Review article
https://doi.org/10.31727/m.28.1.1
Insects as an alternative source of protein in poultry feeding
Andrea Gross Bošković
; HAPIH, Centar za sigurnost hrane, Osijek
*
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
The global increase in meat consumption, particularly poultry meat, driven by population growth and changing dietary habits, has intensified the demand for sustainable and nutritionally valuable protein sources in animal feed. Traditional protein feedstuffs, such as soybean meal and fish meal, face environmental, economic, and logistical constraints, creating a need to explore alternative protein sources. In this context, insect farming has emerged as a sustainable solution with the potential to reduce environmental pressure and improve resource efficiency. The aim of this paper is to present the potential application of insects as an alternative protein source in broiler chicken nutrition, with particular emphasis on their nutritional value, production performance, and regulatory framework. Insects are characterized by a high crude protein content, a favorable amino acid profile, and good digestibility, while requiring significantly less land, water, and energy compared to conventional protein sources. Special attention is given to larvae of the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens), which are considered among the most promising protein sources due to their high protein and fat content and their ability to be reared on by-products of the food industry. A review of previous studies indicates that partial replacement of soybean and fish meal with insect meal can achieve comparable or improved production parameters, including body weight gain and feed conversion ratio, without adverse effects on broiler health. Recent research suggests that partial replacement of soybean protein with defatted Hermetia illucens larval meal at inclusion levels of 15–25% of total dietary protein is optimal, whereas higher inclusion levels may negatively affect production performance. Despite their nutritional and environmental advantages, the broader application of insects in poultry nutrition is conditioned by a strictly regulated European Union legislative framework governing feed safety, permitted rearing substrates, and the use of processed animal proteins. In conclusion, insects represent a promising and sustainable protein source in poultry production; however, further research and regulatory development are required to enable their wider adoption in animal nutrition.
Keywords
poultry meat; alternative protein sources; Hermetia illucens
Hrčak ID:
346544
URI
Publication date:
20.2.2026.
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