This study aimed to evaluate diets with complete substitution of soybean meal SBM by an algae meal from Spirulina platensis SM or partly defatted larvae meal from Hermetia illucens HM as feed for piglets and growing pigs.
Main feed ingredients of the experimental diets were wheat, barley, and SM or HM. Diets were well accepted by the animals and an extended level of AA supplementation yielded improved dietary protein quality with both of the alternative feed proteins. However, HM based diets provided superior apparent N digestibility.
Two age-dependent nitrogen N balance studies average body mass 25 and 60 kg utilized 16 male castrated piglets and 16 barrows to measure N utilization parameters of diets with complete substitution of SBM by alternative protein sources SM, HM , but different AA fortifications. Similar trends were observed in growing pigs. AA efficiency data extend the possibilities to explain the observed responses on protein quality.
When an adequate AA balancing in the diet is guaranteed, from nutritional point of view both of the alternative proteins may replace SBM in pig diets. The world population has been steadily growing in recent decades, and by a figure of 9. With changing consumption patterns, meat shares an increasing part of this growing demand for food [ 2 ]. Accordingly, large quantities of feed protein will be needed, and as it currently stands soybean products are the main protein ingredients in pig diets.
Therefore, they act as a reference in the hunt for alternative sources to meet future protein demands. However, suitable feed alternatives are still needed [ 4 , 5 ]. Algae production could also be an acceptable alternative, because this type of aquatic biomass grows adequately with only marginal land use [ 4 ]. Additionally, insects could be an alternative protein source because they can be reared on grain and the larvae grow rapidly.
