Productive performance, egg-related indices, blood profiles, and interferon-Ɣ gene expression of laying Japanese quails fed on Tenebrio molitor larva meal as a replacement for fish meal

Abstract

The present experiment was conducted to investigate effects of Tenebrio molitor (TM) as a replacement for fish meal on egg productive and qualitative traits, serum biochemical parameters, haematology and interferon-Ç gene expression in laying quails. A total of 250 laying Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica), at 74 days of age were randomly allotted to five dietary treatments in a completely randomised design during a five-week period. Experimental treatments consisted of a basal diet (CTL) or basal diet supplemented with 25% (7.5 g/kg; TM25), 50% (15 g/kg; TM50), 75% (22.5 g/kg; TM75) and 100% (30 g/kg; TM100) TM larvae meal in replace of fish meal. Total replacement of fish meal with TM larva meal significantly increased daily feed intake (DFI) of laying quails compared to CTL (p < .05) but MT25, MT50 and MT75 decreased DFI in comparison to CTL (p < .05). Feed conversion ratio of quails fed with insect larva meal was not different from those received CTL. Serum cholesterol concentration was lower in quails of M75 and M100 groups than those fed on the other dietary treatments (p < .05). Haematological traits and interferon-Ç gene expression of quails were not affected by dietary supplemental TM larva meal. It was concluded that dietary inclusion of TM larva meal can be used as replacement for fish meal in diet of laying quails up to 30 g/kg. Dietary supplementation of TM larva meal did not have any adverse effect on health status of laying quails. HIGHLIGHTS Dietary inclusion of TM larva meal can be used as replacement for fish meal in diet of laying quails. Dietary supplementation of TM larva meal did not have any adverse effect on health status of laying quails. Serum cholesterol concentration decreased by dietary supplementation of TM larva meal in laying quails.

In vivo performances, ileal digestibility, and physicochemical characterization of raw and boiled eggs as affected by Tenebrio molitor larvae meal at low inclusion rate in laying quail (Coturnix japonica) diet

“…To our knowledge, there are very few studies about the use of insect meals in laying quails and they are divided among local insect species ( Das and Mandal, 2014 ), black soldier fly ( Dalle Zotte et al, 2019 ), and T. molitor ( Shariat Zadeh et al, 2020 ).…”

“…The EU Regulation 2017/893 admitted the use of Tenebrio molitor ( TM ), however, to date, only the aquaculture sector can benefit of insects as ingredient for feed. However, very few studies specifically considered the use of insect meals in laying quails and they are divided into black soldier fly ( Dalle Zotte et al, 2019 ), T. molitor ( Shariat Zadeh et al, 2020 ) or other local insect species ( Das and Mandal, 2014 ). The preliminary evaluation of Shariat Zadeh et al (2020) found a positive correlation between the inclusion of TM larvae meal, the egg productive performance and the egg-related indices.…”

“…However, very few studies specifically considered the use of insect meals in laying quails and they are divided into black soldier fly ( Dalle Zotte et al, 2019 ), T. molitor ( Shariat Zadeh et al, 2020 ) or other local insect species ( Das and Mandal, 2014 ). The preliminary evaluation of Shariat Zadeh et al (2020) found a positive correlation between the inclusion of TM larvae meal, the egg productive performance and the egg-related indices. Graded substitution level of fishmeal with TM (included at 15 and 22.5% as fed) significantly lowered the feed conversion ratio ( FCR ) values, but egg quality traits such as yolk height and shell weight were significantly reduced.…”

“…Graded substitution level of fishmeal with TM (included at 15 and 22.5% as fed) significantly lowered the feed conversion ratio ( FCR ) values, but egg quality traits such as yolk height and shell weight were significantly reduced. In general, Shariat Zadeh et al (2020) highlighted the safety of using TM meal for quails’ health, however additional data are necessary to evaluate the possibility to include TM in the diet of laying quails. Indeed, other studies aimed to substitute the conventional protein sources including the insect meal (TM larvae) in feeds for laying hens at 1, 2, and 3% ( Ko et al, 2020 ) or 2.5 and 5% ( Sedgh-Gooya et al, 2021 ) finding that the TM larva inclusions were effective in improving the FCR, but the authors suggest to limit the inclusion of TM at the 3% to avoid modification in blood parameters of laying hens and in egg quality characteristics.…”

Dynamic Analysis of Major Components in the Different Developmental Stages of Tenebrio molitor

“…The larvae of T. molitor (AKA yellow mealworm) are a common protein source for livestock and pets because they are easy to breed, high in protein, and have a high rate of assimilation of nitrogen from their feed (11)(12)(13)(14). The yellow mealworm is not only a good source of protein, for instance, the effect of feeding yellow mealworms to chickens and fish as a protein supplement for herbivores (15)(16)(17)(18), but also beneficial for improving the utilization rate of the intestinal protein of livestock, promoting their growth, increasing yield, and optimizing quality (19).…”