Supplementing feed components is becoming increasingly difficult for various reasons, including increased shipping costs, decreased capture efficiency, and global warming. For this reason, much research has been conducted globally to find alternative protein sources. The black soldier fly (BSF; Hermetia illucens) is an important feed item for nutritional accumulation and has environmental consequences. Few studies have been conducted to determine the nutritional level of the substrate, but most of these studies have involved modifying the substrate material. The aim of this study was to determine the ideal crude protein(CP) content of a substrate for BSF rearing. The experimental treatment was separated into three CP levels (low, 13.5%; medium, 20%; high, 26.5%) in the substrate. The results showed that the BSF weight (6.46%) and protein conversion ratio (1.13%) increased as the substrate CP level increased (p<0.05). In addition, protein (14.38%) and lipid (13.12%) yields were significantly increased (p<0.05). The BSF CP level increased as the substrate CP level increased (p<0.05). CP levels in the substrate upregulated the levels of certain fatty acids, essential amino acids, and non-essential amino acids (p<0.05). In conclusion, the potential values of BSF as feed were improved as the CP level of the substrate increased; However, no difference was found between medium and high CP levels in the rearing substrate. These results suggested that the substrate CP level should be at the medium level for optimal product quality. In conclusion, BSF quality is influenced by substrate nutrient levels, necessitating the development of specialized substrates for effective rearing.

For sustainable livestock industry, black soldier fly as eco-friendly animal protein source is spotlighted for swine and poultry. However, most of black soldier fly is reared in dirty condition like food waste. In this study, we investigated the effects of fiber level on the growth performance and nutrient composition of black soldier fly reared in specific substrate. Treatments were divided in two as Low (fiber level: 7.1%), and High (fiber level: 14.2%) with a total of 50,000 eggs each. The rearing box had a dimension with 1064 × 507 × 320 cm (length × width × height). Black soldier fly survival rate (72.24 vs. 76.48) and substrate consumption (77.43 vs. 80.37) were greater in High than Low. However, bioconversion (10.59 vs. 9.80) and protein conversion (8.97 vs. 8.00) were increased in Low than High. Gross energy was higher in High compared with Low (4,133 vs. 4,208). Some of essential amino acid (Isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan) were significantly higher in High compared with Low, and non-essential amino acid (alanine, aspartate, glycine, proline, serine, tyrosine) were higher in High compared with Low. Acids such as C12:0, C14:0, C15:0, and C20:1 were higher in High compared with Low, while C18:4 was higher in Low compared with High. As a result, black soldier fly reared in high fiber substrate might be a preferred option for rearing and producing a reliable animal protein source for monogastric animal.

Weaning stress is the most common issue in weanling pigs, and increases diarrhea and mortality. Various wavelengths of light irradiation affect the body owing to the association with biophotons. Biophotons are very weak photons in the visible light range generated during metabolic and chemical reactions in vivo. Immune mechanisms are activated by increasing signal transmission between cells through biophoton emission. This study evaluated the influence of ultra-weak light (LED) on growth performance, antioxidant status, and stress of weaned piglets. A total of 120 weaned pigs with an average initial body weight of 7.04±0.01 kg (age: 21 d) were allotted to two treatments (Control and LED) with 10 replicates. Diets prepared in pellet form were administered to the pigs in three phases including Phase 1 (0–14 d), Phase 2 (15–28 d), and Phase 3 (29–42 d). At the end of the study, the average daily gain (8.96%, p<0.05) and feed efficiency (6.56%, p<0.05) of pigs was significantly increased at phase 3 in the LED treatment. Low concentration of malondialdehyde (12.58%, p<0.05) and high concentrations of glutathione reductase (7.41%, p<0.01) and total antioxidant capacity (5.48%, p<0.05) were observed in the LED treatment at Day 42. The concentration of hair cortisol was also decreased (24.05%, p<0.05) in the LED treatment at Day 42. In conclusion, the use of LED for weanling pigs is recommended to improve growth performance by modulating antioxidant capacity and cortisol level in hair.

Black soldier fly (BSF, Hermetia illucens) has been noted as an excellent feed ingredient. However, there is limited information on rearing and processing technology. Thus, this study was conducted to evaluate the substrates for rearing BSF and the optimal processing method for BSF performance. Study separated as 2 experiment, BSF rearing and drying method(Exp 1.) and EP-processing method(exp 2.). During the study, 30 clutches were reared, with 10 per substrate. Three substrates, namely food waste (FW), tofu by-product (TF), and vegetable waste with two drying methods, namely hot air dry (AD) and microwave dry (MW) at expanding (EP) ratios of 5:5 and 7:3, were examined by evaluating their rearing performance, nutrient contents, in vitro digestibility and lipid oxidation stability during storage (0, 14 and 28 days). In experiment 1, the rearing substrates and drying methods were evaluated. Compared with that of conventional methods (FW, AD), the TF substrates and MW method showed higher dry matter contents (3.43%) and in vitro digestibility (1.62%) but lower ether extract contents(3.53%; p<0.05). However, the malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration under MW treatments decreased during storage (5.77%, 4.69% and 3.24%; p<0.05). In experiment 2, compared with that of the 7:3 EP-BSF ratio, the 5:5 EP-BSF ratio showed higher in vitro digestibility (2.70%) and lower MDA concentration during storage (19.19%, 7.96% and 6.42%; p<0.05). In conclusion, the optimal conditions for BSF rearing and ensuring product quality were TF substrates, MW methods and a 5:5 corn:BSF ratio. Therefore, the optimal conditions for producing EP-BSF can present an excellent feed ingredient alternative for swine feed.

This study investigated various levels of sodium nitrite and probiotics (SNPro) combination as an alternative to zinc oxide on the growth performance, immune response, intestinal microflora, and morphology of weaned pigs. One hundred and ninety-two weaned pigs (Landrace×Yorkshire×Duroc) with an average body weight of 6.51±0.15 kg were randomly assigned to four treatments(n=6) on the basis of their initial body weight. Experimental period was divided into phase 1 and 2 (each 14 days). The dietary treatments were: 1) Basal diet (control), 2) SNPro1 (control+0.01% SNPro), 3) SNPro2 (control+0.02% SNPro), 4) SNPro3 (control+0.03% SNPro). The average daily gain when SNPro was added to the diet was 288, 309, 319, 324 g in phase 1, 355, 387, 410, 407 g in phase 2 and 321, 348, 364, 366 g in the overall. The concentration of interleukin-8 and interleukin-10 in serum when SNPro was added to the diet were 15, 13.5, 13, 12.8 ng/ml and 165, 162, 155, 145 ng/ml (p<0.05) but toll-like receptor 4 and immunoglobulin G levels in serum were no significantly different. The colonization of Escherichia coli in the ileum and Salmonella spp. in the caecum were significantly decreased as SNPro level increased (p<0.05). However, the population of Lactobacillus spp. did not differ among the groups. Although villus height and villus height to crypt depth ratio were not significantly affected by the treatments, crypt depth in the jejunum was 599, 586, 615, 599 ㎛ as SNPro level increased (p<0.05). In conclusion, SNPro had beneficial effects on growth performance, immune response, intestinal microflora and morphology weaned pigs. Therefore, SNPro not only can be considered as an alternative for the pharmacological level of zinc oxide in weaning pigs but also ideal dietary SNPro level was 0.02%.

This study was conducted to determine the effects of dietary protein level and supplementation of protease on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, gut microflora, intestinal morphology and fecal noxious gas emission in weanling pigs. A total of 240 weaned pigs (Landrace×Yorkshire×Duroc, 5.82±0.3 kg) were used during 4 weeks in 2 phases (days 0-14, phase 1; and days 15-28, phase 2) feeding program based on age and initial body weight. Pigs were allocated to 2×2 factorial arrangement, including 2 protein levels (HP, high protein; LP, low protein) and 2 protease levels (with or without protease). The average daily gain in the LP treatment (357 g/d) was increased rather than the HP treatment (339 g/d). A greater avarage daily gain was observed in dietary suppiemented protease treatment (358 vs 339 g/d). Average feed intake was greater in the LP treatment (544 g/d) rather than the HP treatment (530 g/d). A greater average daily feed intake was observed in dietary supplemented protease treatment (552 vs 523 g/d). Dry matter and crude protein digestibility were increased in dietary supplemented protease treatment (82.62% and 76.08%, respectively) rather than non-supplemented treatment (81.74% and 75.13%, respectively). Ileal Lactobacillus spp. count increased in dietary supplemented protease treatment (7.42 vs 7.32 log10CFU/g). Emission of H2S was decreased in the LP treatment (4.41 ppm) rather than HP treatment (4.78 ppm). Emission of NH3 was decreased in dietary supplemented protease treatment (10.43 ppm vs 11.76 ppm). In conclusion, the decrease of dietary protein level and supplementation of protease had beneficial effects on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, gut microflora, and noxious gas emission in weanling pigs.