Effect of replacing fish meal with maggot meal on growth nutrient digestibility and carcass organ characteristics of broiler finisher birds

Abstract

One hundred and twenty (120) 4-week old finisher broilers of Ross breed were used to study the effect of feeding maggot meal replacing fish meal on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, carcass and organ characteristics. The birds were divided into 5 treatment groups identified as T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 with 24 birds in each group. Each group was further replicated 3 times with 8 birds per replicate. Five experimental diets were formulated at T1 (0%), T2 (20%), T3 (30%), T4 (40%) and T5 (50%) maggot meal inclusion levels replacing fish meal and fed to the birds in a completely randomized design (CRD). Water and feed were served ad libitum. The experiment lasted for 5 weeks. The results on daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio were similar (p>0.05) between the birds fed maggot meal diets, but, differed significantly (p<0.05) from the control treatment group. Higher (p<0.05) feed intake was observed in birds fed 40% maggot meal diets replacing fish meal, which differed (p<0.05) from the control and 20% maggot meal diets, but was similar (p>0.05) to 30% and 50% maggot meal diets. Dry matter and neutral ether extract were similar (p>0.05) between the maggot diets, but, differed (p<0.05) from the control group. Higher crude protein digestibility was observed in birds on 50% maggot diet, but was similar (p>0.05) to 40% maggot meal diet. Birds on the control and 20% maggot meal diets were similar (p>0.05) in their crude fiber digestibility, however, they differed significantly from those of the 30, 40 and 50% maggot meal diets in crude fiber digestibility. The dressed weight heart, gizzard and abdominal fats contents differed significantly (p<0.05) between the treatment groups. The liver weights were however similar (p>0.05). The results of this study suggest that maggot meal can be incorporated in broiler finisher diets up to 50% replacing fish meal without adverse effects on the growth, nutrient digestibility and carcass organ characteristics.

Keywords: Maggot meal, fish meal, nutrient digestibility, feed, broilers