The influence of protein from black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) on the reproductive functions of roosters

Abstract

Our research is devoted to studying the possibility of using food from the larvae of black soldier flies (Hermetia illucens) (low-fat flour) in the diets of breeding roosters of the Hisex Brown cross. The inclusion of 7.5% low-fat flour in the diet structure of the roosters of the experimental group led to an increase in the quality indicators of the sperm of breeding roosters, activated metabolic processes and antioxidant protection. By the time of full physiological maturation (25 weeks), the roosters of the experimental group had a superiority (P<0.05) over the control in live weight and testes weight by 2.80 and 4.25%. An increase in ejaculate volume was found by 7.55% (P<0.05), sperm concentration by 24.36% (P<0.05), sperm survival time of up to 139 hours, while reducing the number of morphologically abnormal germ cells. A connection has been established between the amino acid and mineral compositions of the experimental feed and rooster sperm. Bioactive substances of insect larvae are able to activate enzymes of the antioxidant defense of birds. In the blood of experimental roosters, the level of glutathione peroxidase increased by 2.51% (P<0.05), superoxide dismutase - by 8.37 (P<0.01), and the amount of reduced glutathione by 12.62% (P<0.01). A decrease in oxidized glutathione by 29.67% (P<0.01) was found. The end product of fat oxidation (malondialdehyde) decreased, relative to the control, by 16.51% (P<0.01). The conducted studies have proven the effectiveness of the experimental feed in the nutrition of breeding roosters.