GLOBAL PREDICTIONS INDICATE AN INCREASE TO NINE BILLION PEOPLE BY 2050, TRANSLATING TO A 58% INCREASE IN THE DEMAND FOR MEAT VERSUS 2010. TO MEET THESE FOOD DEMANDS, LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION WILL INCREASE, PLACING PRESSURE ON NATURAL RESOURCES, SUCH AS LAND AND WATER. THE PRODUCTION OF CONVENTIONAL LIVESTOCK FEEDS, SUCH AS SOY, IS ASSOCIATED WITH SIGNIFICANT NATURAL RESOURCE INPUTS. FURTHER, SOY COMPETES IN THE HUMAN FOOD AND ANIMAL FEED SECTORS. AS A RESULT OF THIS COMPETITION, THE DEMAND FOR (AND, THUS, PRICE OF) SOY IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE THE PRICE OF MEAT BY AT LEAST 30% FROM 2000 TO 2050. ULTIMATELY, THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMICAL IMPACTS OF CONVENTIONAL LIVESTOCK FEEDS JUSTIFY IDENTIFICATION AND EVALUATION OF ALTERNATIVE AND POTENTIALLY MORE SUSTAINABLE FEEDS FOR BEEF CATTLE.WE HAVE IDENTIFIED INSECTS, SPECIFICALLY BLACK SOLDIER FLY LARVAE (BSFL), AS A POTENTIAL REPLACEMENT FOR CONVENTIONAL LIVESTOCK FEEDS. BSFL HAVE HIGH FEED EFFICIENCY AND CAN BE GROWN ON FOOD AND FEED BYPRODUCTS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE AN ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL COST FOR DISPOSAL. PREVIOUS DATA INDICATE THAT PRODUCTION OF BSFL IS ASSOCIATED WITH LESS NATURAL RESOURCE INPUTS THAN THAT OF CONVENTIONAL FEEDS. FINALLY, BSFL ARE ALSO AN ATTRACTIVE LIVESTOCK FEED AS CONSUMERS IN THE WESTERN WORLD ARE NOT LIKELY TO ACCEPT INSECTS INTO THEIR DIETS, INDICATING THERE WILL NOT BE COMPETITION BETWEEN THE FEED AND FOOD SECTORS.BSFL HAVE PREVIOUSLY BEEN EVALUATED AS FEED FOR FISH AND CHICKENS. HOWEVER, THEY HAVE NOT YET BEEN EVALUATED IN BEEF CATTLE. ACCORDINGLY, WE WILL FEED DIFFERENT AMOUNTS OF BSFL TO CATTLE, ALONG WITH THE SAME AMOUNT OF A CONVENTIONAL FEED, SUCH AS SOY, TO SERVE AS A COMPARISON. WE WILL EVALUATE HOW THE DIFFERENT SUPPLEMENTS IMPACT FEED INTAKE AND DIGESTIBILITY. WE WILL ALSO CONDUCT A PREFERENCE STUDY, DOCUMENTING IF CATTLE EXPRESS A DESIRE TO CONSUME BSFL WHEN PRESENTED WITH BSFL AND OTHER CONVENTIONAL FEEDS AS OPTIONS. FINALLY, WE WILL USE SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT THAT MIMICS CONDITIONS OF CATTLE'S DIGESTIVE SYSTEM TO EVALUATE OTHER NUTRITIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF BSFL IN THE LABORATORY. CUMULATIVELY, THESE RESEARCH TRIALS WILL GIVE US INSIGHTS INTO HOW BSFL AFFECTS DIGESTION IN BEEF CATTLE, INFORMING OUR DECISION TO RECOMMEND IT AS A LIVESTOCK FEED OR NOT.OUR LONG-TERM GOAL IS TO INCREASE THE SUSTAINABILITY OF BEEF CATTLE PRODUCTION. BY ASSESSING A NOVEL FEED THAT DOES NOT DIRECTLY COMPETE WITH EXISTING CROP PRODUCTION, IS ASSOCIATED WITH LOW NATURAL RESOURCE INPUTS, AND WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED AS A HUMAN FOOD, WE HOPE TO ADVANCE OUR PROGRESS TOWARDS ACHIEVING THIS LONG-TERM GOAL.