February 22, 2022

 

Rwanda explores possible use of black soldier flies as animal feed

 

 

Rwanda's Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (NAEB) is working with other actors in the livestock sector on research on the potential use of black soldier flies as affordable protein-rich animal feed.

 

Its researchers partnered with Golden Insect Ltd - an insect breeding firm based in Musanze District - and Enabel, the Belgian Development Agency, for this study.

 

The ongoing study started on May 3, 2021, beginning with broiler chickens in RAB's Muhanga research station, and fish in the Kigembe (national aquaculture station) located in Gisagara District, as scientists plan to extend it to layer chickens and pigs.

 

According to RAB, the black soldier flies have 70% proteins needed in feed for chickens, pigs and fish. This fact, RAB said, implies that such flies can provide an alternative and cheaper source of protein to replace soymeal or fishmeal needed in the production of livestock feed, and could help stockbreeders to access affordable feed in Rwanda.

 

Expense on feed accounts for the biggest part (60-70%) of the livestock production cost in the country. Currently, a kilogramme of chicken feed is around FRw400 (US$0.38), which is expensive for poultry farmers.

 

Fabrice Ndayisenga, head of the Animal Resource Research and Technology Transfer Department at RAB told The New Times that the black soldier flies show promises in helping to reduce the high cost of protein-rich feed and improve livestock productivity.

 

"The move could help reduce the bill on expensive imported items [such as soybeans]... Countrywide, feed factories need to import about 45,000 tonnes of soybeans per year," he said, adding that getting the alternative protein source from black soldier flies in the country would be a relief.

 

Remy Titien Niyireba, assistant research fellow at RAB, said that the black solider fly larvae are dried using a drying machine at 55 degrees for between five to seven minutes. He added that they are ground into flour that can be safely kept for long, which is mixed with other ingredients to make nutritious feed for chicken, fish and pigs based on their growth stage, nutrient needs and recommended recipe for better results.

 

According to Niyireba, RAB's Muhanga Station started rearing the black soldier flies, adding that there are also firms that are rearing them including Golden Insect Ltd and two companies operating in the districts of Kamonyi and Bugesera.

 

Currently, a kilogramme of fresh black soldier fly larvae costs FRw500 (US$0.48), while that of soybeans is FRw1,500 (US$1.44), Niyireba said

 

He added that black soldier flies are inexpensive and take short time to obtain, normally not more than 20 days, compared to growing soy which takes months to harvest.

 

"Most of the soybeans used in the country are imported at up to three times the current price of fresh BSF larvae as a kilogramme of soy beans is FRw1,500," he said. However, for the dried larvae, he said that a kilogramme is Frw1,500, explaining that it is obtained from drying three kilogrammes of the fresh ones.

 

"You use a relatively small amount of BSF larvae flour to make blended nutritious feed thanks to its rich nutrient concentration, with a kilogramme replacing five kilogrammes of soya," he said.

 

Dominique-Savio Imbabazi, founder of Golden Insect Ltd, told The New Times that the mass production of black soldier fly maggots requires smaller area than soy to produce the same amount of protein.

 

He said that soybeans have protein ranging from 25% to 30%, while black soldier fly maggots have a higher protein level of 70%. In addition, there is competition between humans and livestock on soybean consumption, which can contribute to high cost of this legume.

 

The cost of fresh black soldier fly maggots should not exceed FRw500, and FRw1,500 a kilogramme for dried ones, according to Imbabazi.

 

However, he warned that the labour-intense activity to sort mixed waste and the high cost of electricity needed to dry the maggots were among the factors contributing to increasing their prices.

 

- New Times