Performance of broiler chickens fed on diets supplemented with yellow meal worm larvae (tenebrio molitor)
Abstract/ Overview
Insects are a promising feed resource which can contribute to scarce protein rich feedstuffs in developing countries. A study was conducted to investigate the performance of broiler chickens fed on diets supplemented with yellow meal worm larvae (Tenebrio molitor. The larvae was processed and included in broiler chicken diets at different levels 0%YMWL (control), 2.5%YMWL, 5%YMWL and 7.5%YMWL. The diets were formulated to be iso-nitrogenous and iso-caloric in mash form for the starter and finisher phases. 160 cobb-500 day old broiler chicks obtained from a hatchery were randomly allocated to the four diets and replicated four times with ten birds each per replicate in a completely randomized design. Feed intake, body weight gain, feed conversion ratio, performance efficiency factor, carcass characteristics and meat sensory attributes were evaluated. Supplementation with YMWL increased (p<0.05) the average daily weight gain at 5%YMWL (54.5g) inclusion followed by 2.5%YMWL (48.8g), 0%YMWL (47.1g) and 7.5%YMWL (42.5g) being the lowest for the entire feeding period of 42 days. The average daily feed intake was similar across all the treatments (p>0.05). The feed conversion ratio (FCR) improved at 5%YMWL (1.69) inclusion compared with control 0%YMWL (1.9), 2.5%YMWL (1.9) and 7.5%YMWL (2.1) during the entire feeding phase (p<0.05). The performance efficiency factor was highest in 5% YMWL (323.9) followed by 2.5%YMWL (258.2), 0%YMWL (248.6) and lowest in 7.5%YMWL (204) at (p<0.05). Dietary supplementation with 5% YMWL significantly increased the absolute weights of carcass and carcass parts (wing, thigh, breast, back and drumstick) compared to other treatments (p<0.05). The viscera weight (heart, liver, spleen, gizzard) were similar across the treatment (p>0.05). There was a significant difference (p<0.05) in abdominal fat weight across all the treatments with 7.5%YMWL recording the highest weight compared to other treatments. Meat sensory attributes were not affected by dietary inclusion of YMWL. In conclusion, the study demonstrated that YMWL meal can be included up to 5% in broiler rations without any adverse effects on their growth performance and meat sensory attributes.