Effects of Supplementation Black Soldier Fly Larvae (Hermetia illucens L.) to The Diets of Breeder Japanese Quails on Performance, Egg Quality, and Incubation Parameters

Abstract

This study was performed to assess the effect of different levels of addition (0, 4, and 8%) of dried and ground Black Soldier Fly Larvae (Hermetia illucens L.) to breeder Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) diets on performance, egg quality and incubation parameters. In the experiment, 72 breeder Japanese quails (18 males, 54 females) at 8 weeks of age were randomly distributed into 3 treatment groups with 6 replications, each with 3 females and 1 male quail. Treatment groups were fed with diets supplemented with different levels of black soldier fly larvae (BSF) for 8 weeks.Feed intake was significantly higher in the control group than in the other treatment groups, and there were no significant differences between the groups in feed conversion ratio, egg production, egg weight, and egg mass. Similarly, no significant differences were observed among the groups in terms of egg quality parameters such as eggshell thickness, eggyolk index, eggshell breaking strength, and eggshell weight parameters. However, the shape index was significantly higher in the BSF 4% group than the control group. Albumen index was highest in the control group. While there was no significant difference among the groups in terms of egg yolk L* value, as the amount of BSF in the diet increased, there was a significant increase in the a* and b* values. Incubation parameters were not affected by the treatments. According to the results of the experiment, it was concluded that the addition of 4% and 8% BSF to breeder Japanese quail diets can be used at 8% level without any negative effects on performance, egg quality, or incubation parameters.