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Growth performance, meat quality, cecal microbiota and metabolomics profile of turkeys fed diets containing black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) meal

Summary

Researchers tested using black soldier fly meal as a protein source in turkey feed to replace traditional soybean meal. Turkeys fed diets containing 5% BSF meal from mid-growth to slaughter showed better growth and weight gain with minimal changes to meat quality. The improvements appeared to be linked to beneficial changes in gut chemistry rather than changes in gut bacteria, making BSF meal a promising sustainable protein alternative for poultry farming.

Background

The use of insect-derived protein meals represents a sustainable alternative to conventional protein sources like soybean meal in poultry nutrition. Black soldier fly (BSF) larvae meal has been extensively studied in broiler chickens but research in turkeys remains limited. This study addresses the need for comprehensive evaluation of BSF meal in modern turkey hybrids.

Objective

To evaluate the effects of dietary inclusion of defatted BSF larvae meal on growth performance, breast meat quality traits, cecal microbiota composition, and metabolomics profile of female turkeys. The study aimed to provide robust data on BSF meal as a protein source in the growing-finisher phase of turkey production.

Results

BSF meal inclusion improved final body weight (10.17 vs 10.06 kg/bird), daily weight gain (96.22 vs 95.23 g/bird/day), and feed conversion ratio (2.127 vs 2.141) in INS turkeys. Breast meat quality traits showed minimal differences. Cecal tyramine concentration significantly decreased in INS birds, while glucose and malonate increased. Butyrate, isoleucine, and betaine tended to increase in INS group.

Conclusion

Dietary inclusion of 5% BSF meal from 65-105 days improved growth performance of female turkeys primarily through modulation of gut metabolomics profile rather than changes in microbiota composition. The results support BSF meal as a viable partial replacement for soybean meal with beneficial effects on performance and minimal impact on meat quality.
  • Published in:Scientific Reports,
  • Study Type:Experimental Animal Trial,
  • Source: PMID: 40593033, DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-05624-7
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