Chemical Quality and Digestibility of Corn and Maggot-Based Feed with Varying Steaming Durations: Potential as Functional Poultry Feed

Corn is an agricultural commodity commonly used as an energy source in poultry feed. Its use needs to be combined with protein-rich ingredients, such as maggots, to optimize nutritional value. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of combining corn and maggots, subjected to different steaming durations, on the chemical quality and digestibility of corn and maggot-based feed in chickens. A completely randomized design with a 2 × 3 factorial pattern and three replications was employed. In vitro analyses included proximate composition (dry matter [DM], ash, crude fat, crude fiber [CF], crude protein [CP], and nitrogen-free extract [NFE]), gross energy, and Scanning Electron Microscope-Energy Dispersive X-Ray (SEM-EDX) profiling of the corn–maggot combination. Digestibility tests in cull laying hens assessed nutrient digestibility (CP, CF, and crude fat), True Metabolizable Energy (TME), and Apparent Metabolizable Energy (AME). The results showed that the combination of corn, maggots, and steaming duration significantly affected the chemical composition, SEM-EDX characteristics, and nutrient utilization in chickens. A combination of 75% corn and 25% maggots steamed for 15 minutes improved chemical quality, including DM (88.74%), ash (9.11%), crude fat (9.82%), CF (3.43%), CP (15.76%), NFE (61.88%), and gross energy (3657.00 kcal/kg). This combination also enhanced digestibility, as indicated by CP (77.02%), CF (90.63%), and crude fat (91.85%), resulting in higher AME (3,365.02 kcal/kg) and TME (3,500.64 kcal/kg).