Dietary potentials of the edible larvae of Cirina forda (westwood) as a poultry feed

An experiment was conducted to determine the performance of broiler chicks to the replacement of fishmeal with the larvae of Cirina forda. Three diets, namely Diet A (100% C. forda larvae and 0% Fish meal); Diet B (50% C. forda larvae and 50% Fish meal); and Diet C, which was the control (100% Fish meal and 0% C. forda larvae) were compounded and fed to the birds. The results showed that the consumption rate, the mean weight gain and specific growth rate of birds fed with Diets A and B did not differ significant (P > 0.05) when compared with the control. The potentials of the edible C. forda larvae as a protein source, which can replace and elicit similar growth trends in broiler chicks like the protein present in conventional fish meal, are discussed.