Carcass and Organ Quality of Broiler Chickens Fed with Black Soldier Fly Larva Meal

Abstract

The effect of black soldier fly larvae meal (BSFLM) inclusions on the carcass and organ quality of broiler chickens was studied using eighty-one, 2-weeks old Arbor acres chicken strain procured from May Farms, Gombe. The BSFL were collected from chicken wastes and waste and spoilt watermelon and pineapple fruits. They were oven dried, analysed on Dry matter basis and milled using local milling machine and incorporated into poultry diets by replacing dietary fishmeal at 0% (Control, A), 50% (B) and 100% (C). Twenty-seven birds were randomly assigned to each of the dietary treatments at the rate of nine birds per replicate and three replicate per treatment in a completely randomized design. The birds were randomly allotted into pens demarcated with plywood. The birds were fed the experimental diets throughout the six weeks period of the experiment and were subjected to similar managerial and dietary conditions. After six weeks of the experiment, carcass quality and organ weight measurements were analysed using appropriate statistical analysis. The result obtained showed that birds subjected to Treatment C attained significantly (P≤0.05) higher body weight (2356.20±34.36 g), de-feathered carcass weight (2130.30±47.38 g), eviscerated carcass weight (1853.70±24.11) and weights of carcass cut-up parts compared to those on Treatments B and A. Moreover, the weights for all these characteristics showed significant improvement (P≤0.05) with increase in the level of BSFLM from treatment A (0% BSFLM) to treatment B (50% BSFLM) and then to treatment C (100% BSFLM). The result revealed that insect meal specifically BSFLM can effectively replace fishmeal as a major protein source in poultry feed formulation.