Evaluation of the feeding efficiency of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) with a diet based on black soldier fly larvae

   Traditional sources of protein in aquaculture feeds are fishmeal and soy, but availability of these components is becoming limited due to the gradual depletion of the World's oceans. From this point of view, insects can be a valuable source of protein as an alternative protein for aquaculture. In Russia, larvae of the tropical fly Hermetia illucens L. are more often used to obtain vermicompost after food waste conversion, however recently the cultivation of larvae for the production of fish feed has become more popular. Therefore, the investigation aimed to evaluate the replacement of fishmeal with the larvae in the diet of yearling rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Based on the results of a study investigating the growth efficiency of rainbow trout raised on a commercial feed supplemented with black soldier fly larvae, it was observed that an experimental diet containing frozen insects and wheat gluten processed using an extruder had a positive impact on fish farming and biological effects. Especially for the experiment, two feed recipes have been developed (for the experimental and control groups), in one of which the fish meal has been replaced with H. illucens larvae. The experiment was conducted on genetically homogeneous groups of fish that were kept in a closed water supply system for 77 days. For individual control of biometric and morphological parameters, a microchip was placed into each fish in the dorsal fin area. The relative increase in fish weight in the experimental group was 13 % higher than in the control group. The differences between the arithmetic means become obvious on the 50^th day from the beginning of the experiment and reach a maximum towards its end.

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