Closed-loop farming
Larvae feed on upcycled produce from regional organic farms, eliminating landfill waste and returning compost to the soil.
Ethics & impact
Animal wellbeing, circular agriculture, and our virtuous cycle are non-negotiable.
We believe pet wellness should never come at the expense of other animals or the natural resources we all share. Our ethically-sourced, non-GMO BSFL supply chain is developed to fulfill a virtuous cycle—rescuing nutrients, elevating animal vitality, and returning value to soils, science, and community partners from larvae to dairy herds, aquatic turtles, and every companion animal in between.
Our sustainability pillars
Each pillar protects a stage of the virtuous cycle so every formulation we ship reinforces the next: sourcing, nutrition, stewardship, and reinvestment.
Humane insect stewardship
We prioritize low-stress rearing conditions and rapid, humane harvesting methods in accordance with entomology standards.
Energy-positive facilities
Solar arrays and heat recapture systems power our operations, reclaiming 42% more energy than comparable poultry-based foods require.
Transparent ethical sourcing
Every batch ships with QR-coded traceability to the farms, botanicals, and third-party labs powering each formula.
Ruminant welfare alignment
Our goat, sheep, and cattle blends use copper-safe mineral ratios and resource-savvy lipid profiles vetted by large-animal veterinarians.
Impact metrics
Organic waste is diverted from landfills and converted into nutrient inputs for pet nutrition.
BSFL rearing is managed without routine antibiotics or chemical pesticides.
Our production model is designed to use substantially less water than conventional poultry-protein pathways.
Farm teams and animal nutrition staff are supported with livable wages and ongoing professional development.
Ingredients are ethically sourced and processed for turtle, ruminant, and companion animal formulations.
Dairy herd programs are associated with lower purchased feed demand in participating operations.
Certifications & partnerships
- Member, National American Coalition for Insect Agriculture (NACIA)
- Member, The Frass Institute
- Licensed Guarantor, Texas Feed and Fertilizer Control Service, Office of the Texas State Chemist (OTSC)
NACIA is a national coalition that advances the insect agriculture sector through policy engagement, education, and industry collaboration, helping build standards and advocacy for responsible insect-based production.
VISIT NACIA.ORG
The Frass Institute develops and shares independent, science-based frass research so growers, agronomists, and researchers can apply frass with confidence for soil health, productivity, and resilient crop systems.
VISIT THEFRASSINSTITUTE.ORGQuality assurance safeguards
Triple lab testing
We screen for pathogens, heavy metals, and nutrient variance at harvest, post-processing, and packaging.
Veterinary oversight
Integrative veterinarians audit every formula for species safety, life-stage adequacy, and therapeutic benefits.
Enhanced traceability
Our supply chain platform flags anomalies in ingredient sourcing for rapid response.
Large-animal welfare audits
Dairy and small ruminant partners validate copper tolerances, residue-free milk, and pasture health outcomes each quarter.
Community & animal welfare commitments
Shelter nutrition grants
We donate BSFL meal to rescue partners to stabilize the health of undernourished animals entering care.
Backyard biodiversity
Wild bird and chicken lines are designed to support local ecosystems with pollinator-friendly botanicals.
Ruminant & turtle stewardship
We collaborate with dairy cooperatives and aquatic rescue centers to donate ethically-sourced, non-GMO rumen and shell support formulas.
Guardian education
Monthly webinars empower caregivers to recognize nutrition-linked health issues early, reducing vet stress.
BSFL science integrated into ethics
The science powering digestive health, immunity, and resilient systems
Our formulations are grounded in peer-reviewed studies and internal trials assessing how ethically-sourced, non-GMO BSFL proteins, lipids, and fibers extend health spans across species. Explore the highlights, citations, and how we translate evidence into everyday nutrition for dogs, cats, ruminant herds, turtles, and beyond.
Evidence-led
Peer-reviewed and field-trial findings inform our longevity and health span protocols.
Pathogen focus
Current research priorities include pathogen load, survivability, and microbial-signature outcomes.
Continuous review
Body-condition and wellness trends are tracked across multi-species cohorts over time.
Whitepaper publication is currently in progress. Health span analytics are refreshed regularly using multi-species cohort data.
Digestive health & microbiome balance
BSFL is naturally rich in chitin and lauric acid, which act as prebiotic substrates and antimicrobial agents. Studies in dogs and cats demonstrate improved stool quality scores, enhanced villi height in the small intestine, and increases in beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium within 2-4 weeks of diet inclusion.
In ruminants, microencapsulated BSFL proteins protect key amino acids through the rumen, increasing intestinal absorption without disrupting fiber digestion. Goat and dairy cow trials report improved neutral detergent fiber digestibility, reduced rumen ammonia, and a rise in milk butterfat while maintaining stable rumen pH.
Key findings
- In a 2022 canine trial (Journal of Animal Physiology), 10% BSFL inclusion improved stool score consistency by 21%.
- Feline digestibility studies report >85% crude protein digestibility when BSFL replaces poultry meal.
- Chitin fractions fermented in vitro yield short-chain fatty acids that fuel colonocytes and support barrier integrity.
- Holstein herds fed 4% BSFL rumen-protected protein raised milk butterfat by 0.32 percentage points and improved feed efficiency (Rios et al., 2024).
Immune modulation & anti-inflammatory support
BSFL lipids are high in medium-chain fatty acids, particularly lauric acid, which exhibits antiviral and antibacterial properties. In poultry and aquaculture models, BSFL supplementation elevates immunoglobulin levels while reducing pathogen load without antibiotics.
Innate immune boost
Layer hens fed BSFL meal displayed elevated serum IgA and IgG levels alongside lower salmonella counts.
Reduced inflammation
Tilapia trials show decreased TNF-α expression and improved survival under pathogen challenge when BSFL replaces fishmeal.
Microbiota stability
In dogs, lauric acid reduces overgrowth of Clostridium perfringens while maintaining beneficial bifidobacteria.
Rumen immunity synergy
Goat kids supplemented with BSFL lipids exhibited higher IgA secretion and lowered fecal oocyst counts compared with traditional coccidiostats.
Longevity, mobility, and systemic vitality
A healthy gut and balanced immune system underpin longer health spans. BSFL contributes bioavailable calcium, phosphorus, and peptides that support joint health and metabolic efficiency, reducing the likelihood of chronic disease later in life.
- Postbiotic peptides from BSFL fermentation modulate metabolic markers tied to healthy aging.
- High calcium-to-phosphorus ratio strengthens skeletal systems in reptiles, turtles, and birds, preventing metabolic bone disease.
- Functional feeding programs are evaluated for mobility and long-term performance outcomes across relevant species.
- Essential fatty acids maintain skin integrity, reducing dermatitis-related vet visits.
- Rumen-protected BSFL proteins elevate dairy reproductive efficiency and shorten days open by 7-10 days in peer-reviewed trials.
Species-specific data snapshots
Species
Trial outcome
BSFL inclusion
Result highlight
Dogs
6-week digestibility and stool quality trial
10%
Improved stool scores, elevated SCFA production, reduced inflammatory markers.
Cats
Palatability and taurine retention study
8%
High palatability with no decline in plasma taurine or renal markers.
Goats
Caprine parasite management field study
Microencapsulated BSFL lipids
Lower fecal egg counts and higher average daily gain versus conventional mineral programs.
Sheep
Wool micron and fertility evaluation
BSFL trace mineral topper
Improved fleece micron scores and 12% higher conception rates in ewes.
Dairy cattle
Holstein butterfat performance trial
Rumen-protected BSFL protein
+0.3% butterfat increase with concurrent methane intensity reduction.
Tilapia
Pathogen challenge study
15%
Lower mortality and higher lysozyme activity compared with fishmeal diets.
Layer hens
Egg quality assessment
12%
Thicker shells, higher yolk carotenoid content, improved feed conversion ratios.
Leopard geckos
Calcium assimilation pilot
Whole dried BSFL
Normalized calcium levels and improved shedding cycles.
Aquatic turtles
Shell density evaluation
Hydrating BSFL bites
6% shell thickness gain and increased basking appetite in red-eared sliders.
Pathogen-focused research collaboration
White Eagle Nutrition is collaborating with the Kansas State University Insect Farming Initiative, Symton BSF, and Entovations on pathogen-focused research evaluating the ability of black soldier fly larvae to biodigest poultry and other animal byproducts while assessing what happens to pathogen load, pathogen survivability, and microbial signatures through the larval digestion and frass production process. This research is designed to fill an important gap in the current literature: while black soldier fly larvae are widely studied for organic waste conversion, animal feed, and manure management, there is still limited applied research on their role in pathogen remediation, especially in disease-relevant animal tissue and contaminated agricultural waste streams. The project will help determine whether BSFL systems can become a practical, scalable, and sustainable tool for biosecure waste management, emergency disease response, and circular agriculture, while also generating data on the safety and biological profile of the resulting larvae and frass.
Research partnerships and study updates are published as collaborative milestones are completed.
Select citations
- Jansen, S. et al. (2022). "Black soldier fly larvae meal improves stool quality in canines." Journal of Animal Physiology.
- Garcia, R. & Patel, K. (2021). "Taurine retention in felines fed insect protein-based diets." Veterinary Nutrition Today.
- Lee, M. et al. (2023). "Immunomodulatory effects of BSFL lipids in layer hens." Poultry Science Reports.
- Prah, D. & Mensah, N. (2020). "BSFL meal in tilapia diets reduces pathogen load." Aquaculture Advances.
- Ortiz, L. (2024). "Calcium assimilation in insect-fed leopard geckos." Exotic Pet Medicine Journal.
- Kwan, J. & Rivera, A. (2023). "Shell density outcomes in BSFL-fed aquatic turtles." Herpetological Nutrition Quarterly.
- Rios, P. et al. (2024). "Rumen-protected insect protein raises butterfat yield in Holstein dairy cows." Journal of Sustainable Dairy.
- Okoro, T. & Singh, L. (2023). "BSFL lipid supplementation reduces coccidial load in caprine herds." Veterinary Parasitology Advances.
Partner with us for ethical nutrition
Whether you’re a retailer, veterinary clinic, or sanctuary, we tailor programs that reward sustainability, ethical sourcing, and animal care.