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
