Effect of black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens (Linnaeus) prepupae meal on growth performance and gut development in broiler chicken

An experiment was conducted to explore the suitability of black soldier fly (BSF) Hermetia illucens (Linnaeus) prepupae as poultry feed. Ninety day old, unsexed, Cobb chicks were distributed into 2 treatment groups, with 5 replicates, having 9 birds in each replicate, in a completely randomized design. The two dietary treatments consisted of corn-soy control diet and 5% supplemented insect meal-based diet. Results indicated similar (P > 0.05) body weight gain, feed intake or feed conversion ratio in chicks fed either insect meal or control diet during the experimental period. There was also no significant difference (P > 0.05) in the crude protein digestibility, cellular immunity as well as the length or weight of duodenum, jejunum, ileum and caecum between the treatments. It could be concluded that the black soldier fly prepupae meal can be incorporated at 5% in broiler diet. Thus, BSF can play a significant role in converting waste into feed and add to the feed basket in future.