GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND BLOOD PROFILE OF BROILER CHICKENS FED DIETS CONTAINING GRADED LEVELS OF BLACK SOLDIER FLY LARVAE (HERMETIA ILLUCENS) MEAL AS PARTIAL REPLACEMENT FOR SOYBEAN.

Abstract

Black Soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) has been investigated as one of the promising and sustainable protein sources in poultry nutrition, this is because of its great potential and chemical composition suitable for use in different animal species. In broiler production, the cost of feed covers about 75% of the total production cost and as such, protein is considered the most expensive feed ingredients in broiler diets. Hence, the need to investigate the effect of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) meal in the diets of broiler chickens in order to cut down the cost of production as low as possible. This research was therefore conducted to evaluate the growth performance, hematological indices and serum biochemistry of broiler chickens fed diets containing different inclusion levels of toasted Black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens). A total number of 200 day old Cobb 500 broiler chicks purchased from Zartech Company in Jos were used for this study. The birds were randomly allotted to five dietary treatments. Forty (40) birds were randomly assigned to each of the dietary treatments having eight (8) birds per replicate in a completely randomized design. Toasted defatted black soldier larva meal (TDBSFLM) was included at graded levels 0, 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10% each and were designated as T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 respectively. Experimental diets and water were administered ad libitum at both starter and finisher’s phases. All routine management practices were observed such as brooding, vaccination, administration of drugs and proper hygiene throughout the study. The results showed significant (p<0.05) difference in all the parameters measured across all the treatments at starter phase. While at finisher phase, all parameters measured were significantly (p<0.05) affected by dietary treatment except total feed intake and daily feed intake. A linear increase was observed in the final weight (FW) and total weight gain of birds when BSFLM was increased at the starter phase. These were significantly (p<0.05) higher in birds on graded levels of BSFLM than those in the control group (T1).  Feed conversion ratio was lower and significantly better in birds fed diets T5 (2.37) containing 10% BSFLM compared to those in other treatment group. However, at finisher phase, significant (p<0.05) effects of treatments was observed in most of the parameters measured except total weight gain and daily feed intake. No significant (p<0.05) effects of treatments was observed in most of the heamatological parameters measured except basophils and monocytes. Diets containing graded levels of BSFLM has no significant (p>0.05) influence on all the serum biochemical indices of birds across the treatments except albumin. It was therefore concluded that toasted defatted black soldier fly larvae meal (TDBSFLM) up to 10% could be incorporated into broiler diets without any adverse effects on the growth performance and health status of the birds.