Evaluation of the Low Inclusion of Full-Fatted Larvae Meal for Layer Chickens: Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, and Gut Health

Overview

Journal Front Vet Sci

Specialty Veterinary Medicine

Date 2020 Dec 17

PMID 33330711

Citations 15

Authors

Xiaohua Chu

Mengmeng Li

Guiying Wang

Kuiming Wang

Rongsheng Shang

Ziyu Wang

Lusheng Li

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Substitution of feed protein source with defatted black soldier fly larvae meal (BSFM) has been evaluated intensively in poultry, but information about full-fatted BSFM is still very limited. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of dietary low inclusion of full-fatted BSFM on the growth performance, plasma antioxidant ability, nutrient digestibility, and gut health of layer chickens during 1-42 days of age. A total of 480 female 1-day-old Hy-Line Brown chickens were divided into four dietary treatments, with the inclusion of 0, 3, 6, and 9% of full-fatted BSFM. Each treatment included six replicates and 20 birds per replicate. As dietary full-fatted BSFM inclusion levels increased, there was a quadratic increase in final weight and average daily gain and a quadratic decrease in feed/gain ratio. Dietary full-fatted BSFM inclusion levels increased the digestibility of crude protein and ether extract quadratically as well as ileum mucosal sIgA concentration linearly, but these had no effect on intestinal morphology. Additionally, an increase in dietary full-fatted BSFM inclusion levels resulted in a linear increase in glutathione peroxidase and total superoxide dismutase activities and a linear decrease in malondialdehyde content in plasma. The encouraging results of the improvement of growth performance, nutrient digestibility, antioxidant ability, and gut health parameters suggested that partially full-fatted BSFM inclusion can be suitable protein ingredients for layer chickens' diets at the starter period.

Citing Articles

Impact of Incorporating Defatted Black Soldier Fly Meal into Diet on Growth Performance, Serum Biochemical Parameters, Nutrient Digestibility, Morphology of the Intestinal Tract, and Immune Index of Brooding Laying Hens.

Li L, Chen L, Wang G, Zhao Y, Xin Y, Xu M Animals (Basel). 2025; 15(5).

PMID: 40075908 PMC: 11898129. DOI: 10.3390/ani15050625.

Impact of partially defatted black soldier fly larvae meal on coccidia-infected chickens: effects on growth performance, intestinal health, and cecal short-chain fatty acid concentrations.

Yuan J, Ajuwon K, Adeola O J Anim Sci Biotechnol. 2025; 16(1):30.

PMID: 40001239 PMC: 11863416. DOI: 10.1186/s40104-025-01167-z.

Bioconversion of Poultry Litter into Insect Meal and Organic Frasstilizer Using Black Soldier Fly Larvae as a Circular Economy Model for the Poultry Industry: A Review.

Kullan A, Suresh A, Choi H, Gabriel Neumann E, Hassan F Insects. 2025; 16(1).

PMID: 39859592 PMC: 11765739. DOI: 10.3390/insects16010012.

Larvae Meal Enhances Immune Response by Improving Serum Immunoglobulin, Intestinal Barrier and Gut Microbiota of Sichuan White Geese After Avian Influenza Vaccination.

Xie Y, Hao Y, Gui F, Li X, Huang H, Yang P Vet Sci. 2024; 11(12).

PMID: 39728956 PMC: 11680371. DOI: 10.3390/vetsci11120615.

Partial replacement of soybean with local alternative sources: effects on behavior, cecal microbiota, and intestinal histomorphometry of local chickens.

Ozkan S, Bay V, Acar M, Yalcin S Front Vet Sci. 2024; 11:1463301.

PMID: 39606663 PMC: 11599255. DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1463301.

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