Chemical Composition and Fatty Acid Profile of the <i>Pectoralis major</i> Muscle in Broiler Chickens Fed Diets with Full-Fat Black Soldier Fly (<i>Hermetia illucens</i>) Larvae Meal

• Published in: Animals
• Main Authors: Tomasz Daszkiewicz, Daria Murawska, Dorota Kubiak, Jolanta Han
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2022-02-01
• Subjects: insect meal; animal feed; chickens; meat quality
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/4/464
• ISSN: 2076-2615

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of full-fat <i>Hermetia illucens</i> (<i>HI</i>) larvae meal used as a substitute for 50%, 75% and 100% of soybean meal (SBM) in diets fed to male Ross 308 broiler chickens on the proximate chemical composition and fatty acid profile of the <i>Pectoralis major</i> (<i>PM</i>) muscle. The muscles of chickens fed <i>HI</i> larvae meal were characterized by a higher (<i>p</i> < 0.05) total concentration of pigments and lower (<i>p</i> < 0.05) ash content. At the lowest dietary inclusion rate (50%) of <i>HI</i> larvae meal, the <i>PM</i> muscle had a lower (<i>p</i> < 0.05) content of fat and collagen, compared with the remaining treatments. An analysis of the fatty acid profile of the <i>PM</i> muscle revealed that the total concentrations of saturated fatty acids increased (<i>p</i> < 0.05) and the total concentrations of polyunsaturated fatty acids decreased (<i>p</i> < 0.05) with increasing inclusion levels of <i>HI</i> larvae meal. The changes in the fatty acid profile of muscles in birds receiving <i>HI</i> larvae meal led to a decrease in the nutritional value of fat. The present findings indicate that the ≥50% inclusion rate of full-fat <i>HI</i> larvae meal as a protein source alternative to SBM in broiler chicken diets is too high due to its negative effect on the fatty acid profile of meat.