This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary Tenebrio molitor larvae meal (TM meal) inclusion on the performance, carcass traits, caecum microbiota and blood parameters of broiler chickens. A total of 180‐day‐old chickens were allocated to three dietary groups with five replicate pens (12 birds/pen). Experimental diets were included a corn‐soybean basal diet, and two diets with 2.5% and 5% TM. TM‐included diets have been administered for periods of starter (1–10 days) and grower (11–25 days). A regular finisher diet was given to all groups during the 26–42 days of age. Diets containing TM meal did not influence feed intake and mortality percentage. Feed conversion ratio was lower with the 2.5% TM meal diet compared with the control group at starter period (p < .05). Besides, broiler chickens fed TM meal included diet had a higher body weight gain than the control group during 1–10 days of age (p < .05). The carcass characteristics and length and weight of different parts of small and large intestines were not influenced by diets. TM meal inclusion decreased the albumin‐to‐globulin ratio compared with the control group (p < .05). Additionally, lower total count of aerobic and Escherichia coli bacteria was observed in response to diet inclusion of 5% TM meal. Overall, the inclusion of TM meal in broilers' diet improved body weight gain and feed conversion ratio in the starting period, decreased albumin‐to‐globulin ratio and E. coli bacteria content.

Oligo/polynucleotide-based gene targeting strategies provide new options for achieving sequence-specifi c modifi cation of genomic DNA and have implications for the development of new therapies and transgenic animal models. One such gene modifi cation strategy, small fragment homologous replacement (SFHR), was evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively in human lymphoblasts that contain a single base substitution in the hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (HPRT1) gene. Because HPRT1 mutant cells are readily discernable from those expressing the wild type (wt) gene through growth in selective media, it was possible to identify and isolate cells that have been corrected by SFHR. Transfection of HPRT1 mutant cells with polynucleotide small DNA fragments (SDFs) comprising wild type HPRT1 (wtHPRT1) sequences resulted in clones of cells that grew in hypoxanthine-aminopterin-thymidine (HAT) medium. Initial studies quantifying the effi ciency of correction in 3 separate experiments indicate frequencies ranging from 0.1% to 2%. Sequence analysis of DNA and RNA showed correction of the HPRT1 mutation. Random integration was not indicated after transfection of the mutant cells with an SDF comprised of green fl uorescent protein (GFP) sequences that are not found in human genomic DNA. Random integration was also not detected following Southern blot hybridization analysis of an individual corrected cell clone.

Climate change and the lack of conventional feed ingredients have made edible insects a highly nutritious alternative to feed production. The use of insects as food may help solve socio-economic and environmental problems around the world and be in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. In this study, the growth performance and intestinal morphology of broiler chickens were evaluated under the in uence of adding different levels of Tenebrio molitor larvae meal (TM meal) to their diets. One hundred eighty day-old broiler chickens were divided into 3 treatments and 5 replications (12 chickens/pen). The experimental diets included a control diet and treatments containing 2.5 and 5% TM meal, which were fed to birds in the starter (0-10 days) and grower (11-25 days) stages, and during the nal period (26-42 days), all birds were fed a regular nisher diet. The results showed that the diet containing TM meal had no remarkable effect on the mortality rate and feed intake (FI) of broilers (P > 0.05). In the period of starter, the addition of 2.5% TM meal to broilers diet increased body weight gain (BWG) than the control group (P £ 0.05). Also, the use of 2.5% TM meal in the starter period showed a signi cant effect on reducing the feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to the birds fed by the control diet (P £ 0.05). Besides, the height of the villus, the depth of the crypt, and the ratio of them were not altered among the different treatments (P > 0.05). Overall, it can be concluded that TM meal could improve growth performance in the starter period, and had no negative effects on broilers' performance and intestinal morphology in all the periods of the experiment.

Context Increasing demand for animal products, and scarcity and cost of conventional feed ingredients, drive the search for alternative energy and protein sources for poultry feed. Insects provide opportunities as a sustainable, high-quality and low-cost component of poultry feed. Aims This study evaluated the effects of dietary inclusion of powdered Tenebrio molitor (yellow mealworm) larvae meal on productive performance, egg quality characteristics and blood parameters of laying hens. Methods In total, 126 Bovans White laying hens, 63 weeks of age, were allocated to three dietary groups, each with seven replicate cages of six birds per cage. Treatments were: a basal diet, and two experimental diets comprising the basal diet plus T. molitor larvae meal at 2.5% or 5% inclusion rate. The duration of the study was 8 weeks. Key results Egg production, egg mass and feed conversion ratio were all improved (P &lt; 0.05) by inclusion of T. molitor meal in the diet. The lower rate of inclusion was more effective with respect to egg production and feed conversion ratio. Inclusion of larvae meal did not influence (P &gt; 0.05) feed intake, egg weight or bodyweight gain. Furthermore, egg quality characteristics and blood parameters were not influenced (P &gt; 0.05) by dietary treatment. Conclusions The study showed that inclusion of T. molitor larvae meal in the diet of laying hens could improve productive performance, especially at the 2.5% level. Implications Powdered meal of T. molitor larvae is an appropriate, unconventional feed ingredient for laying hens, and may have a role in improving socioeconomic and environmental outcomes, aligning with the United Nations’ sustainable development goals.