Effects of Different Levels of Hermetia Illucens on Growth Performance and Nutrient Digestibility in Weaning Pigs

This trial was conducted to determine the optimal supplementation level of Hermetia illucens (HI) on the growth performance, the apparent total tract retention of nutrients and the economic efficiency in weaning pigs. A total of 192 weaned pigs (Landrace × Yorkshire × Duroc; 6.51 ± 0.15 kg) were randomly allotted to 4 treatments and 6 replicates on the basis of their initial body weight. The dietary treatments included a corn-soybean meal based diet supplemented with 0, 1, 2 or 3% HI. There were no significantly effects between the treatments in phases I, II and overall. But average daily gain was significant and linearly increased when HI was added to the diet in the overall group. Although digestibility of dry matter (DM) was increased by adding HI, digestibility responses were not observed by supplying HI in phase I. Also, all the parameters of economic efficiency were not significantly different according to the level of HI. The results showed that HI had beneficial effects on growth performance and digestibility of dry matter. However, there were no effects on economic efficiency by using HI in weaning pig diets