Evaluation of Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) Larvae and Pre-Pupae Raised on Household Organic Waste, as Potential Ingredients for Poultry Feed

Black soldier fly (BSF) larvae and pre-pupae were raised on nutritionally resembling household organic waste. Next, whole (non-defatted) BSF larvae and pre-pupae were dried and added to the diets of laying hens as a replacement of soybean meal and oil contents. Eggshell thickness and microbiota diversity in the cecum of hens supplemented with BSF pre-pupae showed higher values than those of hens fed with the control diet. It is suggested that chitin, an indigestible substance found in BSF, as well as BSF fat, possibly increased eggshell thickness and microbiota diversity values. Further investigation of the effect of BSF fat added to poultry feed is recommended