The effect of live maggot (Hermetia illucens) supplementation on organoleptic quality and yolk color of duck egg

Abstract

Black soldier fly (BSF) maggot is a biological agent that can solve the problem of converting organic waste into biomass for poultry feed as well as fertilizers. Although live maggot supplementation in ducks functions as cheap feeds, it raises significant concerns because it can affect egg quality, changing the taste and odor. Therefore, this study aims to determine the organoleptic quality of duck eggs fed with live maggot (Hermetia illucens) using 120 Alabio ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) placed in postal cages. It was conducted using a completely randomized design with a 2×2 factorial pattern to investigate the effect of two independent factors, namely protein level at 15% and 21%, as well as the concentration of live maggot supplementation given at 0 and 40 g/bird/day. The texture, flavor, and odor were tested using 67 moderately trained panelists, while the yolk color was determined using an egg yolk color fan, then the data obtained were analyzed for variance. The results showed that the protein level of the diet significantly affected the yolk’s texture and odor, but not the flavor and color. Furthermore, an interaction occurred between the protein level of the diet with the live maggot supplementation on the texture. Based on the results, Alabio ducks fed with a high protein diet namely 21% plus 40 g/bird/day live maggots produced eggs with a soft texture, good flavor, fishy odor, and the highest average color score of 8.69 compared to other treatment combinations.