The effect of defatted black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) meal on growth performance, intestinal enzymes activities of gilt head sea bream (Sparus aurata)

Shortages in fish meal and oil supply resulted in rising prices and in their substitution in formulated diets with non optimal effects on growth and animal health. Insects protein, expecially black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens - HI) meal has recently investigated due to the valuable nutritional properties. This study evaluated growth performance and intestinal enzymes activities of seabream fed for four months with a control and three experimental diets containing increasing levels of HI meal. Fifteen fish per each treatment were processed at the end of the trial. Statistical analysis indicated that the dietary inclusion of defatted HI meal in seabream fed up to 18.4% of inclusion level did not influenced (P<0.05) any of the growth performance traits considered. On the other hand, HI inclusion level of 27.6% worsened the SGR, FCR and PER parameters (P<0.05), while as far as the somatic indexes are concerned, fish fed the control and 18.4% HI diets showed lower hepatosomatic index values (1.31 and 1.30, respectively).