Do dietary soy alternatives lead to pork quality improvements or drawbacks? A look into micro-alga and insect protein in swine diets

Abstract Pork quality characteristics related to the dietary substitution of soybean meal by the micro-alga Spirulina ( Arthrospira platensis ) or black soldier fly ( Hermetia illucens ) partly-defatted larval meal were observed. Through a duplicated study totalling 48 individually-fed barrows (Pietrain × (Large White × Landrace)) allocated into two experimental groups and a control, the effect of dietary protein source on physico-chemical and sensory pork quality was monitored under current industrial packaging conditions (highly‑oxygenated modified atmosphere packaging). The results show that physico-chemical characteristics are not degraded by including alternative protein sources in pig diets. Hermetia illucens increased lauric acid levels in backfat indicating that this fatty acid may be suitable as a biomarker for Hermetia illucens -fed pork. This goes to show that protein alternatives do not compromise pork quality.