Currently, poultry producers in developing countries are facing problems of high cost and poor quality of poultry feed. Insects are one of the potential protein sources for
poultry feed. The use of insects as poultry feed is not in direct competition with human
for food consumption. The objective of this paper is to review the current work related
to the use of Black Soldier Fly (BSF) larvae meal as an alternative protein source in
poultry feeding. Black soldier fly is a harmless insect serving as an alternative protein
source in animal feeding and in the disposal of organic wastes, by-products, and side
streams. The results of numerous studies showed that BSF larvae meal could safely
and economically be used as protein concentrate in poultry ration. BSF larva contains
high calcium and phosphorus and contains about 35-42% crude protein with biological value and comparable amino acid profile to that of soybean meal (SBM). The lysine and methionine contents of BSF larva are comparable to that of meat meal. Recent evidence suggests that the nutritional value of BSF larva is comparable to that of fish meal. Many authors suggested that BSF larvae meal could replace a fish meal or upgrade the nutritive value of SBM in broiler diets without any adverse effect on the production performance. The use of BSF larvae in layers diet resulted in enhanced
laying performance and egg qualities. Generally, all the available literature confirms
the feasibility of total or partial replacement of fish meal and SBM with BSF larvae meal. No negative effects were reported from growing chicks fed on BSF larvae meal. Most of the publications reviewed indicated that the growth of chicks fed with BSF larvae meal was either equivalent or superior to SBM in nutritive value as measured by the production performance of growing and laying birds. Therefore, the inclusion of BSF larvae meal into the poultry feeding system has both economic and environmental benefits.
