Effect of feeding black soldier fly larvae meal on carcass characteristics, physico-chemical attributes and protein solubility in commercial broilers

Abstract

Insects could be considered as a potential and sustainable cheaper alternative source of protein to replace soybean partially in livestock feed, especially poultry due to fact that they contain similar composition as that of soya bean or fish meal (Fat: 30-40% dry matter and protein: 40-60% DM) and its ubiquitous nature. 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 the carcass characteristics physico-chemical attributes and protein solubility. The inclusion of 10 percent BSF meal significantly increased the live weight, carcass weight, dressing percentage, breast yield etc. However, no significant differences could be observed in recorded percent neck yield, back yield, wing yield, thigh yield, drumstick yield recorded between all the four treatment groups. Inclusion of BSF larvae meal at different levels did not have any significant effect on pH at 45 minutes and ultimate pH at 24 hours. No significant difference in cooking loss, water holding capacity and drip loss was observed in the present study between the different treatments.