Do dietary soy alternatives lead to pork quality improvements or drawbacks? A look into micro-alga and insect protein in swine diets

Pork quality characteristics related to the dietary substitution of soybean meal by the micro-alga Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) or black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) partly-defatted larval meal were observed. Through a duplicated study totalling 48 individually-fed barrows (Pietrain x (Large White x Landrace)) allocated into two experimental groups and a control, the effect of dietary protein source on physico-chemical and sensory pork quality was monitored under current industrial packaging conditions (highly-oxygenated modified atmosphere packaging). The results show that physico-chemical characteristics are not degraded by including alternative protein sources in pig diets. Hermetia illucens increased lauric acid levels in backfat indicating that this fatty acid may be suitable as a biomarker for Hermetia illucens-fed pork. This goes to show that protein alternatives do not compromise pork quality.