Black Soldier Fly live larvae as environmental enrichment in medium-growing chicken diet

Introduction. Few studies on the effects of live larvae provision in poultry have been previously conducted [1,2,3]. However, trials on the long-term provision of live larvae in chicken reared for meat consumption have never been performed before. This study evaluated the impact of Black Soldier Fly (BSF) live larvae provision on growth performance and larvae consumption behavior of intermediate-growing strains. Material and methods. A total of 240 Label naked neck birds were reared from 21 to 82 days of age, and four experimental groups (10 birds/pen, 6 replicates/treatment) were considered according to the birds’ gender and larvae provision. Experimental groups were fed 10% supplementation of BSF live larvae based on the daily feed intake. The live weight (LW), feed conversion ratio (FCR), average daily feed intake (ADFI) and average daily gain (ADG) were evaluated considering two periods: 21-35d and 35-82d. The larvae were provided daily and consumption times were analyzed considering periods of 10 days (5 time frame-T1,T2,T3,T4,T5). Data were analyzed by means of a GLMM (SPSS software, P<0.05). Results. The larvae groups displayed a lower ADFI than the control groups regardless the birds’ gender at 21-35d (P=0.01). This could be explained by the larvae nutritional contribution that led to a lower feed consumption in the experimental groups. Moreover, treated birds revealed a lower FCR than control groups (21-35d; P<0.001). Otherwise, only treated males performed a better FCR than control groups during the second period (P<0.01). Overall, time of larvae consumption at T1 and T5was respectively higher and lower than the other considered periods in both sexes (P<0.05). Such differences could be related to a progressive birds’ adaptation to larvae consumption. Significant differences between sexes were recorded only at T5, when females employed much time than males in larvae consumption (P<0.05). Conclusion. Live larvae provision ameliorated both the ADFI and FCR. Furthermore, the time of larvae consumption shrinked as birds became older. References. [1] Star L. et al. (2020). Animals. 10,216. [2] Bellezza Oddon et al. (2021). J. Anim. Physiol. Anim. 00,1–9. [3] Veldkamp T. and T.G.C.M. Van Niekerk (2019). J. Insects as Food Feed. 5,301-31

Blood chemistry of medium-growing male and female chickens supplemented black soldier fly live larvae

Effects of live larvae provision on poultry chemical blood parameters have been poorly investigated. This study aims to evaluate the changes in blood chemistry parameters in medium-growing chickens supplemented black soldier fly (BSF) live larvae. Two hundred and forty 21d old sexed Label Naked Neck birds were divided into 4 experimental groups: females fed basal organic feed (BOF), males fed BOF, females fed BOF + 10% BSF live larvae supplementation based on the expected daily feed intake (DFI) and males fed BOF + 10% BSF live larvae supplementation based on the DFI (6 replicates/diet, 10 birds/replicate). Blood samples were collected at slaughter (82d old) from 2 birds/pen (12 birds/treatment). Serum samples were used for biochemical analysis. A compact liquid chemistry analyzer system (BT 1500 vet–Futurlab) was used to determine the concentrations of alanine aminotransferase (U/I), aspartate aminotransferase (U/I), creatinine total proteins (mg/dl), uric acid (mg/dl), cholesterol (mg/dl), triglycerides (mg/dl), gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT, U/I), phosphorus (mg/dl) and magnesium (mg/dl). Data were analyzed by GLMM (SPSS software, P<0.05). Overall, the blood parameters were not affected by the live larvae supplementation (P>0.05) in both sexes, thus being indicative of a good health status of the birds. Moreover, the GGT was detected in lower concentrations in the supplemented groups than in the control groups (P<0.05), suggesting a positive effect on the hepatic function. In conclusion, the live BSF larvae provision did not negatively affect the blood parameters of medium-growing chickens and could be beneficial for bird hepatic activity

Blood chemistry of medium-growing male and female chickens supplemented black soldier fly live larvae

Effects of live larvae provision on poultry chemical blood parameters have been poorly investigated. This study aims to evaluate the changes in blood chemistry parameters in medium-growing chickens supplemented black soldier fly (BSF) live larvae. Two hundred and forty 21d old sexed Label Naked Neck birds were divided into 4 experimental groups: females fed basal organic feed (BOF), males fed BOF, females fed BOF + 10% BSF live larvae supplementation based on the expected daily feed intake (DFI) and males fed BOF + 10% BSF live larvae supplementation based on the DFI (6 replicates/diet, 10 birds/replicate). Blood samples were collected at slaughter (82d old) from 2 birds/pen (12 birds/treatment). Serum samples were used for biochemical analysis. A compact liquid chemistry analyzer system (BT 1500 vet–Futurlab) was used to determine the concentrations of alanine aminotransferase (U/I), aspartate aminotransferase (U/I), creatinine total proteins (mg/dl), uric acid (mg/dl), cholesterol (mg/dl), triglycerides (mg/dl), gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT, U/I), phosphorus (mg/dl) and magnesium (mg/dl). Data were analyzed by GLMM (SPSS software, P<0.05). Overall, the blood parameters were not affected by the live larvae supplementation (P>0.05) in both sexes, thus being indicative of a good health status of the birds. Moreover, the GGT was detected in lower concentrations in the supplemented groups than in the control groups (P<0.05), suggesting a positive effect on the hepatic function. In conclusion, the live BSF larvae provision did not negatively affect the blood parameters of medium-growing chickens and could be beneficial for bird hepatic activity

Black soldier fly life history traits can be influenced by isonutrient-waste-based diets

To maximise the black soldier fly (BSF) bioconversion capacity, a waste that is not suitable for use as it is, can have a positive effect if combined with others in a formulation. In this perspective, a total of 3600 of 6-day-old larvae were inoculated on 6 iso-proteic, iso-lipidic and iso-energetic diets (named from D1 to D6; 100 larvae/replicate; 6 replicates/treatment) formulated with 21 by-products. To evaluate growth performance, 30 larvae per replicate were randomly sampled every 4 days until the 40% reached the prepupae phase, in which survival rate (SR), larva-prepupae time duration and bioconversion indexes were calculated. When a pupa was identified, it was moved in the emergence box (23 pupae/treatment) to evaluate the adult parameters: pupa-fly duration time, fly live weight, weight reduction, fly lifespan, puparium weight and emergence rate (ER). Considering SR (>92%) and ER (>94.6%), all diets were suitable for the BSF breeding. The D1 and D5 (composed by brewers spent grain, vegetable and fruit waste) groups overall performed the best larvae growth and development time, while D2 (composed by glaze waste and buffalo milk whey) displayed the worst (p < 0.05). The D5 maintained good weight in prepupae, pupae and adult stages and also D2 reached the same outcome. The bioconversion indexes followed the trend of the larvae performance. In conclusion, the results herein obtained allowed to discriminate the protein, fat and energy variables on the BSF life history traits and observe other factors of influence, such as the ash content, which will need to be evaluated with future research