Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Broiler Chickens Fed Black Soldier Fly Larvae-Based Diets- A Review
Feed is one of the main challenges of production in the poultry industry since it accounts for 60-80% of total cost of production. The scarcity and high cost of conventional protein ingredients is a convincing factor for researchers in looking for non-conventional alternative protein sources to reduce the cost of poultry feeds and poultry products. Partially defatted black soldier fly (BSF) larvae meal is considered as one of the non-conventional protein-rich, locally available feed resource which can be used in poultry feed formulation. This feedstuff has the potential to replace expensive and mostly unavailable conventional protein sources such as fish meal. The proposed study aims to determine performance, meat quality and sensory attributes of broiler chickens fed on partially defatted black soldier fly larvae-based diets. The black soldier fly larvae meal can substitute the conventional fish meal and the performance of broiler chicken measured to elucidate the contribution of the non-conventional insect-based diets in broilers. The meat of such fed chicken can be assessed for carcass characteristics (dressing percentage, cuts yield), meat quality (pH, water holding capacity, cooking loss, moisture, crude protein and fat content %,) and carcass sensory attributes (appearance, odour, taste, texture, flavour and overall acceptability). The expected results will provide useful information on the effects of the feeding of black soldier fly larvae meal as a non-conventional protein source on performance of broiler, carcass characteristics, meat quality and sensory attributes.
Key words: Black soldier fly larvae meal, Sustainability, Environmental health, Increased chicken performance, Nutritious feeds, Mass production, Nutrient recycling.
