Dietary Inclusion of Black Soldier Fly Larvae Reared on Hatchery Waste Affects Serum Biochemical and Haematological Parameters of Brahma Chickens

Mube Hervé, B.J. Bela, Dzepe Daniel, Vemo Bertin, M.J. Manga, Ebile Dayan, A.S. Tatsinkou, Kana Raphael and Chia Yong

Background and Objective: To address the increasing pressure on the environment and feed costs in livestock, a sustainable production system with non-conventional feedstuff is an urgent priority. This study aimed to investigate the recycling potential of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) on hatchery waste and the effect of larval biomass to serve as a protein ingredient in the diet of Brahma chicken. Materials and Methods: BSFL (4 day-old) were randomly distributed into three formulated diets D1 (66.33% of mango waste plus 33.33% of hatchery waste), D2 (66.33% of kitchen waste plus 33.33% of hatchery waste), D3 (chicken waste plus 33.33% of hatchery waste) in a completely randomized design. Larvae obtained from these substrates were further tested as protein sources in Brahma chicken feed. In a 12 week feeding trial, 54 chicks (21 days old) were randomly assigned to 3 treatments containing 0, 2.5 and 5% of black soldier fly larvae meal (BSFLM) as a replacement for fish meal. Results: Formulated diet significantly (p<0.05) affected larval biomass. The highest larval weight was recorded in D2. The Brahma chicken growth and carcass traits remained comparable across all the treatments. Incorporation of BSFLM in the diet decreased the level of red and white blood cells in Brahma chickens. The Brahma chicken intestinal microbial load was not affected by diet. As compared to the control group, the diet containing BSFLM had the lowest production cost. Conclusion: Black soldier fly larvae can be used as a source of proteins in the diet of Brahma chicken and can fully replace fishmeal with minimal effects on blood biochemistry and hematology.

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