Effect of wet fermented diet containing a combination of maggot flour (Hermetia ilucen) and active digestive enzymes on growth and protein retention of hybrid chickens in the early phase of growth

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the effect and level of wet fermented feed containing a combination of maggot flour (Hermetia illucen) and active digestive enzymes on the growth and protein retention of early-phase on hybrid chickens. The experimental design used was Completely Randomized Design consisting of 4 ration treatments and 4 replications. The treatment rations used were: P0 (100% commercial/control feed), P1 (wet fermented feed + 9% maggot flour and 0.5 %), P2 (wet fermented feed + 12% maggot flour and 1% bioresic), P3 (Wet fermented feed). The parameters: ration consumption, weight gain, final body weight, ration conversion and protein retention. The results showed that fermented diet contained maggot flour with different feeding levels and active digestive enzymes had no significant effect (P>0.05) on final body weight, weight gain feed consumption, feed conversion and protein retention of hybrid chickens on 12 weeks of age. However, it had a significant effect (P<0.05) on the weight gain of hybrid chickens on 6 weeks of week. It was concluded that the use of 9-12% maggot flour and 1% active digestive enzymes did not have a negative effect on the growth and protein retention of 12-week-old hybrid chickens and could compensate and replace the role of commercial diet in stimulating the growth in early phase of hybrid chickens.