Abstracts

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the nutritive value of total mixed ration (TMR) silage containing intact and defatted black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) as ruminant feeds. The BSFL was included as an ingredient in TMR according to the following treatments: ensiled TMR (R1), ensiled 80% TMR + 20% intact BSFL (R2), ensiled 80% TMR + 20% chemically defatted BSFL (R3), and ensiled 80% TMR + 20% mechanically defatted BSFL (R4). Each treatment was performed in five replicates. Ensiling was performed in lab scale silo and stored for 30 d. All dietary treatments were subjected to chemical composition determination and in vitro incubation with buffered-rumen fluid. Results showed that R2, R3, and R4 had higher crude protein (CP) contents than R1 both before and after ensiling. The ether extract (EE) contents in R3 and R4 were lower compared to R2. Ruminal ammonia concentration of R2 was the lowest compared to all treatments, while treatment R3 had the highest ammonia concentration (p<0.05). In vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) parameter showed that R1, R3, and R4 treatments were higher than R2 (p<0.05). Total gas production in R1 and R2 was lower than treatments in R3 and R4, and the total gas production of R3 was the highest compared to all treatments (p<0.05). Methane production was not altered due to dietary treatments. In conclusion, defatted BSFL can be included in TMR silage without causing any adverse effect on the nutritional value of the silage.

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