Biological Performance of Laying Quail Supplemented with Alphitobius diaperinus Larval Meal

Abstract

The lesser mealworm (Alphitobius diaperinus) is an insect pest that can potentially serve as an important protein source in poultry diets. The high protein content of A. diaperinus larvae makes them a viable alternative for inclusion in quail feed during rearing. This study analyzed quail performance when their diet is supplemented with A. diaperinus larval meal in the rearing phase. This experiment utilized a completely randomized design with four treatments and five replications. The treatments involved replacing fish meal in the diet with A. diaperinus larval meal at 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15%. The results revealed that substituting A. diaperinus larval meal did not significantly affect (p>0.05) daily feed consumption, egg weight, or shell thickness. However, it significantly influenced body weight gain (p<0.05). While the weight gains at 10% and 15% larval meal inclusion were not substantially different, both were greater than those of the control group. Overall, substituting up to 15% of A. diaperinus larval meal in quail diets had no adverse effects on feed consumption, growth, egg weight, or shell thickness. Therefore, A. diaperinus larval meal may be a suitable alternative to fish meal in quail diets, offering economic benefits and opportunities for sustainable A. diaperinus larval culture