Hermetia illucens Larva Meal as Fish Meal Alternative to Improve Growth, Hematological and Hepatic Enzyme Parameters of Broilers

Abstract

Insect is a potential protein source for poultry production with lower cost and better growth. By this importance, a total of seventy-two broilers from six to twelve weeks old were allotted to three treatments with 24 chickens per treatment using a completely randomized design to determine the effect of replacing fish meal (FM) by Hermetia illucens larva meal (HIM) in the diet on growth and health of broilers with three treatments of a 15% replacement of FM by HIM, a 30% of FM replacement by HIM and control treatment without replacement of HIM for FM. The results showed that 30% of HIM replacement in diets improved the growth performance; better body weight gain (P<0.05), lower feed intake and improved feed conversion ratio (P<0.05) during 6-12 weeks of age. Additionally, the study showed that replacing FM by HIM affected the carcass, thigh and breast weight (P<0.05); but did not show any effects on heart, liver and gizzard. The study also recorded longer small intestine in treatment of 30% HIM replacement. Furthermore, cooking loss and pH of breast and thigh meat was not different (P>0.05). A significant effect of HI in replacing FM recorded in immune organ weights, especially, improving bursa of Fabricius and thymus weight (P<0.05). The inclusion of 15% and even 30% HI in diets to replace FM did not record changes in hematological and hepatic enzyme indicators. It can be concluded that FM replacement by HIM could improve growth and health of broilers without detrimental effect.