Use of Hermetia illucens larvae as a dietary protein source: Effects on growth performance, carcass traits, and meat quality in finishing pigs

This study investigated the effects of feeding Hermetia illucens larvae (0, 4, and 8%; HI0, HI4, and HI8 groups, respectively) on growth performance, carcass traits, and meat quality of finishing pigs. Results showed that the HI4 diet increased (P < .05) final body weight and average daily gain and decreased (P < .05) feed to gain ratio compared with HI0 and HI8 group. HI4 and HI8 diets increased (P < .05) loin-eye area, marbling scores, and inosine monophosphate content of longissimus thoracis (LT) compared with HI0 diet. The intramuscular fat content was greater (P < .05) in HI4 group than in the HI0 group. Furthermore, HI4 diet up-regulated (P < .05) lipogenic genes and MyHC-IIa mRNA levels in LT compared with HI0 diet. Our results indicated that dietary inclusion of H. illucens larvae has a beneficial impact on growth performance and meat quality, and the underlying mechanism may be due to the altered lipogenic potential induced by H. illucens larvae.