The use of the larvae of Zophobas morio and galleria mellonella in feeding growing pigs

Insects represent a promising alternative source to more expensive components of the feeding regimen of farm animals for meat production. With this aim in mind, we conducted this experiment to investigate the effects of dried larvae of darkling beetles (Zophobas morio L.) and larvae of wax moths (Galleria mellonella L.) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and blood profiles in growing piglets. A total of 27 crossbred piglets ((LWхL)хD), 39 days of age and 14.39±0.19 kg of body weight) were randomly divided into three groups (n=9 per group) based on gender and body weight. We substituted part of a fishmeal and a grain with 2.5% of dried larvae of darkling beetles (Zophobas morio L.) or with 3.0% of dried larvae of wax moths (Galleria mellonella L.). The replacement of fishmeal with insect biomass in the feeding regimen of the pigs did not change growth rate among groups and did not altered the digestibility of dry matter, crude protein and crude fiber (p ˃ 0.05). At the same time, the digestibility of the fat has increased in the experimental groups with dry larvae (p ≤ 0.05). Blood counts in all groups were within the physiological norm. As compared to control group, piglets of the experimental groups had an increase in bactericidal, lysozyme activity of the blood serum and phagocytic activity of neutrophils. Thus, supplementation of dry larvae of superworm or waxworm in the ration didn’t affect negatively growth performance of experimental piglets while improving their parameters of non-specific immunity.