| dc.description.abstract | Utilization of silkworm pupae meal for feed will partially meet the protein feed deficiency, competition and high cost. Silkworm pupae, a protein rich by-product from silk reeling has the potential to spur poultry production. In this study, silkworm pupae were used to substitute fish meal in poultry feeds to determine the growth performance, carcass characteristics and sensory evaluation after feeding day old Kuroiler chicks for 8 weeks. The silkworm pupae were substituted with fish meal at percentages of 25%SWP (T1), 50% SWP(T2), 100% SWP(T3) with a conventional commercial diet used as a control with 0%SWP(T0). The feeds were formulated using a least cost feed formulation software. 72 one day old chicks, female sexed were procured from a reputable hatchery and housed in wooden cages. The four diets were assigned to each cage and replicated three times in a complete randomized design. Feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion were measured. At 8 weeks of age, three birds were slaughtered and carcasses obtained to assess the weight of heart, liver, kidney, gizzard, thigh, wings, back, breast and viscera. A sensory evaluation was thereafter conducted using a 9-point hedonic scale on colour, taste, odor and texture. Diet had a significant effect on growth performance. Live weight gain was highest in T3 (1014±51.6a), T0 (995±50.8a), T2 (912±24.7b) respectively and low in T1 (780±11.1c). Dressed weight was affected by the replacement of fish meal with silkworm pupae (p<0.05) and the percentage yield was as follows T3 (88.18%), T2 (88.08%) T0 (86.84%) and T1 (85.55%). The dressed chicken components were not significantly different (p>0.05). The sensory evaluation conducted noted no significant difference (p>0.05) across treatments. This study found out that supplementation of SWP pupae-based feeds on Kuroiler diets in100% supplementation level will result to optimal performance with a significantly positive effect on growth indices and good carcass yield without affecting carcass sensory parameters. | en |
