Performance, carcass weights and cost of production of broiler chickens fed black soldier fly larvae meal diets

Abstract

This study investigated black soldier fly larvae meal (BSFLM) as a replacement for fish meal on growth performance and economy of production of broiler chickens. Black soldier fly larvae were processed, dried and milled. 250 Cobb 500 breed day-old chicks were randomly allotted at 50 chicks per treatment (five) in a Completely Randomized Design. The BSFLM was used to replace fish meal at graded levels 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% and designated diets I, II, III, IV and V, and diets and water were fed to the chickens ad libitum. The result showed that the feed intake was significantly influenced (p<0.05) by the dietary treatments. The highest feed intake (5069.10 ± 43.42 g/bird) was recorded in bird-fed Diet I, while the lowest feed intake (4855.93 ± 130.69 g/bird) was recorded in bird-fed Diet IV. The highest final weight (2000.00 ± 50.00 g) and best feed conversion ratio (2.52 ± 0.13) were recorded in birds fed diets I and III, respectively. The highest dressed and eviscerated weights (91.19 ± 23.85 and 76.51 ± 10.59%) were recorded in birds fed Diet IV and III, respectively. The highest net profit/bird (N3208.48) was recorded in bird-fed Diet V. The percentage of net profit/bird increased as the level of BSLM inclusion increased. It is concluded within the limit of this study that replacing FM with BSLM will reduce the high cost of finished feed, thereby increasing farmers' profit and making animal protein available to the populace.