The aim of this research was to study the effect of insect meal from larvae ( larvae meal [TML]) as complete replacement of soybean meal (SBM) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and carcass and meat traits of broilers. A total of eighty 30-d-old male Shaver brown broilers were homogenously divided into 2 groups (each consisting of 8 replicates of 5 birds). Up to 62 d of age, the groups were fed 2 isoproteic and isoenergetic diets differing for the ingredient used as the main protein source: the control group was fed a corn-SBM-based diet, whereas in the TML group, the SBM was completely replaced by TML. Broiler growth performance was measured during the trial. At 62 d of age, 2 broilers per replicate (16 per group) were slaughtered and apparent ileal digestibility coefficients and carcass and meat traits were determined. The use of TML as the main protein source in the broiler diet had no significant effect on most growth performance and carcass traits and chemical and physical properties of meat, the latter being important for marketing purposes. The feed conversion ratio in the entire experimental period (from 30 to 62 d) was improved in the TML group compared with the SBM group ( < 0.05). The apparent ileal digestibility coefficients of DM, OM, and CP in broilers fed the SBM diet were greater ( < 0.01) than the other group. The full digestive system in broilers fed SBM had a lower ( < 0.05) absolute and relative weight than that of broilers fed TML. Also, the weight and the percentage of the spleen in the SBM group were lower ( < 0.05) than those in the TML group. The length of the entire intestine in the group fed TML was greater ( < 0.05) than the other group and the same happened when intestinal length was expressed as percentage of broiler BW ( < 0.05). Among the different intestinal tracts, the ileum and ceca of broilers fed TML had a greater ( < 0.05) length than that of broilers fed SBM. Also, ceca weight (as an absolute value or percentage on live weight) in broilers fed TML was greater ( < 0.05) than that of broilers fed SBM. Breast pH and cooking losses in broilers fed TML were greater ( < 0.05) than those of broilers fed SBM. Chemical characteristic of meat obtained from right breast of slaughtered broilers were unaffected by dietary treatments. larvae meal can be a suitable alternative protein source for growing broilers and also when used as principal protein contributor to the diet.

The aims of this study were to evaluate the correlation between in vitro crude protein digestibility coefficients of insect meals from Tenebrio molitor (TI) and Hermetia illucens (HI) and their chemical composition traits as well as to develop regression equations able to estimate the in vitro crude protein digestibility (CPd) from proximate analysis of insect meals. Twelve samples of insect meals (6 from TM larvae, TM 1-6 and 6 from HI larvae, HI 1-6) were obtained from different producers and analysed for chemical composition and in vitro crude protein digestibility by a two-step enzymatic method (digestion with pepsin and trypsin-enriched pancreatin). For both insect meal samples, CPd was negatively correlated to ADF and chitin contents, while just for HI there was a positive correlation (P<0.01) between CP percentage of the samples and CPd. For both insect meals the former variable chosen in the stepwise analysis was the chitin, explaining the 79.45% of CPd variability for Tenebrio molitor samples and the 98.30% for Hermetia illucens. In the second step, the amount of protein linked to ADF was added in the model for T. molitor and CP for H. illucens samples. The coefficients chitin is the main constituent of insect body able to affect the crude protein digestibility of Tenebrio molitor and Hermetia illucens larvae meals estimated by an in vitro enzymatic method.

The aim of the research was to study the effects of an insect meal from Hermetia illucens larvae (HILM) as complete replacement of soybean meal (SBM) on productive performance and blood profiles of laying hens, from 24 to 45 wk of age. A total of 108 24-week-old Lohmann Brown Classic laying hens was equally divided into 2 groups (54 hens/group, 9 replicates of 6 hens/group). From 24 to 45 wk of age, the groups were fed 2 different isoproteic and isoenergetic diets: the control group (SBM) was fed a corn-soybean meal based diet, while in the HILM group the soybean meal was completely replaced by Hermetia illucens larvae meal. Feed intake, number of eggs produced, and egg weight were recorded weekly along the trial. At 45 wk of age, blood samples were collected from 2 hens per replicate. The use of HIML led to a more favorable (P < 0.01) feed conversion ratio in hens but lay percentage, feed intake, average egg weight, and egg mass were higher (P < 0.01) in hens fed the SBM diet. Hens fed insect meal produced a higher percentage of eggs from small (S), medium (M), and extra-large (XL) classes (P < 0.01) than SBM, while the SBM group had a higher percentage of eggs from the large (L) class (P < 0.01). The levels of globulin and albumin to globulin ratio were, respectively, higher and lower (P < 0.05) in HILM than the SBM group. Cholesterol and triglycerides were higher (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively) in hens from SBM than in the HILM group. Blood levels of Ca were higher (P < 0.01) in hens fed insect meal, while creatinine was higher (P < 0.01) in blood of hens fed SBM. Hermetia illucens larvae meal can be a suitable alternative protein source for laying hens even if the complete replacement of soybean meal needs further investigation to avoid the negative effects on feed intake.

Insects could be potential nutritional sources both for humans and animals. Among these, Hermetia illucens, with good amount of chitin and proteins, represents a suitable diet replacement for laying hens. Little is known about insect diet effects on the microbial ecology of the gastrointestinal tract and bacterial metabolites production. In this study we investigated the effect of H. illucens larvae meal administration on cecal microbiota and short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) production in laying hens. 16S rDNA sequencing showed strong differences between cecal microbiota of soybean (SD) and insect diet (ID) groups both in type and relative abundance (unweighted and weighted beta diversity) of microbial species. In particular, Bacteroides plebeius, Elusimicrobium minutum, Alkaliphilus transvaalensis, Christensenella minuta, Vallitalea guaymasensis and Flavonifractor plautii represented the principal contributors of changes in gut microbiota composition of ID group (FDR p-values < 0.05). Of these, F. plautii, C. minuta and A. transvaalensis have the potential to degrade the chitin’s insect meal and correlated with the observed high levels of gut SCFAs produced in ID group. These microorganisms may thus connect the chitin degradation with high SCFAs production. Our results suggest H. illucens as a potential prebiotic by well feeding gut microbiota.

ABSTRACT:One hundred and twenty (100♀ + 20♂) 30-weeks-old dual-purpose breeding hens of Gimmizah strain were housed in individual cages in a semi-open house. Birds were distributed randomly into five treatments of 20♀ + 4♂. The 1 st treatment was fed a control (unsupplemented) diet (17.5% CP and 11.4 MJ per kg diet) containing 0.10 mg Se/kg (low level). The 2 nd , 3 rd , 4 th and 5 th treatments were fed the control diet supplemented with 0.15 and 0.30 mg Se/kg from inorganic (sodium selenite) and organic (selenomethionine, as Se-yeast Selplex ® Alltech, Nicholasville, USA) sources, respectively. The total concentration of Se in experimental diets was 0.25 (medium level) and 0.40 ppm (high level). Feed and water were provided ad libitum throughout the experimental period (30-50 weeks of age). Different Se levels of the organic and inorganic form and their interaction did not significantly (P > 0.05) affect egg production percentage, and most of egg quality traits. Egg weight and egg mass significantly (P < 0.002) increased and the feed conversion ratio (FCR) significantly (P < 0.04) improved due to Se supplementation compared with hens fed the control diet. Piped embryos and spleen percentage significantly (P < 0.05) decreased due to Se supplementation. In addition, the level of organic and inorganic Se and their interaction significantly (P < 0.0001) decreased the plasma cholesterol concentration. Tibia Ca and P percentages and yolk selenium concentration significantly (P < 0.03; P < 0.0001 and P < 0.0001, respectively) increased due to Se supplementation and the greatest increase was recorded by a group fed diet with the high level (0.40) of organic Se. The duodenal and intestinal mucosa of the ileum was negatively affected by the high level of inorganic Se while chickens fed the organic form showed less toxic effects in hepatic and splenic tissues than those receiving the inorganic form. In conclusion, the organic and inorganic Se supplementation at 0.15 and 0.30 mg/kg diet, which corresponded to a dietary level of 0.25 and 0.40 mg/kg diet, improved the productive and reproductive performance of Gimmizah breeding hens. A decrease in plasma total cholesterol and an improvement in the bone mineralization were observed. The level of 0.25 mg/kg diet of organic Se was adequate to enrich eggs, which may be recommended for practical application and which would improve the consumer health benefit.

49 The aim of the present study was to evaluate the animal 50 performance, haematochemical parameters, intestinal 51 morphology and histological features of broiler chickens fed 52 diets including Tenebrio molitor (TM) larvae meal. A total of 53 160 female broiler chicks (Ross 708) at one-day of age were 54 randomly allotted to four dietary treatments: a control (C) 55 group and three TM groups, in which TM meal was included at 56 50, 100 and 150 g/kg, respectively. Each group consisted of 57 five pens as replicates, with eight chicks per pen. After the 58 evaluation of growth performance and haematochemical 59 parameters, two birds per pen were slaughtered at 40 days and 60 carcass traits were recorded. Morphometric investigations were 61 performed on duodenum, jejunum and ileum and 62 histopathological alterations were assessed for liver, spleen, 63 thymus, bursa of Fabricius, kidney and heart. The live weight 64 (LW) showed a linear (12 days, P < 0.05, maximum with 65 TM15) and quadratic response (40 days, P < 0.05, maximum 66 with TM5) to dietary TM meal inclusion. The average daily 67 gain (ADG) showed a linear increase (1-12 days, P < 0.05, 68 maximum with TM15) in response to TM meal utilization. A 69 linear effect (1-12 and 12-25 days, P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, 70 maximum with TM15 and TM5) was observed for the daily 71 feed intake (DFI). The feed conversion ratio (FCR) showed a 72 linear response to TM utilization in the period 12-25 days (P < 73 4 0.01, maximum with TM15). A quadratic effect (P < 0.05, 74 maximum with TM5) was observed for the carcass weight. The 75 abdominal fat weight and percentage showed a linear response 76 to dietary TM meal inclusion (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, maximum 77 with TM15 and TM10). A quadratic increase (P < 0.05, 78 maximum with TM10) was observed for the erythrocytes, 79 while the albumin and GGT showed a linear and quadratic 80 decrease (P < 0.05, minimum with TM10) in relation to TM 81 utilization. Gut morphology and histopathological findings 82 were not significantly influenced (P > 0.05) by dietary TM 83 meal inclusion. The present study suggests that increasing 84 levels of dietary TM meal inclusion in female broiler chickens 85 diets may improve body weight and feed intake, but can 86 partially worsen feed efficiency. However, positive effects on 87 carcass traits and haematochemical parameters related to TM 88 meal utilization are observed, along with no negative influence 89 on gut morphology and histological findings. 90 91 Keywords 92 Poultry; Tenebrio molitor; insect meal; growth performance; 93 histology; morphometry. 94 95 96 World population is expected to increase by over a third, 97 reaching over 9 billion people in 2050. This trend suggests that 98 market demand for food will continue to grow. In particular, 99 the demand for cereals and protein sources in both human food 100 and animal feed is projected to have an exponential growth by 101 2050 (FAO, 2013). Consequently, the world supply of some 102 conventional feedstuffs like soybean and maize will 103 ...

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the inclusion of Tenebrio molitor larvae meal in practical diets for gilthead sea bream on growth performance, nutrients digestibility, somatic and marketable indexes. Two separate trials were carried out: in the first a total of 153 gilthead sea bream (105.2 ± 0.17 g average initial body weight) were randomly allocated in 9 fiberglass 220 liter tanks (17 fish per tank) in an indoor water recirculating system. The fish were fed three isoenergetic and isoproteic diets formulated to contain increasing levels of TM meal inclusion and precisely: a control diet (TM0), in which fish meal was the main protein source; TM25 and TM50 diets, in which 25% and 50% of Tenebrio molitor larvae meal was added to the diet, respectively. These inclusion rates corresponded to 30% and 60% of inclusion on protein bases and 35% and 71% of fish meal substitution on protein bases for TM25 and TM50 diets, respectively. Each diet was randomly assigned to 3 tanks and the trial lasted 163 days. In the second trial the apparent digestibility coefficients of the 3 diets were measured on 72 fish randomly distributed to 3 digestibility tank-units (24 fish per unit, average body weight: 86.97±2.3 g) using an indirect method (acid insoluble ash).The group fed TM25 showed a higher (P < 0.05) final weight, specific growth rate, weight gain %, protein efficiency ratio, and a lower feed conversion ratio compared to the other 2 groups. The estimated apparent digestibility coefficients of crude protein and ether extract of the diets were lower (P < 0.01) in TM50 than in the other 2 groups. No significant differences have been found between TM0 and Tenebrio molitor larvae meal groups in morphometric and commodity-related characteristics, except for dressed yield and viscerosomatic index (VSI), that resulted the lowest and the highest, respectively, in TM50. The skin colour resulted to be affected by dietary inclusion of insect meal, especially at 50% of inclusion. The general evaluation of the results demonstrates that Tenebrio molitor larvae meal can replace fish meal up to 25% of inclusion in the diet for Sparus aurata without negative effects on weight gain, crude protein and ether extract digestibility, marketable indexes after 163 days feeding. On the contrary, when Tenebrio molitor larvae meal was included at 50%, nutrient digestibility, dressed yield, VSI and skin colour were penalized.

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