Fatty acid profile of lipids and caeca volatile fatty acid production of broilers fed a full fat meal from Tenebrio molitor larvae

Volatile fatty acid production (VFA) in the caeca and fatty acid profile of meat and fat depots were investigated on 62 days old broiler equally divided in 2 groups fed with a corn-soybean (SBM) or a corn-insect meal (TML, from Tenebrio molitor larvae) based diet from 30 days of age. The total amount of VFAs was higher (p < .01) in broilers fed TML and the same happened for all the single VFA studied in the trial. When the VFAs were expressed as percentage of total VFAs, acetate, propionate and valerianate were higher (p < .01) in SBM group, while the proportion of butyrate was higher (p < .01) in broilers fed TML. The fatty acids C12:0 and C14:0 had higher percentages (p < .01 and p < .05, respectively) in the intramuscular fat of broilers fed TML diet. Regarding the FA groups (SFA, MUFA and PUFAs), only the PUFAn1 fatty acids were higher (p < .01) in the broilers fed TML diet. Insect meals can affect the microbial activity in broiler caeca and, in addition, induced very few modifications in the fatty acid profile of broiler breast. HIGHLIGHTS Tenebrio molitor in broiler feeding affects the production of volatile fatty acids ( VFA) in the caeca. The total production of VFAs doubled in Tenebrio molitor feeding group, and the butyrate increased ( thorn183%). TM slightly modify the fatty acid profile of breast meat.