Replacing soybean meal with lesser mealworm Alphitobius diaperinus improves broiler productive performances, haematology, intestinal morphology and meat quality

Abstract

Abstract Insects are becoming more popular as a soybean meal substitute because they can be raised sustainably on food and feed residues, which improves farming efficiency, sustainability, and animal welfare. In the current study, we replaced 4, 8 and 12% SBM with lesser mealworm Alphitobius diaperinus (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) larvae and determined its effects on productive performances, blood parameters, gut morphometry and meat quality of the broiler chickens. We also compared commercially available black soldier fly Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) larvae. A total of 350 one-day-old broiler chicks (Ross 308) were randomly assigned to seven isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets (5 pens/treatment and 10 birds/pen). The results found that 12% A. diaperinus and H. illucens diets significantly () increased the live weight (LW) and average daily weight gain (ADG) while improving feed conversion ratio (FCR) in the broilers. Daily feed intake (DFI) did not show a significant difference () among all the dietary treatments. Haematology and serum biochemistry traits were significantly () improved except MCHC, monocytes, Eosinophils (EO), albumin and creatinine. The 12% A. diaperinus and H. illucens diets showed the highest villus height (Vh) and the lowest crypt depth than other diets. The meat quality traits were statistically () improved except meat pH, drip loss and shear force (). The results of the study highlight the importance of substituting SBM up to 12% with either A. diaperinus or H. illucens larvae, which improves the productive performances, blood parameters, gut morphometry and meat quality of broilers and thus can be incorporated as an alternative protein source in poultry feed.