Nutritional and microbial quality of extruded fish feeds containing black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens L) larvae meal as a replacement for fish meal for Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and African sharptooth catfish (Clarius gariepinus)

ABSTRACT

The black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens L.) is a potential substitute of fish meal in feeds. However, information on the nutrition and safety of these feeds is inadequate. This study examined the quality of fish feed pellets extruded from blends formulated with and without black soldier fly larval meal (BSFLM). A further aim was to study the influence of extrusion processing types on feed composition. Two iso-proteinous feed blends containing 28% protein were formulated with 0% BSFLM (BSFLM0) and 75% BSFLM (BSFLM75). The feed blends were then cold- or hot-extruded (CE or HE) and the products analyzed for proximate composition, amino acids, fatty acid profiles and microbial content. The BSFLM75_HE pellets contained significantly higher levels of fat (15.6%), leucine (11.5 mg/g), and oleic acid (79.1 µg/g). Hot extrusion concentrated phenylalanine and leucine, increased polyunsaturated fatty acids and saturated fatty acids and decreased total viable counts, coliforms, yeast and molds, endospores and Salmonella.

KEYWORDS:

• Insects for feed
• fish feed
• hot extrusion
• cold extrusion

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the International Development Research Centre, Canada (IDRC) and Australia Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) through the project “INSFEED - Insect feed for poultry and fish production in Kenya and Uganda” (Cultivate Africa Grant No.: 107839-001).