Effect of Black Soldier Larvae Meal (Hermetia illucens) as an Alternative Dietary Protein Source Supplemented with Microbial Probiotics and Multi-Enzymes on: 1. Broiler Productive Performance, Slaughter Traits, and Economic Efficiency

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of black soldier fly larvae meal (BSFLM), fed with or without a microbial probiotic and multi-enzyme supplement (MPE), on growth performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens from 1 to 38 days of age. A total of 225 one-day-old Ross 308 unsexed broiler chicks were randomly assigned to nine treatment groups in a 3 × 3 factorial design (five replicates, with five chicks per replicate). Nine experimental diets were formulated for the starter-grower (0–20 d) and finisher (21–38 d) phases by replacing soybean meal protein (SBMP) with black soldier larvae meal protein (BSFLMP) at three levels (0, 25, and 50 % of the crude protein of SBMP), which corresponded to 0, 11.4, and 21.9 % BSFLM in the starter-grower diets and 0, 8.8, and 17.4% BSFLM in the finisher diets. In addition, MPE was included at three levels (0, 0.5, and 1.0 g/kg diet). The results showed that the dry mater of BSFLM contained 39.2 % crude protein, 9.94% crude fiber, 24.7% ether extract, and 5.25% chitin. Broiler diet containing 25% BSFLMP substituted with 0.5 g MPE/kg diet improved feed conversion ratio (FCR), protein efficiency ratio (PER), carcass yield, and the weights of front and hind parts and overall economic efficiency. In conclusion, substituting SBMP with 25% BSFLM protein at 11.4 and 8.8 % BSFLM supplemented with 0.5 g MPE/kg diet in starter-grower and finisher diets, respectively) improved growth performance, carcass traits, and economic efficiency of broiler chickens during the 1–38 day production period.