Effect of insect oil on the gut microbiome of piglets

Post-weaning (PW) is a stressful period of the early life of growing pigs. Changes in diet may cause a shift in the microbiome composition of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), with consequent effects on the health of the piglets. Here, we evaluate the effect of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) oil, as a sustainable nutrient source, on growth performance and fecal microbiome composition and development in post-weaning pigs. Two separate trials where BSFL oil was used as an alternative to vegetable oils, such as soybean and palm kernel oil, were performed. For both trials, body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG) and gain to feed ratio (G:F) were measured to evaluate the effects of BSFL oil on growth performance. Furthermore, to measure the impact of BSFL on fecal microbiome composition and developed, 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing technology was used. No direct effects of BSFL oil implementation were observed in the pig general performance. Moreover, no difference in the microbiome community and its development has been observed between interventions. These results indicate BSFL oil as a valid alternative nutrient source for weaned pigs.