Nutrient retention and performance of broiler chicks fed finisher diets fortified with insects meals

Abstract

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of finisher diets fortified with African palm weevil larvae meal (APWLM), housefly maggot meal (HMM) and cockroach protein meal (CPM) on the performance and nutrient retention of caged broilers (Cobbs). One thousand four hundred (1400) broiler chicks were assigned in four groups to livestock feed (LF) fortified with APWLM, HMM and CPM for single form diets, and to LF fortified with APWLM and HMM, APWLM and CPM, and HMM and CPM for the combined forms. Insect inclusion rate was 19.5 and 9.75 % respectively as LF alone served as control. Growth performance parameters and nutrient retention were measured. Body weight (0.56 – 3.57 kg), body length (23.75 – 43.00 cm) and breast width (7.50 – 18.50 cm) ranges increased with increasing weeks. Growth performance was highest at week 10 in chicks fed LF fortified with APWLM and maggot (3.57 ± 0.03 kg), APWLM (43.0 ± 0.02 cm), and APWLM and CPM (18.50 ± 0.02 cm) respectively. Feed efficiency and body weight versus body length were highest in chicks fed LF fortified with APWLM and maggot. Dry matter, crude protein and ether extract were highest in broilers fed fortified diet in combined forms, while crude ash, calcium and phosphorus were highest in broilers fed fortified diet in single forms. Finisher diets fortified with insects in this study especially in the combined form advantageously increased growth rate of broilers and its adoption to brace commercial broilers diets is advised.