Hygiene monitoring in a Belgian fries-producing company using next generation sequencing

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The use of larvae of the black soldier fly as a high quality and sustainable protein source in broiler feed

The growing scarcity of protein sources for animal feed in the European Union has strongly increased prices in recent years. As a consequence, the industry is looking for alternative protein sources that can be used for animal feed. Several studies have proposed insects as a high quality, efficient and sustainable alternative protein source. A promising insect with a high protein content and short life-cycle is the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens). In this project, we introduced larvae of the black soldier fly in feed for broiler chickens. To this end, the nutritional composition of larvae grown on super market waste was determined. Based on these data, broiler feed was formulated and subsequently the larvae were processed in broiler feed. All feeds were isoenergetic and isonitrogenous for the entire grow up (starter, grower and finisher). About a third of the soybean meal was replaced by the larvae. We evaluated the effect of this insect feed on broilers by assessing their growth performance, health status, meat quality and meat taste and compared the results with a control group that received conventional feed. No significant differences were observed in mean body weight, net carcass weight and feed conversion ratio between broilers that received conventional feed and insect feed. In addition, no significant difference was found between the taste of chicken breast from broilers which were grown on insect feed and grown on conventional feed.status: publishe

Research Note: Comparative effects of liquid and dry applications of a combination of lysolecithin, synthetic emulsifier, and monoglycerides on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and litter moisture in broilers fed diets of differing energy density

ABSTRACT: Supplementation of a combination of lysolecithin, a synthetic emulsifier, and monoglycerides (LEX) in liquid and dry form to broiler diets with different energy levels was investigated to determine their effect on performance, litter quality and subsequent occurrence of footpad lesions. One thousand two hundred and forty-eight-day-old Ross 308 broilers were assigned to 1 of 6 treatments for a 42-day study: a basal diet with a normal energy content (NE); NE + 300 g/t LEX in liquid form (LEL); NE + 500 g/t LEX in dry form (LED); a basal diet with low energy (LE, −90 kcal/kg starter, −100 kcal/kg grower, finisher), LE + 300 g/t LEL and a LE + 500 g/t LED. Each treatment consisted of 13 pens of 16 birds each. Diets were fed in 3 phases (starter d 0–10, grower d 11–21, finisher d 22–42). Feed intake and weight were measured on d 0, 10, 21, and 42. On d 42 a litter sample was collected from each pen and 2 birds per pen were assessed for footpad lesions and breast scald. Data were analyzed using JMP 16, with means separation achieved using Tukey's HSD; significance was assumed at P 0.05), suggesting LEX enabled the birds to compensate for the energy gap. Litter dry matter was significantly improved with both LED and LEL supplementation compared to the control groups, and resulted in lower (P < 0.05) occurrence and severity of footpad lesions and breast scalds. Considering the income over feed cost (IOFC) of the NE treatment as the reference point for comparison, all other treatments improved profitability, with NE+LEL and LE+LEL achieving the greatest IOFC with 154.58 and 175.96 €/1,000 birds respectively. In conclusion, feeding broilers a combination of lysophospholipids, a synthetic emulsifier and monoglycerides resulted in improved bird performance. The use of the LEX also improved litter quality and footpad health, therefore improving animal welfare indicators such as breast scald and footpad measurements

Black soldier fly larvae as a novel feed source for monogastric farm animals

The most important protein source for terrestrial animal feeds is soybean meal . However, cultivation of crops for feed puts pressure on global land availability . Larvae of the black soldier fly (BSF) are a potential source of protein that could be incorporated in feed . In this study, the nutritional composition of BSF larvae and effects of BSF inclusion in feed for weaned piglets and broilers on performance were assessed . Larvae, reared on different organic waste substrates, were freeze-dried and proximate, amino acid, fatty acid and mineral analyses were performed . In order to assess the true value of BSF larvae as a feedstuff, experiments were carried out with 56 piglets divided over 4 treatments and 210 broilers divided over 3 treatments . The piglet feed contained up to 8% BSF, replacing toasted soybeans by 100% compared to a conventional diet . The broiler feed consisted for up to 10% out of BSF, substituting 30% of the conventional soybean meal . The dried larvae contained 39 . 9-43 . 1 g protein/100 g and 21 . 8-38 . 6 g fat/100 g . Lysine, methionine and tryptophan levels were 2 . 3-2 . 6, 0 . 7-0 . 9 and 0 . 5-0 . 7 g/100 g, respectively . From the animal trails, no differences were recorded in mean body weight between different treatments at the end of the experiments (day 15 postweaning for piglets and day 39 for broilers) . The FCR of piglets and chickens that received conventional feed did not differ compared to animals fed insect based feed . FCR values were 1 . 6 and 1 . 7 for piglets and broilers, respectively . Regarding the nutritional composition, protein and essential amino acid content of BSF larvae were consistently high, indicating that BSF may be used as an alternative for soybean meal . Moreover, feeding trails with piglets and broilers showed that a substantial amount of soybean products (meal and/or toasted beans) can be replaced by BSF without adverse effects on performance .status: publishe