Abstract
Volatile fatty acid production (VFA) in the caeca and fatty acid profile of meat and fat depots were investigated on 62 days old broiler equally divided in 2 groups fed with a corn-soybean (SBM) or a corn-insect meal (TML, from Tenebrio molitor larvae) based diet from 30 days of age. The total amount of VFAs was higher (p < .01) in broilers fed TML and the same happened for all the single VFA studied in the trial. When the VFAs were expressed as percentage of total VFAs, acetate, propionate and valerianate were higher (p < .01) in SBM group, while the proportion of butyrate was higher (p < .01) in broilers fed TML. The fatty acids C12:0 and C14:0 had higher percentages (p < .01 and p < .05, respectively) in the intramuscular fat of broilers fed TML diet. Regarding the FA groups (SFA, MUFA and PUFAs), only the PUFAn1 fatty acids were higher (p < .01) in the broilers fed TML diet. Insect meals can affect the microbial activity in broiler caeca and, in addition, induced very few modifications in the fatty acid profile of broiler breast.HighlightsTenebrio molitor in broiler feeding affects the production of volatile fatty acids (VFA) in the caeca.The total production of VFAs doubled in Tenebrio molitor feeding group, and the butyrate increased (+183%).TM slightly modify the fatty acid profile of breast meat.
Highlights
Along the last years, insect meals are strongly investigated as potential protein source in broiler feed (Bovera et al 2016; Jozefiak et al 2016; Schiavone et al 2017a), showing positive effects on growth performance and health status of the birds, but having a negative effect on nutrient digestibility of the diets, probably due to the role of the chitin contained in the insect exoskeleton (Bovera et al 2015)
Volatile fatty acid production (VFA) in the caeca and fatty acid profile of meat and fat depots were investigated on 62 days old broiler divided in 2 groups fed with a corn-soybean (SBM) or a corn-insect meal (TML, from Tenebrio molitor larvae) based diet from 30 days of age
When the VFAs were expressed as percentage of total VFAs, acetate, propionate and valerianate were higher (p < .01) in soybean meal (SBM) group, while the proportion of butyrate was higher (p < .01) in broilers fed TML
Summary
Insect meals are strongly investigated as potential protein source in broiler feed (Bovera et al 2016; Jozefiak et al 2016; Schiavone et al 2017a), showing positive effects on growth performance and health status of the birds, but having a negative effect on nutrient digestibility of the diets, probably due to the role of the chitin contained in the insect exoskeleton (Bovera et al 2015). Chitin could be an interesting compound because it seems to have an important role in improving the health status of poultry fed with diet containing insect (Cullere et al 2016).
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