Effect of increasing levels of Hermetia illucens larvae meal on productivity, egg quality, blood parameters and environmental safety of hens

The meal of the Hermetia illucens (L.) has a high concentration of proteins, amino acids, lipids, and minerals and has been used as an ingredient on animal nutrition. The objective of this work was to evaluate different levels of full-fat H. illucens larvae meal (HILM) on productivity, egg quality, blood parameters and environmental safety of laying hens. A total of 400 19-week-old Dekalb White®laying hens were placed in a random design for 12 weeks, with four treatments, 25 replicates per treatment, and four birds per replicate. The treatments consisted of a control diet and three levels of inclusion with HILM (10, 15 and 20%). The inclusion of HILM (mainly at 15%) quadratically increased or decreased ( ) laying intensity, feed intake and mass conversion, respectively. The dirty eggs decreased ( ) with 10 and 15% HILM inclusion. Furthermore, the inclusion of 20% HILM linearly or quadratically decreased ( ) yolk colour and shell thickness, respectively. Other egg quality indicators, as well as blood parameters and immunoglobulins, were not affected ( ) by the experimental diets. Likewise, E. coli counts increased quadratically ( ) at the highest inclusion level (HILM). Conversely, faecal nitrogen excretion decreased quadratically ( ) with the lowest values at 15% HILM, while phosphorus excretion was reduced at this inclusion level compared to the control ( ). Including 15% full-fat H. illucens larvae meal in isoproteic and isoenergetic diets for hens can partially replace soybean meal, cornmeal, vegetable oil, some synthetic amino acids, and the available phosphorus source, improving both productivity and environmental sustainability.