Potential of Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly) as a dietary protein source for broilers.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to compare the nutritional profiles of Drosophila and black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) and assess their effectiveness as dietary protein supplements for broiler chickens.
Results Summary
Drosophila had higher crude protein content than BSFL, and broilers fed Drosophila showed improved growth, feed intake, and carcass weight compared to those fed BSFL or a low-protein control diet. BSFL had higher essential fatty acids, but no significant performance improvements were observed in broilers fed BSFL.
Population
Arbor Acres broiler chickens (120, 1-day-old, weight-matched).
Effective Dosage
4% BSFL, 4% or 8% Drosophila larvae (DL) supplemented in a low-protein diet (~20% CP).
Duration
Not specified in the abstract.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Drosophila development | increase | relative crude protein (CP) content by dry matter | staged Drosophila (fruit fly) | 40.11% to 53.73% | significantly higher | #1 |
black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) product | increase | relative crude fat (CF) | market-purchased black soldier fly larvae | 39.14% | higher | #2 |
Drosophila | decrease | iron, sodium, and calcium | staged Drosophila (fruit fly) | - | lower content | #3 |
Drosophila | increase | gross energy | staged Drosophila (fruit fly) | - | higher | #4 |
Drosophila larva (DL) | increase | certain amino acids such as lysine | Drosophila larva | - | higher in | #5 |
black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) | increase | essential fatty acids such as linoleic (C18:2, ω-6) and linolenic (C18:3, ω-3) acids | black soldier fly larvae | - | included more | #6 |
low-protein diet supplemented with 4% or 8% DL | increase | average daily growth (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) | Arbor Acres broilers | - | significantly improved | #7 |
low-protein diet supplemented with 4% or 8% DL | increase | live and carcass weight and higher muscle pH | Arbor Acres broilers | - | better | #8 |
low-protein diet supplemented with 4% BSFL | no change | performance parameters (ADG, ADFI, live weight, carcass weight, muscle pH) | Arbor Acres broilers | - | no differences | #9 |
low-protein diet supplemented with 4% BSFL or 4%/8% DL | no change | feed conversion ratio (FCR) | Arbor Acres broilers | - | comparable | #10 |
This study was conducted to systematically assess and compare the fluctuations in crude protein (CP), crude fat (CF), and mineral content of staged (larva to adult) Drosophila (fruit fly) to that of a market-purchased black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) product. Results suggested that the relative CP content by dry matter ranged from 40.11% to 53.73% during Drosophila development, significantly higher (P < 0.001) than the 36.90% in BSFL. The relative CF was higher in BSFL (39.14%) compared to that of Drosophila (27.03-30.10%, P < 0.001). Although both insects contained sufficient levels of minerals to meet the dietary requirements of most animals, Drosophila overall possessed a lower content of iron, sodium, and calcium (P < 0.001) with a higher gross energy than the BSFL (P < 0.01). Comparative studies of amino acid (AA) and fatty acid (FA) profiles were further carried out among Drosophila larva (DL), pupa, and BSFL for their economic effectiveness. The AA spectra of insect larvae generally were similar except that the DL was higher in certain AA such as lysine (P < 0.01), which is an essential AA often critical for chicken growth. In contrast, the BSFL included more essential FA such as linoleic (C18:2, ω-6) and linolenic (C18:3, ω-3) acids (P < 0.01). To follow up, a husbandry trial was performed by allotting 120, 1-d-old, weight-matched, Arbor Acres broilers at random into treatment groups consisting of a low-protein diet background that contained ~20% CP supplemented with 4% BSFL and 4% or 8% DL. The average daily growth (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) of broilers, compared to the control low-protein diet, were significantly improved by feeding DL diets (P < 0.01), with better live and carcass weight and higher muscle pH (P < 0.001), which were positively correlated with the inclusion level of DL (P < 0.001). However, no differences between the control and 4% BSFL diet were observed for the performance parameters mentioned above. Moreover, all birds under our experimental setting exhibited a comparable feed conversion ratio (FCR) and were in a healthy status as indicated by the meat traits and hematological indexes within normal physiological ranges. Collectively, the findings in this study provide a theoretical basis for the further exploitation of Drosophila as potential dietary ingredients for feed production in order to meet the food challenge in the future.