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Black Soldier Fly Larvae as a Sustainable Protein Source in Laying Hen Nutrition: Benefits for Egg Production and Circular Farming
June, 2025, Bio Cycle Labs
In this context, Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL, Hermetia illucens) are gaining recognition as a sustainable, locally producible, and nutritionally viable feed ingredient for laying hens.
As demand grows for sustainable and efficient food production, poultry egg farming is under increasing pressure to reduce its environmental impact while maintaining high levels of productivity and animal welfare.
Feed, the largest operational cost in layer production, also accounts for the greatest share of environmental burden - particularly due to its reliance on imported soybean meal and fishmeal.
Nutritional Suitability for Layers
BSFL are naturally rich in protein and essential nutrients required for optimal egg production:
Scientific studies have shown that BSFL meal can replace up to 25-50% of conventional protein sources in layer diets without compromising egg production, egg mass, or shell quality.
- Crude protein: 35-50% (dry matter basis), rich in lysine, methionine, threonine
- Crude fat: 15-35%, with significant levels of medium-chain fatty acids (notably lauric acid)
- High mineral content: Calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and trace elements
- Presence of chitin: May act as a prebiotic and support immune function
Scientific studies have shown that BSFL meal can replace up to 25-50% of conventional protein sources in layer diets without compromising egg production, egg mass, or shell quality.
Impacts on Egg Quality and Hen Health
Research indicates that inclusion of BSFL in layer feed can yield several positive outcomes:
Additionally, BSFL may reduce the need for antibiotic growth promoters, aligning with EU and global goals for antimicrobial resistance reduction in animal agriculture.
Research indicates that inclusion of BSFL in layer feed can yield several positive outcomes:
- Improved yolk color: Due to naturally occurring pigments and fats
- Better immunity: Linked to antimicrobial peptides and lauric acid content
- Enhanced gut health: Chitin and bioactive lipids support microbiota balance
- Feather quality and behavior: Anecdotal and trial data suggest improved hen activity and feather retention.
Additionally, BSFL may reduce the need for antibiotic growth promoters, aligning with EU and global goals for antimicrobial resistance reduction in animal agriculture.
Environmental and Economic Benefits
Integrating BSFL into poultry egg production supports several aspects of circular and climate-resilient agriculture:
A full life cycle analysis (LCA) shows that insect protein can reduce the feed-related carbon footprint of egg production by 30-60%, depending on sourcing and scale.
Integrating BSFL into poultry egg production supports several aspects of circular and climate-resilient agriculture:
- Waste valorization: BSFL consume food scraps, grain residues, and pre-treated manure;
- Feed cost reduction: Lower dependency on volatile global protein markets;
- Frass as biofertilizer: The residual by-product contains organic nitrogen, phosphorus, and beneficial microbes;
- Reduced water and land use: BSFL production requires significantly fewer natural resources than soy or fishmeal.
A full life cycle analysis (LCA) shows that insect protein can reduce the feed-related carbon footprint of egg production by 30-60%, depending on sourcing and scale.
Bio Cycle Labs provides a modular BSFL production system tailored to the needs of small to mid-size farms. For layer operations, this can be integrated as:
An on-farm insect-rearing unit connected to waste streams (e.g. food waste, organic residues);
A regional hub supplying BSFL meal to layer farms in the vicinity;
Part of a closed-loop production system, linking feed, poultry, and fertilizer production on one site.
These systems are designed for ease of use, regulatory compliance, and adaptability to varying climates and farm sizes.
An on-farm insect-rearing unit connected to waste streams (e.g. food waste, organic residues);
A regional hub supplying BSFL meal to layer farms in the vicinity;
Part of a closed-loop production system, linking feed, poultry, and fertilizer production on one site.
These systems are designed for ease of use, regulatory compliance, and adaptability to varying climates and farm sizes.
Implementation Considerations
As of 2021, the EU has authorized BSFL meal for use in poultry feed (Regulation (EU) 2021/1372). The insect feed market is projected to exceed €2 billion globally by 2030, driven by sustainability trends and shifting consumer preferences. Labels such as “insect-fed hens” or “sustainable egg production” are increasingly used as value propositions in retail markets, creating a potential branding and traceability advantage for farms using BSFL feed.
BSFL offer a practical, nutritionally appropriate, and environmentally responsible solution for modern egg production. Their integration into laying hen diets can help producers reduce feed costs, improve animal health, and participate in the transition to circular farming systems.
BSFL offer a practical, nutritionally appropriate, and environmentally responsible solution for modern egg production. Their integration into laying hen diets can help producers reduce feed costs, improve animal health, and participate in the transition to circular farming systems.
At BioCycle Labs, we believe insect-based feed is not a future concept - it’s a current, science-backed tool to support the poultry sector’s resilience, profitability, and ecological performance.