Nutritional Evaluation of Black Soldier Fly Larvae: A Proximate Analysis for Aquaculture

Abstract

Aquaculture relies significantly on fish meal and fish oil, which are abundant in proteins, amino acids and fatty acids; nevertheless, their elevated costs, raw material requirements, and environmental issues have necessitated the exploration of alternative protein sources. Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL) have surfaced as a feasible alternative to fish meal owing to their analogous nutritional composition, especially their protein levels, rendering them a cost-efficient and sustainable choice in aquafeeds. BSFL grow in decaying organic materials and have been employed for waste management in commercial swine and poultry industries. Their life cycle, characterised by the effective transformation of waste into protein, amplifies their significance in sustainable agriculture. This study aimed to evaluate proximate composition of BSFL produced from household waste. The proximate analysis of the BSFL samples indicated a moisture content of 54.78±0.02%, a protein content of 45.29±0.52%, a lipid content of 4.12±0.01%, and an ash content of 9.03±0.02%. There were significant difference in moisture, protein, fat, and ash content among all diets (p < 0.05), with BSFL having the highest values in all components. BSFL's high protein concentration makes it a prospective alternative protein source for aquaculture, while its balanced composition suggests that it could be used a variety of animal feed applications. The study emphasizes the importance of optimizing BSFL diets to improve their nutritional content and promote sustainable farming practices, particularly in light of the growing demand for alternative protein sources.