Effect of feeding black soldier fly larvae meal on colour parameters, structural attributes and Sensory evaluation scores of breast meat in commercial broilers

Abstract

The increasing global demand for poultry meat has led to challenges especially with respect to availability of quality and sufficient quantity protein such as soybean and fish meal for inclusion in broiler diets. The inclusion of insects or insect meal in poultry feeding could also be justified by the fact that birds generally dig in and scratch the ground for insects as a part of their natural diet. Insect meals are also good source of protein, energy, essential amino acids, fats, vitamins and minerals. An attempt was made to incorporate and evaluate the effect of inclusion of black soldier fly larvae meal in broiler diet on carcass characteristics etc. Birds up to 6 weeks were fed diet with 5, 10 and 15 Percent of black soldier fly larvae meal and all the diets will be formulated to meet isocaloric and nitrogenous by manipulating the diet inclusion level in the basal diet. At the end of the 6th week, birds were slaughtered and evaluated for carcass colour analysis, structural attributes and Sensory evaluation scores in breast meat. The increase in level of inclusion of BSF larvae meal there was a linear increase in redness (a*) values, decreases yellowness (b*) and chroma value. A linear increase in myoglobin content was observed with increase in level of inclusion of BSF larvae meal in the diet. There was no significant difference in appearance, juiciness, tenderness, flavor and overall acceptability of breast muscles between different treatments.