Effects of Pretreatment of Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL, Hermetia illucens) on Feed Intake and in Vivo Digestibility of Rations in Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)
In the context of sustainable agriculture, identifying accessible, low-carbon feed resources is crucial. Black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae represent a promising option due to their ability to bioconvert organic waste and their nutritional value. This study evaluated the effects of blanching black soldier fly larvae on their chemical composition, feed intake, and digestibility in local adult rabbits (3.5 - 4 kg). Thirty-six rabbits were housed individually with ad libitum water and fed six rations: a control ration without larvae, a ration with untreated larvae, and four rations with larvae blanched for 2, 4, 6, and 8 minutes at 100？C. Larva samples were oven-dried and analyzed for their chemical and mineral composition. The digestibility test lasted 15 days. The main results showed that the highest Crude Protein content (33.78% DM) and the lowest Fat content (9.46% DM) were recorded with the larvae boiled for 8 minutes. Conversely, the highest calcium (1934.28 mg/100g) and phosphorus (781.56 mg/100g) levels were obtained with larvae boiled for 4 minutes. The lowest digestibility coefficients for DM, organic matter, crude protein, and fiber were obtained with group R3. This study demonstrated that larvae blanched for 8 minutes are a valuable source of protein, minerals, and micronutrients in rabbit diets, as they promote better ingestion and digestibility. Pretreatment with black soldier fly larvae provides a well-tolerated and readily assimilated source of nutrients without disrupting normal ingestion and digestion processes.
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