Study adds to case for black soldier fly meal in broiler diets
A new broiler nutrition study in Veterinary Sciences suggests black soldier fly larvae meal could substitute for a meaningful share of soybean meal without obvious harm to growth, carcass traits, meat quality, or routine blood chemistry, at least within the trial conditions tested. The researchers fed 160 Ross 708 broilers diets in which black soldier fly larvae meal replaced soybean meal at 0%, 20%, 40%, or 60% on an equivalent basis, then tracked performance through the starter and grower phases. The paper adds to a growing body of poultry research positioning insect protein as a potential alternative feed ingredient as producers look for lower-footprint, less soy-dependent rations. (frontiersin.org)
Why it matters: For veterinary professionals working with poultry operations, the study is less about novelty than about where the practical ceiling may be. Prior broiler work has shown mixed results depending on whether the larvae meal is full-fat or defatted, formulation quality, and inclusion rate. One 2021 broiler study found that replacing more than 50% of soybean meal protein with full-fat black soldier fly larvae meal worsened carcass and sensory outcomes, while another MDPI study reported reduced growth performance when defatted meal completely replaced soybean meal in broilers. That makes this new paper useful as another data point, but not a green light for wholesale substitution without close attention to digestibility, amino acid balance, energy density, and product form. In the U.S., that caution is even more relevant because AAFCO’s current published black soldier fly ingredient definitions highlighted in its 2026 agenda materials are tied to pet food uses, while the EU has already authorized insect processed animal proteins in poultry and pig feed, underscoring that commercial adoption still depends heavily on jurisdiction. (mdpi.com)
What to watch: Watch for follow-up work on economics, gut health, microbiota, and real-world inclusion limits, as well as any movement in U.S. feed ingredient approvals that would determine how quickly findings like these can translate into commercial poultry diets. (frontiersin.org)