Effect of Utilization of Maggot (Hermetia illucens) Meal Substituted Fish Meal in the Diets on Broiler Chicken Performance

Abstract

The present study was designed to elaborate the effect of substituting fish meal with maggot (Hermetia illucens) meal in the diets on feed efficiency of broiler chicken. Eighty day old chicks (DOC) CP 707 broilers were placed in battery cages and were assigned to each dietary treatment (5 treatments) which was replicated four times in a completely randomized design (CRD) arrangement. Diets were formulated to meet or exceed starter and finisher broiler requirements as recommended by NRC (1994). Treatment diets were formulated as follow: R0 =  100.0% fish meal (15.0% in the diet) + 0% maggot meal (0% in the diet); R1 =  75.0% fish meal (11.25% in the diet) + 25.0% maggot meal (3.75% in the diet); R2 = 50.0% fish meal (7.5% in the diet) + 50.0% maggot meal (7.5% in the diet); R3 = 25.0% fish meal (3.75% in the diet) + 75.0% maggot meal (11.25% in the diet); and R4 = 0% fish meal (0% in the diet) +100.0% maggot meal (15.0% in the diet). Parameters measured were: digestibility of energy, protein, Ca and P; daily feed consumption, daily gain, and feed efficiency ratio. Research results showed that the digestibility of dry matter, energy, Ca, and P were all not significantly (P > 0.05) different among the treatments. Whereas feed consumption, daily gain, and feed efficiency ratio of starter and finisher broiler chicks were significantly (P < 0.05) decreased as maggot meal substituted fish meal at the level of 100% or 15.0% in the diet (R4). It can be concluded that maggot (Hermetia illucens) meal could replace fih meal up to 75.0% or 11.25% in the diet without any negative effects on broiler chicken performance.