PSXVI-13 - Standardized Ileal Digestibility of Amino Acids in Fish Meal, Defatted Black Soldier Fly Larva Meal and Adult Black Soldier Fly Fed to Pigs

Abstract: The objective was to determine standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of crude protein (CP) and amino acids (AA) in fish meal, defatted black soldier fly (BSF; Hermetia illucens) larva meal, and adult BSF fed to pigs. Eight barrows with an initial body weight of 72.6 kg (SD = 10.4) fitted with T-cannulas in the distal ileum were individually housed in pens that were equipped with a feeder and a nipple drinker. The pigs were allotted to a replicated 4 × 5 incomplete Latin square design with 4 diets and 5 periods. Three experimental diets containing fish meal (68.6% CP, 5.24% Lys, and 7.5% ether extract), defatted BSF larva meal (59.5% CP, 3.82% Lys, and 7.6% ether extract), and adult BSF (59.0% CP, 2.80% Lys, and 26.8% ether extract) as the sole source of AA were prepared. Additionally, a nitrogen-free diet was formulated to determine the basal endogenous losses of CP and AA. All diets contained 0.5% chromium oxide as an indigestible index. Each period consisted of 4 days of adaptation and 2 days of ileal digesta collection. The SID of CP in defatted BSF larva meal was less (73.8% vs. 88.3%; P < 0.05) than that in fish meal but was greater (P < 0.05) than that in adult BSF (56.1%). The SID of all indispensable AA except for Met and Phe in defatted BSF larva meal was less (P < 0.05) than that in fish meal. The SID of all AA in defatted BSF larva meal was greater (P < 0.05) than that in adult BSF. In conclusion, AA in defatted BSF larva meal are less digestible than those in fish meal when fed to pigs but are more digestible than those in in adult BSF.