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

Authors

• Ahmed Abd-Elaziz Abdallah, Animal Production Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, EgyptFollow
• Mona A. Mahmoud, Animal Production Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, EgyptFollow
• Mohamed M. Khalifah, Animal Production Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, EgyptFollow
• Marwa R. El-Deken, Animal Production Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, EgyptFollow
• Bahaa M. Abou-Shehema, Animal Production Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, EgyptFollow
• Mohamed E. Farag, Animal Production Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, EgyptFollow
• Afaf B. Abu_shouk, Animal Production Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, EgyptFollow
• Reda. M. Zaki, Animal Production Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, EgyptFollow
• Asmaa A. Saad, Animal Production Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, EgyptFollow
• Mervat A. Berikaa, Animal Production Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, EgyptFollow

Abstract

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.

First Page

134

Last Page

155

Recommended Citation

Abdallah, Ahmed Abd-Elaziz; Mahmoud, Mona A.; Khalifah, Mohamed M.; El-Deken, Marwa R.; Abou-Shehema, Bahaa M.; Farag, Mohamed E.; Abu_shouk, Afaf B.; Zaki, Reda. M.; Saad, Asmaa A.; and Berikaa, Mervat A. (2026) "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," Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Meteorology, Environment and Arid Land Agriculture: Vol. 35: Iss. 2, Article 9.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.64064/1319-1039.1031

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.