Abstract

EFEECTS OF FEEDING FULL FAT BLACK SOLDIER FLY (Hermetia illucens) LARVAE MEAL ON ABDOMINAL FAT AND SERUM BIOCHEMISTRY PROFILE OF BROILER CHICKENS AT FINISHING PHASE

Feed quality and quantity are major factors that affect the health of chicken and ultimately their production performance. Therefore, health is one of the parameters used to evaluate the suitability of ingredients used for feed formulation in broiler chicken. This study evaluated the effects of inclusion of full– fat black soldier fly (BSF) (Hermetia illucens) larvae meal on the health of broiler chicken by assessing their biochemical indices at finisher phase. Five isonitrogenous and iso-calorific dietary treatments with three replications were randomly assigned to fifteen experimental cages containing 6 Cobb 500 broiler chicken of mixed sex at 21days of age in a completely randomized design experimental setup. The meal was included at 0, 7.5%, 15%, 22.5% and 30% levels in the diets. At 49 days of age (28 days of experiment), 3 birds from each dietary treatment, that is, 1 bird from each replicate were randomly selected and starved overnight. Blood samples were collected via wing vein for analysis of serum lipid, liver enzymes and protein profiles. Thereafter, they birds were slaughtered to obtain weight of the abdominal fat. Data was analyzed using Statistical Analysis System software (SAS, 2009) and significant means were separated using Tukey Honest Significant Difference (HSD). The BSF larvae meal significantly (P<0.05) increased the abdominal fat, total cholesterol, triglyceride and low protein lipoprotein. However, these values were within the acceptable references and therefore BSF larvae may be utilized for broiler feeding at inclusion level of 30%. Methods of reducing the level of abdominal fat need to be assessed since fat is a waste product with low economic value and represents dietary energy loss. In addition, it reduces the carcass yield and lowers consumer acceptance of meat