Baker’s Yeast-Supplemented Black Soldier Fly Larvae as a Sustainable Fishmeal Alternative in Nile Tilapia Diets: Impacts on Growth, Health and Gut Microbiota
Baker’s Yeast-Supplemented Black Soldier Fly Larvae as a Sustainable Fishmeal Alternative in Nile Tilapia Diets: Impacts on Growth, Health and Gut Microbiota
Remy Ntakirutimana1,2*, KM Mujeeb Rahiman2, Megha Lovejan2
ABSTRACT
The inclusion of fishmeal in aquaculture poses sustainability issues due to the reliance on wild fish. Therefore, scientists and aquafarmers continue to search and find alternative sources of protein. This study aimed to investigate non-defatted black soldier fly larvae meal supplemented with baker’s yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, as a total replacement for fishmeal in the diets of Nile Tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus. This study highlights the potential of black soldier fly larvae meal supplemented with baker’s yeast as a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to fishmeal, promoting environmental conservation and enhancing aquaculture productivity. Three experimental diets were formulated: T1 based on fishmeal, T2 based on BSFL with baker’s yeast supplementation and T3 was BSFL without yeast. Growth performance, feed utilization, body composition, haematology, gut histomorphology and gut microbiota of juvenile Nile Tilapia fed these diets for 60 days were evaluated. The results showed that T2 had comparable growth and nutrient utilisation to T1, while T3 showed inferior performance. Yeast supplementation improved feed conversion efficiency, intestinal morphology, and protein and lipid utilization. The replacement did not affect negatively the fish blood parameters. Importantly, yeast also improved gut microbial balance, implying a probiotic benefit. This work demonstrates the promise of yeast-enriched BSFL meal compared to BSFL meal alone as a sustainable alternative to fishmeal for aquaculture that promotes the growth and health of Nile Tilapia. These results contribute to sustainable aquaculture by reducing reliance on wild fish. However, scaling up production and consumer acceptance remain challenges for widespread adoption.
Keywords | Nile tilapia, Probiotic, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, BSFL Hermetia illucens, Fish meal replacement
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