Abstract
BackgroundThe present work is aimed at evaluating the effect of different inclusion levels of a partially defatted black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens, L.; HI) larva meal for ducks. A total of 192 female 3-day-old Muscovy ducklings (Cairina moschata domestica, Canedins R71 L White, Grimaud Freres Selection, France) were divided into 4 groups, assigned 4 different dietary treatments (6 replicates/treatment and 8 birds/replicate) and reared from 3 to 50 days of age. HI larva meal was included at increasing levels (0, 3%, 6% and 9%, HI0, HI3, HI6 and HI9, respectively) in isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets formulated for 3 feeding phases: starter (3–17 days of age), grower (18–38 days of age) and finisher (39–50 days of age). The growth performance and apparent total tract digestibility were evaluated during the trial using titanium dioxide as an inert marker (0.3% of inclusion). At 51 days of age, two birds per pen were slaughtered and histomorphological investigations were performed.ResultsThe live weight and average daily gain showed a quadratic response to increasing HI meal in the grower period (minimum corresponding to the HI6 group). No effects of dietary inclusion levels were observed for the daily feed intake or feed conversion ratio. The apparent dry matter and organic matter digestibility were not affected by the dietary treatment. A linear decrease was observed for the crude protein apparent digestibility in the starter period (minimum for the HI9 groups). The ether extract apparent digestibility increased linearly during the grower and finisher periods (minimum for the HI0 group). The morphometric indices were not influenced by the dietary treatments.ConclusionsThe inclusion of up to 9% of HI partially defatted larva meal in the diet of ducks did not cause any effect on growth performance, as well as the apparent digestibility. Moreover, dietary HI inclusion preserved the physiological intestinal development.
Highlights
With an increase of 1.8% per year estimated until 2050, poultry production is one of the fastest growing sectors [1]
Overall live weight (LW) was not influenced by the dietary treatments (P > 0.05), except at 38 days of age, when a quadratic response was observed in LW for increasing Hermetia illucens (HI) meal levels with a minimum being observed for the HI6 group (P < 0.05)
In the starter period (3–17 days of age) the crude protein (CP) digestibility decreased linearly with a minimum corresponding to the HI9 groups (P < 0.05) (–4.11% compared to HI0, respectively), whereas the ether extract (EE) digestibility decreased linearly with the inclusion of HI in the diets (P < 0.05)
Summary
With an increase of 1.8% per year estimated until 2050, poultry production is one of the fastest growing sectors [1]. A few works are available regarding the digestibility of HI meal in poultry [9, 10, 22,23,24] and these show extremely variable results in terms of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP) and ether extract (EE) In these studies, nutrient digestibility was frequently influenced, according to the authors’ interpretation, by the chitin content of the diets, which can negatively affect digestibility. Despite the limited availability of studies, the evaluation of the gut histomorphometry represents a relevant research topic, since it could affect the growth performance and the digestibility of a diet [25], depending on the protein source and level of the diet [26, 27]. At 51 days of age, two birds per pen were slaughtered and histomorphological investigations were performed
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