According to research reviewed by Gram Research analysis, fat from black soldier fly larvae appears to be a good energy source for growing pigs, similar to unrefined sunflower oil. In a 2026 study of 40 young pigs, researchers found it can serve as an alternative to vegetable fats, though more research is needed.
Farmers are looking for new feed ingredients, and insects are one option being explored. A new study reviewed by Gram Research analysis tested whether fat from black soldier fly larvae can provide energy for growing pigs. Researchers fed 40 young pigs diets that included either sunflower oil or larvae fat, with or without a supplement called lysolecithin, which helps the body break down fats. The larvae fat appeared to be a good energy source, similar in value to the vegetable oil used in typical pig feed. The team also found that the supplement affected how well the pigs digested fat, though the full details were not clear in the available summary. The researchers say more studies are needed to understand how insect fats work alongside this supplement before farmers change their feeding practices.
Key Statistics
A 2026 study of 40 growing pigs published in Research in Veterinary Science found that fat from black soldier fly larvae appears to be a good source of digestible energy, comparable to vegetable fat as an alternative energy source.
A 2026 pig nutrition study with 40 young Danube White pigs weighing about 54.5 kilograms on average tested black soldier fly larvae fat at 40 grams per kilogram of feed against unrefined sunflower oil.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: Can fat from black soldier fly larvae be a useful energy source for growing pigs, and does adding a fat-digesting supplement change how well pigs use it?
- Who participated: The study used 40 young pigs of both sexes, about 93 days old and weighing around 54.5 kilograms (about 120 pounds) on average. All were Danube White pigs, a breed kept for meat production.
- Key finding: Fat from black soldier fly larvae appears to supply energy to growing pigs about as well as unrefined sunflower oil, a common plant-based fat in pig feed. The supplement lysolecithin also affected fat digestion, but the exact numbers were not fully readable in the source text.
- What it means for you: If you raise pigs or follow the animal feed industry, this research suggests insect fat may be a workable alternative to vegetable oil. It is not yet ready to guide everyday feeding decisions, and results from one study with 40 pigs should be confirmed before wider use.
The Research Details
Researchers wanted to know how well young pigs could digest and use energy from different fats. They divided the pigs into groups and fed each group a diet with a set amount of fat. The study used a design that tested two things at once. One factor was the fat source: either unrefined sunflower oil or fat extracted from black soldier fly larvae. The other factor was the supplement: lysolecithin was either added at 1 gram per kilogram of feed or left out. Testing both factors together shows whether they work independently or interact with each other.
To measure how well the pigs used the fat, the team looked at digestibility. This means they measured how much of the energy in the feed the pigs’ bodies could absorb. Energy absorbed from feed is called digestible energy, and it is one of the main ways scientists judge whether a feed ingredient is useful. The researchers also tracked growth performance, which shows whether the pigs gained weight well on each diet.
Because the study compared groups fed different diets under controlled conditions, it can show cause and effect more clearly than simply observing pigs on different farms. Still, the available summary does not list all the group sizes or detailed numbers, so readers should view the findings as early evidence.
Feed is one of the biggest costs in raising animals, and vegetable oils are often expensive. Finding a reliable alternative energy source could lower costs and reduce pressure on crops used for oil. Testing both the fat source and the supplement together also helps show whether the supplement is needed when using insect fats, which is useful information for farmers and feed makers.
The study was published in a peer-reviewed veterinary science journal, which means other experts reviewed it before publication. The use of a controlled design with comparison groups is a strength. However, the summary provided is incomplete, with some statistical values and results missing, and the paper appears to be a single experiment rather than a large multi-site trial. The sample of 40 pigs is modest, so results may not apply to all pig breeds, ages, or farm conditions.
What the Results Show
The main finding is that black soldier fly larvae fat appears to be a good source of digestible energy for growing pigs. Digestible energy is the portion of a feed’s energy that the animal’s body can actually absorb and use, so this is an important measure for any feed ingredient. The researchers concluded that this insect fat can be included in pig diets as an alternative to vegetable fats.
The study also examined whether adding lysolecithin changed how well pigs digested fat. The available text suggests the supplement affected digestion, and the researchers reported that it increased certain digestion measures. However, the summary text is partly garbled, so the exact size of this effect cannot be confirmed from the information provided.
The researchers also looked at whether the type of fat or the supplement changed overall growth. The summary indicates that neither factor clearly changed growth performance in a way the team could confidently report from this data. In plain terms, the pigs appeared to grow similarly across the diets, although this point should be checked against the full paper.
The researchers noted an important gap. They found that the interaction between insect fats and lysolecithin is not yet well understood, and they called for further research on this combination before drawing firm conclusions.
Beyond the main energy finding, the study hints that the supplement’s role may depend on which fat is used. This matters because farmers who switch to insect fat may not get the same results as they would with vegetable oil, even with identical supplements. Growth results appeared broadly similar across groups, which is encouraging for anyone considering insect fat as a practical feed option. These secondary points are useful for planning future trials but are not yet strong enough to change feeding recommendations.
Insect-based ingredients have been studied more in poultry and fish than in pigs, and interest in them has grown as the search for sustainable feed increases. Earlier work on insect meal and insect fat generally suggests they can provide useful nutrients, though results vary with processing methods and insect species. This study adds evidence specifically for growing pigs and for black soldier fly larvae fat, which is a relatively new area of research. Lysolecithin is already known in animal nutrition as a way to help digest fats, so testing it alongside insect fat is a logical step.
The study involved only 40 pigs of one breed, so results may not apply to other breeds, ages, or farm environments. The available summary is incomplete, and some statistical details and numbers are unclear, which makes it harder to judge how large the effects were. The study measured digestion and early growth, but it may not show long-term health effects, meat quality, or costs in real farm settings. The researchers themselves state that more research is needed on how insect fats and lysolecithin work together.
The Bottom Line
Based on this single early study, insect fat from black soldier fly larvae appears to be a reasonable energy source for growing pigs, and feed makers may consider it as an alternative to vegetable oils (moderate confidence). The effect of lysolecithin on insect fat is less clear and needs more testing before it is recommended as a standard practice (low confidence). Farmers should wait for confirmation from larger or repeated studies before making major feed changes.
Pig farmers, feed formulators, and animal nutrition professionals are the most direct audience, since they make feed decisions. Researchers working on sustainable animal feed will also find this useful. Pet owners and general consumers do not need to act on these findings, since the study focused on farm animals in a controlled research setting.
Changes to commercial feed usually take months to years, since they require repeated testing, cost analysis, and regulatory review. Any benefits to farms from using insect fat would likely show up over a full growing period for pigs, which usually lasts several months. Readers should not expect immediate changes from this study alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is black soldier fly larvae fat good for pig feed?
A 2026 study of 40 growing pigs found that black soldier fly larvae fat appears to provide useful digestible energy, similar to unrefined sunflower oil. Researchers suggest it may work as an alternative to vegetable fats, but they recommend more testing before wider use.
What is lysolecithin and does it help pigs digest insect fat?
Lysolecithin is a supplement that helps the body break down fats. In a 2026 pig study, it changed fat digestion, but researchers say its interaction with insect fats is not yet well understood and needs further study.
Can insects be used as animal feed instead of vegetable oil?
Insect fats are being studied as a sustainable energy source for animals. Early research, including a 2026 pig trial with 40 animals, suggests black soldier fly larvae fat may replace some vegetable oils, though larger studies are still needed to confirm this.
How many pigs were used in the black soldier fly fat study?
The 2026 study used 40 male and female growing Danube White pigs, about 93 days old and averaging 54.5 kilograms. Pigs were divided into groups that received different fat sources with or without lysolecithin supplementation.
Want to Apply This Research?
- Track the type of fat used in any animal feed you manage, along with the amount fed per day and the weight gain of animals each week. Record whether a supplement like lysolecithin was included. This creates a simple log that can show whether a diet change is working.
- If you manage animal feed, compare your current feed cost per kilogram of weight gained with any new option that uses insect fat. Start by testing a small batch with a clear comparison group rather than switching an entire herd or flock at once.
- Over the long term, record weight gain, feed intake, and any signs of digestive trouble across several growing cycles. Review the data every few months and compare results across seasons and batches. Keep notes on feed supplier details so you can connect any changes in performance to specific ingredients.
This article summarizes an early animal nutrition study on pigs and is intended for general information only. It is not professional farming, veterinary, or business advice. The source summary was incomplete, so detailed numbers may differ from the full published paper. Consult a qualified veterinarian or animal nutritionist before making changes to animal diets.
This research translation is published by Gram Research, the science division of Gram, an AI-powered nutrition tracking app.