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.

The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of environmental temperature and backfat thickness (BT) on the reproductive performance of lactating sows. Sixty crossbred sows were allotted to four groups in a 2×2 factorial arrangement by environmental temperature (high temperature [HT], 27.5±1.76℃; low temperature [LT], 23.3±0.89℃) and BT (<20 mm, average 17.70 mm; ≥20 mm, average 23.20 mm) from July to August 2019. Sows in the HT group experienced a greater change in BT and a lower feed intake. Losses in body weight and BT were lower in sows with <20 mm BT than in those with ≥20 mm BT. Sows with low BT had a lower weaning-to-estrus interval than sows with high BT (5.20, 4.93 d vs. 5.87, 5.60 d, respectively). Piglet survivability was lower in the HT group (90.31%) than in the LT group (94.87%). Piglet weaning weight and average daily weight gain were greater in sows with <20 mm BT (5.75 kg and 201.46 g, respectively) than in those with ≥20 mm BT (5.49 kg and 188.41 g, respectively). Sows in the HT group had higher cortisol concentrations than those in the LT group (post-farrowing: HT 7.86 μg/mL vs. LT 6.04 μg/mL; weanling: HT 5.48 μg/mL vs. LT 4.40 μg/mL). In conclusion, environmental temperature adversely influenced sow performance and cortisol levels. Moreover, sows with low BT had a greater weaning-to-estrus interval when subjected to heat stress.

The present study was conducted to determine the optimal supplementation level of beta-mannanase in the diet of laying hens. A total of 320 Hy-Line Brown layers (80 weeks of age) were assigned randomly into four groups on the basis of laying performance. Each treatment had eight replicates with 10 birds each (80 birds per treatment). Two hens were caged individually. Treatments were basal diet supplemented with 0 (control), 0.04, 0.08, and 0.16% beta-mannanase during the nine-week feeding period. Laying hens fed diets supplemented with increasing levels of beta-mannanase had increased (linear, p<0.05) overall egg production and egg mass. In addition, these hens had greater retention of dry matter, crude protein, gross energy, calcium, and mannan (linear, p<0.05). Dietary beta-mannanase treatments had no effect on blood metabolites such as total carbohydrate, triglycerides, glucose, total protein, and blood urea nitrogen, or excreted ammonia nitrogen and volatile fatty acids. The results obtained in present study indicate that dietary supplementation of beta-mannanase has the potential for improving the performance of laying hens. The optimal supplementation level is 0.04% beta-mannanase in the diet.

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and gut health of broiler chickens when a dietary supplementation of multienzymes was added to diets, containing different energy levels. A total of 480 broiler chickens of similar body weight (Ross 308, 1-day-old) were randomly subjected to four treatments. The dietary treatments included a corn-soybean meal-based diet supplemented with: multienzyme (amylase+protease+ mannanase+xylanase+phytase), 0.05% enzyme, and different energy levels (3010 and 3060 kcal/kg). The experimental diets were fed to the chicks in a mash form for 35 days in two phases (1–21 d, phase I; and 22–35 d, phase II). During the overall period, chicks fed with diets supplemented with multienzymes had a better weight gain (p<0.05) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) than those fed with diets without enzymes. There was no difference in the growth rate and FCR among the chicks fed with diets supplemented with enzymes, even though the dietary energy levels were different. The apparent fecal and ileal digestibility of dry matter, gross, crude protein, calcium, and phosphorus were significantly enhanced (p<0.05). The population of cecal and ileal Lactobacillus spp. was significantly increased (p<0.05), and Clostridium spp. and coliforms were significantly decreased (p<0.05) in diets supplemented with enzymes. Villus height and villus height to crypt depth ratio in the small intestine was also significantly enhanced (p<0.05) in diets supplemented with enzymes. In conclusion, multienzyme supplementation had positive effects on the weight gain of broilers, FCR, digestibility of nutrients, and on the growth of intestinal microbiota.