In recent years, interest in the larvae of black soldier fly (BSF) (Hermetia illucens) as a sustainable protein resource for livestock feed has increased considerably. However, knowledge on the nutritional and physiological aspects of this insect, especially compared to other conventional farmed animals is scarce. This review presents a critical comparison of data on the growth potential and efficiency of the BSF larvae (BSFL) compared to conventional monogastric livestock species. Advantages of BSFL over other monogastric livestock species includes their high growth rate and their ability to convert low-grade organic waste into high-quality protein and fat-rich biomass suitable for use in animal feed. Calculations using literature data suggest that BSFL are more efficient than broilers, pigs and fish in terms of conversion of substrate protein into body mass, but less efficient than broilers and fish in utilization of substrate gross energy to gain body mass. BSFL growth efficiency varies greatly depending on the nutrient quality of their dietary substrates. This might be associated with the function of their gastrointestinal tract, including the activity of digestive enzymes, the substrate particle characteristics, and their intestinal microbial community. The conceived advantage of BSFL having an environmental footprint better than conventional livestock is only true if BSFL is produced on low-grade organic waste and its protein would directly be used for human consumption. Therefore, their potential role as a new species to better close nutrient cycles in agro-ecological systems needs to be reconsidered, and we conclude that BSFL is a complementary livestock species efficiently utilizing organic waste that cannot be utilized by other livestock. In addition, we provide comparative insight into morpho-functional aspects of the gut, characterization of digestive enzymes, gut microbiota and fiber digestion. Finally, current knowledge on the nutritional utilization and requirements of BSFL in terms of macro- and micro-nutrients is reviewed and found to be rather limited. In addition, the research methods to determine nutritional requirements of conventional livestock are not applicable for BSFL. Thus, there is a great need for research on the nutrient requirements of BSFL.

中文翻译：

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与单胃牲畜相比，黑水虻 (Hermetia illucens) 幼虫的生长效率、肠道生物学、营养利用和需求：综述

近年来，人们对黑水虻 (BSF) (Hermetia illucens) 幼虫作为牲畜饲料的可持续蛋白质资源的兴趣显着增加。然而，关于这种昆虫的营养和生理方面的知识，特别是与其他传统养殖动物相比，却很少。本综述对 BSF 幼虫 (BSFL) 与传统单胃家畜物种的生长潜力和效率数据进行了重要比较。BSFL 相对于其他单胃牲畜物种的优势包括它们的高生长速度和将低品位有机废物转化为适用于动物饲料的高质量蛋白质和富含脂肪的生物质的能力。使用文献数据的计算表明，BSFL 比肉鸡更有效，猪和鱼在将底物蛋白质转化为体重方面，但在利用底物总能量来增加体重方面效率低于肉鸡和鱼。BSFL 的生长效率因日粮底物的营养质量而有很大差异。这可能与它们的胃肠道功能有关，包括消化酶的活性、底物颗粒特征以及它们的肠道微生物群落。只有当 BSFL 是在低等级有机废物上生产并且其蛋白质将直接用于人类消费时，BSFL 具有比传统牲畜更好的环境足迹的设想优势才成立。因此，需要重新考虑它们作为新物种在农业生态系统中更好地关闭养分循环的潜在作用，我们得出结论，BSFL 是一种互补的牲畜物种，可有效利用其他牲畜无法利用的有机废物。此外，我们还提供了对肠道形态功能方面、消化酶表征、肠道微生物群和纤维消化的比较洞察。最后，回顾了目前关于 BSFL 在宏量和微量营养素方面的营养利用和需求的知识，发现相当有限。此外，确定常规牲畜营养需求的研究方法不适用于 BSFL。因此，非常需要研究 BSFL 的营养需求。我们提供了对肠道形态功能方面、消化酶表征、肠道微生物群和纤维消化的比较洞察。最后，回顾了目前关于 BSFL 在宏量和微量营养素方面的营养利用和需求的知识，发现相当有限。此外，确定常规牲畜营养需求的研究方法不适用于 BSFL。因此，非常需要研究 BSFL 的营养需求。我们提供了对肠道形态功能方面、消化酶表征、肠道微生物群和纤维消化的比较洞察。最后，回顾了目前关于 BSFL 在宏量和微量营养素方面的营养利用和需求的知识，发现相当有限。此外，确定常规牲畜营养需求的研究方法不适用于 BSFL。因此，非常需要研究 BSFL 的营养需求。确定常规牲畜营养需求的研究方法不适用于 BSFL。因此，非常需要研究 BSFL 的营养需求。确定常规牲畜营养需求的研究方法不适用于 BSFL。因此，非常需要研究 BSFL 的营养需求。