Effect of Maggot Meal-Based Multi-Nutrient Blocks on Slaughter Weight and Internal Organ Characteristics of Rabbit Weaners

Abstract

House fly maggot is a potential insect that has a relatively high crude protein and mostly used in feeding monogastric animals. Twenty-four Chinchilla giganta rabbit weaners (12 males and 12 females) were used in this experiment in a randomised complete block design. Each rabbit weaner was randomly allotted to four different treatments. Each treatment was replicated three times with two rabbits per replicate. Sex was used as a blocking effect. This was done to evaluate the effects of graded levels of maggot meal-based multi-nutrient block on feed intake, daily weight gain, feed conversion ratio and internal organs weight during feeding for 56 days at Chinhoyi University of Technology farm. Feed formulation was done using I.D.T Try and Error Iteration software. Sun-dried maggot meal was used to produce four iso-nitrogenous and iso-energetic treatment multi-nutrient block diets with 0%, 5%, 10% and 15% maggot meal. An increase in the inclusion level of maggot meal had a positive effect on feed intake (P<0.05 Results from this study in rabbits revealed that although maggot meal-based diets were iso-nitrogenous (18% CP level), they differed in mean live weight gain (LWG). The study found that diets where 10-15% of housefly maggot meal was included achieved better growth rates and internal organ weights relative to soya bean meal-based diets. These maggot meal levels represent 50-80% partial replacement of soya bean meal in the diet. However, diets did not differ in heart weight. These results suggest that housefly maggot meal is a good source of protein and a suitable replacement for soya bean meal in the diets of growing rabbits post-weaning. Dietary inclusions of up to 150 g/kg (50-80% dietary replacement of soya bean meal) were recommended to ensure optimum growth performance and body composition of growing rabbits. Commercial use of this insect meal as a feed ingredient in rabbit diets would depend on industrial-scale production of the larvae and reduced costs of maggot meal