Black soldier fly larvae feed suitability for chicken and prospects for economic valuation and viability aspects

Abstract

Utilization of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) emerges as a promising avenue for organic waste recycling and production of protein rich biomass. The current study explored the suitability of BSFL protein feed for chicken and economic facets associated with BSFL rearing facilities, encompassing costs of goods sold (COGs), operating expenditure (OpExp), and capital costs (CapExp). Research revealed that incorporation of BSFL feed for chicken did not exert discernible influences on overall meat quality. However, the amino acid content variation of chicken meat particularly concerning polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), are correlated with the fatty acid composition of the BSFL feed, showed substrate-specific characteristics. The recommended BSFL dosage ranges up to 13% (defatted larvae), 12% (partially defatted BSFL), 14% (dried larvae), and 48% (for whole larvae), which did not affect the chicken body weight and physiological traits, except for the fatty acids profile. However, complete substitution at 100% proved detrimental to body weight. The establishment of a BSFL rearing facility is deemed economically viable, considering large production scales and supply chain development in collaboration with waste material managers. Such collaboration is envisioned to curtail substantial portions of expenses, primarily attributed to transport and labor costs, which constitute 60-70% of the financial outlay in the developing countries context. Based on the operational, capital, and marketing expenditures, the cost for BSFL rearing setup in Asian countries (Pakistan) ranged from US $50,762 to US $100,000, while the estimated profit was US $10,762 to US $51,121. These figures may vary based on cost per product, net price and profit per product, number of products sold, and market share and growth traction facets.