Standardized Total Tract Digestibility of Phosphorus in Black Soldier fly Larvae fed to Pigs.

The objective of the present study was to determine standardized total tract digestibility of phosphorus (P) in black soldier fly (BSF; Hermetia illucens) larvae fed to pigs. Test ingredients were fish meal (66.2% crude protein, 9.2% ether extract, and 2.63% P), 3 sources of defatted BSF larva meal (43.1 to 59.2% crude protein, 8.6 to 13.2% ether extract, and 0.91 to 1.06% P), and a source of full-fat BSF larva (34.2% crude protein, 36.0% ether extract, and 0.70% P). Six barrows with an initial mean body weight of 78.1 kg (SD = 1.0) were individually housed in metabolism crates. Six diets were assigned to the 6 pigs in a 6 × 7 Latin square design with 7 periods resulting in 7 replicates for each treatment. Five experimental diets contained fish meal, defatted BSF larva meal, or full-fat BSF larva at 25% as the sole source of P. Additionally, a P-free diet mainly based on corn starch, sucrose, and gelatin was also prepared to estimate the basal endogenous losses of P. After a 4-day adaptation period, feces were collected for 4 days according to the marker-to-marker procedure. Apparent total tract digestibility of P in full-fat BSF larva (61.9%) was greater (P < 0.05) than that in 2 sources of defatted BSF larva meal (34.8% and 31.5%). Standardized total tract digestibility of P in full-fat BSF larva (71.8%) was greater (P < 0.05) than that in fish meal (51.0%) or 2 sources of defatted BSF larva meal (41.0% and 38.9%). The basal endogenous losses of P were estimated to be 189 ± 62 mg per kg dry matter intake. In conclusion, P in defatted BSF larva meal was less digestible compared with full-fat BSF larva. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]