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Abstract
The trial included 100 one-day-old broilers, Cobb 500, of both sexes, divided into the two groups, 50 broilers in each. The experiment lasted 42 days and was conducted in three phases: days 1-7, days 8-21 and days 22-42. The control group of broilers (C) was fed a mixture of standard composition (basal diet), while the experimental group (O-I) received the same diet but with the addition of dehydrated housefly larvae in the amount of 5% (% as fed basis) in the starter diet and 4% in grower and finisher diets. Production results (body weight, body weight gain, feed consumption and feed to gain ratio) were determined during the trial. The broilers fed larvae meal achieved statistically higher (p < 0.001) average body weight and daily weight gain with superior feed to gain ratio, compared to the control group, but also higher feed consumption and feed conversion. Meat samples obtained from the broilers fed larvae meal were graded as more acceptable by panelists, in comparison to those obtained from the control group. The achieved results point to the fact that dehydrated housefly larvae meal can be used as an alternative source of proteins in broiler nutrition.
Keywords: alternative protein feed, broilers, insects, larvae meal
Introduction
In poultry production, feed accounts for about 70% of the total production costs (Moreki et al., 2012). Furthermore, protein costs represent approximately 15% of total feed costs (Roy et al., 2010). The high costs and scarcity of the protein sources, such as soybean cake, groundnut cake and fish meal, are the major challenges which commercial poultry production is confronting (Adeniji, 2007). Animal protein sources are preferred over plant protein sources due to the good balance of essential amino acid and vitamin content (Šefer et al., 2015; Saima et al., 2008).
Currently, insects are considered to be a new, alternative protein source for animal nutrition (Muros et al., 2014) not only because of the high content of protein, from 39.16% (Atteh and Ologbenla, 1993) to 64% (Hwangbo et al., 2009), but also because of the high balance of essential amino acids. Insect rearing could be one of the ways to enhance food and feed security (Al-Qazzaz et al., 2016). The ability of housefly larvae (Musca domestica Linnaeus) to grow on...