mg feed/larva/day in the Control diet, along with a rearing density of 5 and 7.57 larvae/cm<sup>2</sup>, respectively, in the Omnivorous and Control diets, produced optimal growth performances ensuring larval well-being. This outcome offers valuable insights for implementing good welfare practices in the insect farming sector and optimizing rearing management and efficiency. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8b52056e01dc43448a078da36a614dd6 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2075-4450 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Insects |
| spelling | doaj-art-8b52056e01dc43448a078da36a614dd62025-01-24T13:35:33ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502024-12-01161510.3390/insects16010005Black Soldier Fly Larvae’s Optimal Feed Intake and Rearing Density: A Welfare Perspective (Part II)Arianna Cattaneo0Simona Belperio1Luca Sardi2Giovanna Martelli3Eleonora Nannoni4Sihem Dabbou5Marco Meneguz6Center Agriculture Food Environment (C3A), University of Trento, 38098 San Michele All’Adige, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Sciences (DIMEVET), University of Bologna, 40064 Ozzano dell’Emilia, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Sciences (DIMEVET), University of Bologna, 40064 Ozzano dell’Emilia, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Sciences (DIMEVET), University of Bologna, 40064 Ozzano dell’Emilia, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Sciences (DIMEVET), University of Bologna, 40064 Ozzano dell’Emilia, ItalyCenter Agriculture Food Environment (C3A), University of Trento, 38098 San Michele All’Adige, ItalyBEF Biosystems s.r.l., 10156 Torino, ItalyThe large-scale insect rearing sector is expected to grow significantly in the next few years, with <i>Hermetia illucens</i> L. (black soldier fly, BSF) playing a pivotal role. As with traditional livestock, it is essential to improve and ensure BSF welfare. A starting point can be an adaptation of the Five Freedoms framework. Feed availability must be optimized to meet larvae nutritional needs (freedom from hunger) while maximizing substrate conversion efficiency. Similarly, rearing density needs to be optimized to ensure well-being, particularly in large-scale operations. In this study, Control (commercial laying hen feed) and Omnivorous substrates (vegetable and meat) were used as dietary regimes. In the first trial, three feeding rates were tested: 50, 100, and 200 mg feed/larva/day; in the second trial, three rearing densities were evaluated: 5, 10, and 15 larvae/cm<sup>2</sup>. Performance parameters, including final larval weight, final frass biomass, growth rate, substrate reduction, feed conversion ratio, larval length, survival rate, larvae chemical composition, and process optimization, were studied. Our results show that a feeding rate of approximately 90 mg feed/larva/day in the Omnivorous diet and 175 mg feed/larva/day in the Control diet, along with a rearing density of 5 and 7.57 larvae/cm<sup>2</sup>, respectively, in the Omnivorous and Control diets, produced optimal growth performances ensuring larval well-being. This outcome offers valuable insights for implementing good welfare practices in the insect farming sector and optimizing rearing management and efficiency.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/1/5black soldier flyinsect rearingfeeding raterearing densitywelfare |
| spellingShingle | Arianna Cattaneo Simona Belperio Luca Sardi Giovanna Martelli Eleonora Nannoni Sihem Dabbou Marco Meneguz Black Soldier Fly Larvae’s Optimal Feed Intake and Rearing Density: A Welfare Perspective (Part II) Insects black soldier fly insect rearing feeding rate rearing density welfare |
| title | Black Soldier Fly Larvae’s Optimal Feed Intake and Rearing Density: A Welfare Perspective (Part II) |
| title_full | Black Soldier Fly Larvae’s Optimal Feed Intake and Rearing Density: A Welfare Perspective (Part II) |
| title_fullStr | Black Soldier Fly Larvae’s Optimal Feed Intake and Rearing Density: A Welfare Perspective (Part II) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Black Soldier Fly Larvae’s Optimal Feed Intake and Rearing Density: A Welfare Perspective (Part II) |
| title_short | Black Soldier Fly Larvae’s Optimal Feed Intake and Rearing Density: A Welfare Perspective (Part II) |
| title_sort | black soldier fly larvae s optimal feed intake and rearing density a welfare perspective part ii |
| topic | black soldier fly insect rearing feeding rate rearing density welfare |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/1/5 |
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