A metanalysis to evaluate the effects of substrate sources on the nutritional performance of black soldier fly larvae: implications for sustainable poultry feed

This meta-analysis presents an evaluation of substrate sources and their impact on the growth per-formance of black soldier fly (BSF) larva. The database, compiled from Google Scholar, PubMed, and Science Direct, focuses on data concerning substrate sources, environmental conditions, and the performance parame-ters of BSF. Seven types of substrates were analyzed, including Feed Waste, Manure, Fruits, Mix, Animal Source, Fermentation Residue, and Food Waste. The Feed Waste group demonstrated the highest DM content, while the highest CP content was found in the Animal Source group. Higher CP and DM content were found in larva meal from Fermentation Residues and Feed Waste diets, respectively. Higher survival rates were observed in BSF larvae fed on Feed Waste, Fermentation Residues, Food Waste, Fruits, Mix, and Manure substrates compared to Vegetable and Animal Source substrates. Fresh larval weight was lower when Manure was used as a feed substrate than in the Animal Source, Feed Waste, and Vegetable substrates. The prepupal Wet Weight was highest in BSF larvae fed on Animal Source, surpassing those fed on Fermentation Residue, Manure, and Vegeta-ble substrates. Substrate CP content exhibited a positive relationship with fresh larva weight, prepupal wet weight, dry larval weight; larval length, mortality until prepupal, protein conversion, feed conversion ratio, food consump-tion, substrate reduction rate bioconversion ratio, waste reduction index, and efficiency conversion of digested feed in BSF larva. In conclusion, our findings underline that the source and composition of substrates are corre-lated to the nutritional composition and conversion effi-ciency of BSF larva meal.