Performance of broiler chicks fed on two insect based-diets in South East Nigeria

Abstract

The performance of broiler chicks fed on two common species of edible insects: African palm larva (Rhynchophorus phoenicis) and winged termite (Macrotermes bellicosus) in south east, Nigeria were studied using 135 day old Arbor acre birds. Three dietary treatments (T1, T2 and T3) representing Diet A (control: vital feed based fishmeal), Diet B (African palm larvae meal; APLM), and Diet C (containing winged termite meal; WTM), respectively, were used. T1 comprised of a standard feed of brand name ‘vital feed’ containing fishmeal which served as control while T2 and T3 both had insect meal: APLM and WTM, respectively, in place of fishmeal. Forty five broiler chicks were randomly assigned to each of the three dietary treatments at the rate of fifteen chicks per replicate and three replicates per treatment in a completely randomised design. The experiment lasted for eight weeks. During this period, the birds were subjected to similar husbandry and sanitation practices. Weekly record of feed intake, weight gain and linear body measurements were taken. Data obtained were subjected to ANOVA appropriate for completely randomised design and the differences between means were separated using least significant differences. The result showed that chicks fed with control diet based fishmeal (Diet A) had the highest feed intake compared to those fed Diet B and Diet C. Broiler chicks on Diet B however had the highest records in all performance indices (weight gain, feed efficiency ratio, specific growth rate, protein efficiency ratio and linear body measurements) investigated followed by Diet C and lastly Diet A. The study therefore recommends the use of insect meal for complete or partial replacement of fishmeal in poultry feed formulation.