Evaluation of black soldier fly larvae frass on broiler performance and meat yield, quality, and sensory characteristics

Insect meal is an alternative feed ingredient of interest due to its nutrient content and sustainability potential. Frass (BSFLF) is produced during black soldier fly larvae meal and consists of larval excreta, exoskeleton sheddings, and leftover larval feedstocks that may be a viable feed ingredient for broilers. This study was conducted to determine the growth performance and subsequent meat yield, quality, and sensory characteristics in Cobb MX × 500 broilers fed graded BSFLF inclusions. Four treatments consisted of a corn and soybean meal-based control diet and diets with 5, 10, or 15 % BSFLF. Treatments were fed across the starter (0 to 13 d), grower (13 to 28 d), and finisher (28 to 41 d) phases and were replicated with 12 pens of 25 birds. Feed intake (FI), BW gain, and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were measured at the end of each phase. At 41 d, 12 birds per pen were selected for footpad dermatitis scoring and processing. After deboning, breast fillets were kept from 5 birds per pen to evaluate meat quality and sensory characteristics, including a consumer panel and electronic nose and tongue senses. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and a Tukey's means comparison test in addition to linear and quadratic contrasts. For the overall trial period, FI was not affected (P > 0.05) by BSFLF inclusion. Body weight quadratically decreased (P = 0.008) and FCR was quadratically impaired (P = 0.018) with increasing BSFLF inclusion. For meat quality, increasing dietary BSFLF linearly increased the occurrence of mild WB (P = 0.036) and decreased fillet yellowness (P < 0.001). Frass had no effect (P > 0.05) on white striping, spaghetti meat scores, cook loss, drip loss, texture, or color. The highest overall liking by the consumer panel was for meat from birds fed 5 % BSFLF (P = 0.017). Thus, BSFLF can be fed without affecting meat quality or acceptability, but future work should better characterize its nutrient and energy utilization to prevent impacts on bird performance when fed above 5 %.