Effect of Dietary Inclusion of Black Soldier Fly Larvae (Hermetia Illucens) on Nutrient Utilisation and Carcass Characteristics in Broiler Chicken
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48165/ijvsbt.22.4.22Keywords:
Broiler chicken, BSFL, Carcass characteristics, Nutrient utilizationAbstract
The current research was carried to evaluate the effect of dietary inclusion of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) at different levels on nutrient utilization and carcass characteristics of broiler chicken. In a 42-days trial, a total of 120 day-old Cobb-430Y chicks were randomly allotted to four treatments T1 (0% BSFL), T2 (5%), T3 (10%), and T4 (15%) - each with three replicates of 10 birds, in a completely randomized design. A metabolizability study was conducted during the last 3 days of finisher phase to evaluate nutrient utilization and 2 birds per replicate were slaughtered on completion of 42 days to evaluate carcass characteristics. Results indicated increased metabolizability coefficients for dry matter (p<0.05), organic matter (p<0.01), crude protein (p<0.05) and ether extract (p<0.01) in broilers fed diets included with BSFL compared to control. CF and NFE digestibility was not (p>0.05) affected by BSFL inclusion. Significant increase in calcium (p<0.05) and phosphorus (p<0.01) retention (%) was noticed with increasing BSFL inclusion. Inclusion of BSFL up to 15% in the diet did not affect carcass characteristics like dressing per cent, ready to cook yield and per cent weights (%) of liver, heart, gizzard and giblet. Based on the results it is concluded that BSFL inclusion up to 15% level in the diet improved nutrient utilization without changing the carcass characteristics.
Downloads
References
AOAC (2007). Official Methods of Analysis. 18th edn., Association of Official Analytical Chemists, Washington DC, USA. Auza, F.A., Purwanti, S., Syamsu, J.A., Natsir, A., Badaruddin, R., Zulkarnain, D., & Munadi, L.O.M. (2023). Effects of using black soldier fly larvae meal (Hermetia illucens l) as a source of protein on boosting performance, carcass quality, and nutrient digestibility of village chicken. Journal of Animal Health and Production, 11(2), 193-198.
Treatment Dressing wt (%) RCY (%) Liver (%) Heart (%) Gizzard (%) Gibblet (%) T1(0) 66.84±0.74 71.18±0.80 1.91±0.10 0.62±0.05 1.82±0.04 4.34±0.14 T2(5) 68.03±0.53 72.22±0.51 1.92±0.09 0.54±0.02 1.73±0.08 4.19±0.12
T3(10) 67.96±0.37 72.21±0.39 1.93±0.05 0.56±0.01 1.76±0.08 4.25±0.09 T4(15) 68.39±0.41 72.38±0.40 1.89±0.07 0.56±0.02 1.62±0.12 3.99±0.05 n 6 6 6 6 6 6 p 0.22 0.42 0.99 0.26 0.43 0.14 SEM 0.28 0.28 0.04 0.01 0.04 0.06 SS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS: Non significant
122 The Indian Journal of Veterinary Sciences and Biotechnology, Volume 22 Issue 4 (July-August 2026)
Nutrient Utilization in Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL) Fed Broilers
BIS (2007). Nutrient Requirements of Livestock and Poultry. Bureau of Indian Standards. New Delhi, India
Bovera, F., Loponte, R., Marono, S., Piccolo, G., Parisi, G., Iaconisi, V., Gasco, L., & Nizza, A. (2016). Use of Tenebrio molitor larvae meal as protein source in broiler diet: Effect on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and carcass and meat traits. Journal of Animal Science, 94(2), 639-647.
Brah, N., Amadou, L., Tougiani, A., Moussa, M., Moussa, B., Moussa, H.O., Dzepe, D., Djouaka, R., & Abdoulaye, T. (2024). Effects of the incorporation rate of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae meals on zoo-economic performance and carcass quality of broiler chickens. Brazilian Journal of Poultry Science, 26(3), 1-10.
Heuel, M., Sandrock, C., Leiber, F., Mathys, A., Gold, M., Zurbrüegg, C., Gangnat, I.D.M., Kreuzer, M., & Terranova, M. (2022). Black soldier fly larvae meal and fat as a replacement for soybeans in organic broiler diets: effects on performance, body N retention, carcase and meat quality. British Poultry Science, 63(5), 650-661.
Kareem, K.Y., Abdulla, N.R., Foo, H.L., Zamri, A.N.M., Shazali, N., Loh, T.C., & Alshelmani, M.I. (2018). Effect of feeding larvae meal in the diets on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and meat quality in broiler chicken. Indian Journal of Animal Sciences, 88(10), 1180-1185.
La Mantia, M.C., Calì, M., Jasinski, P.L., Contò, M., Zilio, M.D., Renzi, G., & Amato, G.M. (2024). Black soldier meal in feed could adversely affect organic broiler meat quality when used for the total or half replacement of diet proteins. Poultry, 3(2), 66-84.
Lalev, M., Hristakieva, P., Mincheva, N., Oblakova, M., & Ivanova, I. (2022). Effect of dietary inclusion of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) and silkworm (Bombyx mori) larvae meals on growth performance and meat quality in broilers. Bulgarian Journal of Agricultural Science, 28(4), 743-751.
Maurer, V., Holinger, M., Amsler, Z., Früh, B., Wohlfahrt, J., Stamer, A., & Leiber, F. (2016). Replacement of soybean cake by Hermetia illucens meal in diets for layers. Journal of Insects as Food and Feed, 2(2), 83-90.
Murawska, D., Daszkiewicz, T., Sobotka, W., Gesek, M., Witkowska, D., Matusevicius, P., & Bakuła, T. (2021). Partial and total replacement of soybean meal with full-fat black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens L.) larvae meal in broiler chicken diets: impact on growth performance, carcass quality and meat quality. Animals, 11(9), 2715.
Nampijja, Z., Kiggundu, M., Kigozi, A., Lugya, A., Magala, H., Ssepuuya, G., Nakimbugwe, D., Walusimbi, S.S., & Mugerwa, S. (2023). Optimal substitution of black soldier fly larvae for fish in broiler chicken diets. Scientific African, 20, e01636.
Oddon, S.B., Biasato, I., Imarisio, A., Pipan, M., Dekleva, D., Colombino, E., Capucchio, M.T., Meneguz, M., Bergagna, S., Barbero, R., Gariglio, M., Dabbou, S., Fiorilla, E., Gasco, L., & Schiavone, A. (2021). Black soldier fly and yellow mealworm live larvae for broiler chickens: effects on bird performance and health status. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition, 105, 10-18.
Onsongo, V.O., Osuga, I.M., Gachuiri, C.K., Wachira, A.M., Miano, D.M., Tanga, C.M., Ekesi, S., Nakimbugwe, D., & Fiaboe, K.K.M. (2018). Insects for income generation through animal feed: effect of dietary replacement of soybean and fish meal with black soldier fly meal on broiler growth and economic performance. Journal of Economic Entomology, 111(4), 1966-1973.
Schiavone, A., Marco, D.M., Martínez, S., Dabbou, S., Renna, M., Madrid, J., Hernandez, F., Rotolo, L., Costa, P., Gai, F., & Gasco, L. (2017). Nutritional value of a partially defatted and a highly defatted black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens L.) meal for broiler chickens: apparent nutrient digestibility, apparent metabolizable energy and apparent ileal amino acid digestibility. Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology, 8(1), 51.
Seyedalmoosavi, M.M., Mielenz, M., Gors, S., Wolf, P., Das, G., & Metges, C.C. (2022). Effects of increasing levels of whole Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae in broiler rations on acceptance, nutrient and energy intakes and utilization, and growth performance of broilers. Poultry Science, 101(12), 102202.
Snedecor, G.W., & Cochran, W.G. (1994). Statistical Methods. 8th edn., Oxford and IBH Publishing Company, Calcutta, India. Talapatra, S.K., Ray, S.C., & Sen, K.C. (1940). The analysis of mineral constituents in biological materials. Part-1. Estimation of phosphorous, chlorine, calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium in foodstuffs. Indian Journal of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, 10, 243.
Waithaka, M.K., Osuga, I.M., Kabuage, L.W., Subramanian, S., Muriithi, B., Wachira, A.M., & Tanga, C.M. (2022). Evaluating the growth and cost–benefit analysis of feeding improved indigenous chicken with diets containing black soldier fly larva meal. Frontiers in Insect Science, 2, 933571.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Indian Journal of Veterinary Sciences and Biotechnology
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
