Effects of Organic Waste Substrates on Growth Performance and Nutritional Composition of Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens L.) Larvae for Feed Production

Abstract

Black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens L.) have been widely studied as an alternative protein source for animal feed, and the use of organic waste substrates may enhance sustainable production of insect biomass for feed applications. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different organic waste substrates on growth performance and nutritional composition of black soldier fly larvae. The experiment used a completely randomized design (CRD) with four treatments: commercial layer feed (control), household food waste, laying hen manure, and vegetable waste, with six replicates per treatment. Five-day-old larvae were stocked at 100 larvae per experimental unit and fed 25 g of substrate per experimental unit every two days for 28 days. The results showed that substrate type significantly affected larval growth performance and developmental traits (p < 0.001). Larvae reared on vegetable waste had the highest prepupal weight (2.09 g/10 larvae), pupal weight (2.29 g/10 pupae), average daily gain (0.09 g/10 larvae/day), and adult emergence, along with the lowest mortality rate (7.67%). In contrast, larvae fed laying hen manure had the highest crude protein (42.17% DM) and ash content, while those fed household food waste had the highest ether extract content (45.78% DM). These findings indicate that substrate type directly influences both growth performance and nutritional composition of larval biomass. Vegetable waste and household food waste are suitable for practical larval biomass production as alternative feed ingredients, whereas laying hen manure is more appropriate as a supplementary substrate to enhance protein and mineral contents. Therefore, substrate selection and formulation should be determined based on the intended nutritional application of larvae as animal feed ingredients.