Study tests black soldier fly larvae meal against soybean in broilers

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A new broiler nutrition study suggests black soldier fly larvae meal may be a workable partial substitute for soybean meal, but not a simple one-for-one swap at higher inclusion rates. In the March 18, 2026, Veterinary Sciences paper, researchers at Prairie View A&M University 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 growth, carcass traits, meat quality, and blood biochemistry. The broader literature points in the same direction: insect meal remains a promising alternative protein, especially as poultry producers look to reduce reliance on soybean meal, but performance can slip when inclusion rates climb too high. At lower inclusion levels, some studies have found no penalty in growth or mortality and even higher breast yield, though meat quality and gut responses can still shift depending on the insect source and dose. U.S. feed policy is also moving, with AAFCO materials indicating black soldier fly larvae ingredients are now recognized for use in poultry feed when produced from feed-grade substrates. (mdpi.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals and poultry advisers, the practical takeaway is that black soldier fly larvae meal looks more like a formulation tool than a full soybean replacement. Prior broiler studies have found acceptable health markers and some production benefits at lower inclusion levels, while higher levels have been associated with poorer feed conversion, reduced growth, gut morphology changes, or lower nutrient availability, likely tied in part to digestibility limits and chitin content. That caution is not unique to insect meal: even a 10% reduction in soybean meal in one broiler study increased mortality and feed intake and reduced ether extract availability, underscoring how sensitive birds can be to protein-source changes. Together, that makes ration design, ingredient consistency, digestibility support, gut effects, and cost per unit of usable nutrient more important than the sustainability story alone. (jasbsci.biomedcentral.com)

What to watch: Expect the next wave of work to focus on economically viable inclusion thresholds, processing methods, and whether enzymes or other formulation strategies can make higher black soldier fly larvae use more practical in commercial broiler diets. Researchers are also likely to keep looking beyond weight gain to carcass yield, meat quality, intestinal morphology, and microbiome effects, since low-dose insect inclusion has sometimes looked acceptable on performance while still changing those downstream measures. (mdpi.com)