Growth performance and meat quality of medium-growing chickens fed with live black soldier fly larvae
The study aims to evaluate live black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) supplementation in medium-growing chicken’s diet, the effects on growth and slaughter performance, and quality of meat. A total of 90 male chicks, Naked Neck Label, were randomly allotted in 15 pens (5 pens/treatment) and raised until 8...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2025-12-01
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| Series: | Italian Journal of Animal Science |
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| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1828051X.2025.2462411 |
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| author | Cristina Tognoli Sara Bellezza Oddon Luisa Zaniboni Ilaria Biasato Niko Gioacchino Zeni Manuela Renna Laura Gasco Stefano Paolo Marelli Annalaura Lopez Achille Schiavone |
| author_facet | Cristina Tognoli Sara Bellezza Oddon Luisa Zaniboni Ilaria Biasato Niko Gioacchino Zeni Manuela Renna Laura Gasco Stefano Paolo Marelli Annalaura Lopez Achille Schiavone |
| author_sort | Cristina Tognoli |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The study aims to evaluate live black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) supplementation in medium-growing chicken’s diet, the effects on growth and slaughter performance, and quality of meat. A total of 90 male chicks, Naked Neck Label, were randomly allotted in 15 pens (5 pens/treatment) and raised until 82 days of age. Each pen was assigned to one of dietary treatments: (1) control group (CTRL) which received a commercial chicken diet, (2) BSFL10 group which received commercial feed and live BSFL at 10% of the expected weekly feed intake and (3) BSFL20 group which received commercial feed and live BSFL at 20%. As concern growth performance, the diets influenced the average daily feed intake (p = 0.039) and FCR, which was lower in insect-fed birds (p < 0.001). The slaughter weight was significantly higher (p = 0.016) in the BSFL10 group compared to CTRL group, while the BSFL20 group showed intermediate values. The fatty acid of the breast and thigh was influenced by the inclusion of the BSFL in the diet. The proportion of lauric acid (C12:0) and myristic acid (C14:0) were significantly higher (p < 0.001) in BSFL10 and BSFL20 in comparison to CTRL group. Although the nutritional value index and the total essential fatty acids did not show significant differences among the experimental groups. The results demonstrate the feasibility of supplementing commercial feed for medium-growing chickens with live BSFL, up to 20% of the expected weekly feed intake, with minimal modifications to growth performance, slaughter outcomes, and meat quality. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-020732801533449ca33ee1116987fab1 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1594-4077 1828-051X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Italian Journal of Animal Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-020732801533449ca33ee1116987fab12025-02-11T15:10:11ZengTaylor & Francis GroupItalian Journal of Animal Science1594-40771828-051X2025-12-0124153954910.1080/1828051X.2025.24624112462411Growth performance and meat quality of medium-growing chickens fed with live black soldier fly larvaeCristina Tognoli0Sara Bellezza Oddon1Luisa Zaniboni2Ilaria Biasato3Niko Gioacchino Zeni4Manuela Renna5Laura Gasco6Stefano Paolo Marelli7Annalaura Lopez8Achille Schiavone9Dipartimento di Veterinaria e Scienze Animali, University of MilanDipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Forestali e Alimentari, University of TurinDipartimento di Veterinaria e Scienze Animali, University of MilanDipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Forestali e Alimentari, University of TurinDipartimento di Veterinaria e Scienze Animali, University of MilanDipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, University of TurinDipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Forestali e Alimentari, University of TurinDipartimento di Veterinaria e Scienze Animali, University of MilanDipartimento di Veterinaria e Scienze Animali, University of MilanDipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, University of TurinThe study aims to evaluate live black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) supplementation in medium-growing chicken’s diet, the effects on growth and slaughter performance, and quality of meat. A total of 90 male chicks, Naked Neck Label, were randomly allotted in 15 pens (5 pens/treatment) and raised until 82 days of age. Each pen was assigned to one of dietary treatments: (1) control group (CTRL) which received a commercial chicken diet, (2) BSFL10 group which received commercial feed and live BSFL at 10% of the expected weekly feed intake and (3) BSFL20 group which received commercial feed and live BSFL at 20%. As concern growth performance, the diets influenced the average daily feed intake (p = 0.039) and FCR, which was lower in insect-fed birds (p < 0.001). The slaughter weight was significantly higher (p = 0.016) in the BSFL10 group compared to CTRL group, while the BSFL20 group showed intermediate values. The fatty acid of the breast and thigh was influenced by the inclusion of the BSFL in the diet. The proportion of lauric acid (C12:0) and myristic acid (C14:0) were significantly higher (p < 0.001) in BSFL10 and BSFL20 in comparison to CTRL group. Although the nutritional value index and the total essential fatty acids did not show significant differences among the experimental groups. The results demonstrate the feasibility of supplementing commercial feed for medium-growing chickens with live BSFL, up to 20% of the expected weekly feed intake, with minimal modifications to growth performance, slaughter outcomes, and meat quality.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1828051X.2025.2462411hermetia illucensmedium-growing chickensgrowth performancemeatfatty acid composition |
| spellingShingle | Cristina Tognoli Sara Bellezza Oddon Luisa Zaniboni Ilaria Biasato Niko Gioacchino Zeni Manuela Renna Laura Gasco Stefano Paolo Marelli Annalaura Lopez Achille Schiavone Growth performance and meat quality of medium-growing chickens fed with live black soldier fly larvae Italian Journal of Animal Science hermetia illucens medium-growing chickens growth performance meat fatty acid composition |
| title | Growth performance and meat quality of medium-growing chickens fed with live black soldier fly larvae |
| title_full | Growth performance and meat quality of medium-growing chickens fed with live black soldier fly larvae |
| title_fullStr | Growth performance and meat quality of medium-growing chickens fed with live black soldier fly larvae |
| title_full_unstemmed | Growth performance and meat quality of medium-growing chickens fed with live black soldier fly larvae |
| title_short | Growth performance and meat quality of medium-growing chickens fed with live black soldier fly larvae |
| title_sort | growth performance and meat quality of medium growing chickens fed with live black soldier fly larvae |
| topic | hermetia illucens medium-growing chickens growth performance meat fatty acid composition |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1828051X.2025.2462411 |
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