Black Soldier Fly Larva Oil in Diets with Roughage to Concentrate Ratios on Fermentation Characteristics, Degradability, and Methane Generation

Simple Summary Animal husbandry costs are being driven up by a scarcity of high-quality, expensive animal feed. Researchers are investigating alternative feed resources derived from black soldier fly larva, including the utilization of oil from black fly larvae as a byproduct of the industry. A study using in vitro gas production techniques investigated the influence of black soldier fly larva oils and the proportion of roughage-to-concentrate ratios on in vitro fermentation. Results showed that adding 4% black soldier fly larva oils (BSFO) in concentration at different roughage (R)-to-concentrate (C) ratios increased propionate levels, decreased methane (CH4) emission, and preserved dry matter (DM) degradability. Currently, the scarcity of high-quality, expensive animal feed is a primary factor driving up the cost of animal husbandry. As a result, most researchers have focused on improving the potential of using alternative feed resources derived from the black soldier fly larva. In particular, the utilization of oil from black fly larvae is a byproduct of the industry. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of black soldier fly larva oils and the proportion of roughage-to-concentrate ratios on gas kinetics, rumen characteristics, degradability, and mitigate CH4 production by using in vitro gas production techniques. The in vitro investigation used a completely randomized design (CRD) with a 2 x 4 factorial arrangement. The level of R:C ratios (60:40 and 40:60) were factor A, while BSFO levels (0, 2, 4, and 6% of DM) were factor B. Under this investigation, the combined impact of R:C ratio and BSFO on the kinetics of gas and accumulative gas production was found to be significant (p < 0.01). After 4 h of incubation, the pH and ammonia-nitrogen (NH3-N) concentration were found to be impacted by the inclusion of BSFO levels at different R:C-ratios (p < 0.01). Moreover, after 4 and 8 h of incubation, supplementing the BSFO at 4% with the level of R:C ratio at 40:60 resulted in a significant reduction in the amount of CH4 in the rumen (p < 0.05). However, the inclusion of BSFO levels at different R:C ratios had no effect on the degradability of DM after 12 and 24 h of incubation (p > 0.05), whereas increasing the concentration of BSFO in concentrate at 6% reduced the DM degradability after 24 h of incubation (p < 0.05). Furthermore, adding BSFO to the diet at various R:C ratios enhanced the propionate (C3) concentration, with the highest level observed with the level of R:C ratio at 40:60 and 4% BSFO inclusion (p < 0.05). To summarize, the addition of BSFO at 4% with a 40:60 of R:C ratio increased C3 levels, decreased CH4 emission, and preserved DM degradability. A R:C ratio of 40:60 could improve the total volatile fatty acids and digestibility. Moreover, the inclusion of 6% BSFO at different R:C ratios lowered the in vitro dry matter digestibility, in vitro organic matter digestibility, NH3-N, and protozoal populations.

Automated summary

The scarcity of high-quality, expensive animal feed is driving up animal husbandry costs. Researchers are investigating alternative feed resources derived from black soldier fly larva, including the use of oil from black fly larvae as a byproduct. A study using in vitro gas production techniques found that adding 4% black soldier fly larva oils at different roughage-to-concentrate ratios increased propionate levels, decreased methane emission, and preserved dry matter degradability.