Effect of inclusion of black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) meal in diets on growth performance and meat quality of growing quail

Nguyen Hai Quan, Vo Thi Minh Tam, Le Duc Thao and Le Duc Ngoan

Faculty of Animal Sciences and Vet. Medicine University of Agriculture and Forestry, Hue University 102 Phung Hung, Hue City, Viet Nam
nhquan@hueuni.edu.vn

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of inclusion levels of Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL) meal in diets on growth performance, carcass traits and proximate composition of quail meat. Total 480 quails of 17.03 ± 0.42 g (Mean ± Std) randomly allocated into 4 treatmentary diets, including CTL (control diet), B9, B18 and B27, in which, 9, 18 and 27% of BSFL meal (as DM) were used, and 3 replicates. Feed intake, average daily gain were recorded and the final weight, quails meat component quantity and chemical composition of meat were measured at the end of the experiment. Results on growth performance show that inclusion of BSFL meal in diets improved average daily gains of broiler quails, daily feed intake but not feed conversion ratios. Carcass dressing and percentage of breast and thighs meat, crude protein and ether extract contents did not affect by inclusion of BSFL meal but increasing inclusion of BSFL meal (9-27% as DM diet) raised dry matter content of quail meat.

Keywords: carcass characteristics, breasts and thighs meat, soybean meal

Introduction

Recently, quail production has been successfully developing in many countries, since quail has a number of productive and economic advantages over other bird species (Minvielle 2009). The genetic potential productivity of Japanese quail is quite high as their egg production reaches 310 eggs per year with an average weight of 12.5 g (Vali 2008). Quail meat, which is superior in nutritional and gustatory quality to meat of all types of farm poultry, is no less valuable dietary and medicinal food product than quail eggs. Tender, juicy and flavorful quail meat is a delicacy (Santhi and Kalaikannan 2017).

In Viet Nam, quail production has been rapidly developing. According to GSO (2021), quail population annually increased 11% and meat production of 37.9%/year during 2015-2020. In 2020, quail population was 31,409 thousand heads and meat production is 8649.9 tones. Quail required higher protein in diet (21-23%) than chicken (15-20%). Fishmeal and soybean meal are main protein sources in quail diets and their prices are increasing, therefore we have to look at an alternative protein sources.

The black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) has been studied in recent years and its larvae can be used as an unconventional feed resource for animals and aquaculture and can replace fishmeal and soybean meal (Spanghers et al 2017; Moula et al 2018; Lan et al 2022^a). Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) have a high crude protein (37-63% as DM) and crude fat (7-39%), and these values ​​vary widely depending on substractes for feeding the larvae (Ngoan et al 2021). Black soldier fly larvae have been used in diets of broiler and laying quails (Cullere et al 2016a,b; 2017; Mat el al 2021; Mulyono et al 2021). Cullere et al (2016b) reported that inclusion of 10 and 15% in diets did not affected growing performance and breast weight and yiled of broiler quails. The authors concluded that BSFL meal can partlly replace conventional soyabean meal and soyabean oil in diets for growing broiler quails, thus confirming to be a promising insect protein source for the feed industry.

In Viet Nam, BSFL have been recently using for chicken (Ta Trung Nghia 2020) and fish (Hoa and Dung 2016; Lan et al 2022^a). Ta Trung Nghia (2020) reported that including BSFL in diets improved survivial rates, growth performance and feed conversion ratio of local Mia chicken and economic benefit. However, the use of BSFL for feeding quail has not been publishing recently yet. This study therefore, aimed at evaluating the effects of including BSFL meal levels in diets on growth performance and meat quality of growing quails.

Materials and methods

The experiment was carried out at Centre for Animal Practice and Training, Faculty of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Agriculture and Forestry, Hue University during March- June 2022.

Animal and diet preparation

uails were purchased in the Quail farm at Thuy Duong commune, Huong Thuy District, Thua Thien Hue province. They were nursed for one weeks before running the experiment. During the experiment, animals were fed three times, at 7.00; 13.00 and 17.00 and water was supplied enough.

Larvae meal preparation: BSFL were fed by tofu by-products and collected at day 7th after rearing). Larvae meal preparation was followed Lan et al (2022^b). Larvae were washed with water several times to remove all impurities, boiled at 60^oC water for 1 minutes, took out and dried at 55°C for 24 hrs and milled into full - fat BSFL meal.

Diet preparation: All ingredients including BSFL meal were carefully mixed according to their proportion in the diet, dried at 45°C for 24hrs and stored in plastic bags at room temperature.

Experimental design

Total 480 quails of 17.03 ± 0.42 g (Mean ± Std) randomly allocated into 4 dietary treatments, including CTL (control diet), B9, B18 and B27 equivalent to 9%, 18% and 27% of BSFL meal. Each treatment was repeated 3 times Diets were formulated to demand quail’s nutrient requirement (NRC 1994). Chemical compositions of ingredients and diets indicate in Tables 1 and 2.

The feeding experiment was lasted for 30 days.

Measurements

Growth performance: All quails were weighted weekly in the morning and then daily weight gain (ADG) was calculated. Daily feed refusals were weighted and daily feed intake was calculated accordingly, and feed conversion ratio (FCR) was defined as following:

Carcass characteristics: At the end of the experiment, 6 quails (3 males and 3 females) per treatment were slaughtered for carcass characteristics and meat quality. Quails were slaughtered following the commercial methods as normal practice. The weights at slaughter, carcass, and breasts and thighs were measured at slaughter time. Following characters were calculated:

Meat quality: Samples of breasts and thighs were collected for chemical analysis: DM, CP, EE and total ash following AOAC (1990) procedure at the Lab of Faculty of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine.

Data analysis

The data were statistically processed by analysis of variance (ANOVA) using General Linear Model in Minitab 16.2.0 (2010). The difference between the mean values was determined by the Tukey method at a confidence level of 95%. Statistical model:

Y_ij = µ + α_i + ɛ_ij

Where: µ is the population mean; α_i is the effect of levels of larvae meal (i= 1-4); e_ijk is the random effect

Results and discussion

Growth performance

Data on live weight, daily weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio are presented in Table 3, Figure 1, Figure 2 and Figure 3.

Figure 1. Correlation between BSFL meal levels and live weight	Figure 2. Correlation between BSFL meal levels and live weight

Figure 3. Correlation between BSFL meal levels and FCR

Growth performance is an important criterion in poultry production in general and in quail production in particular. This is an indicator that determines the meat production capacity of quails and has great economic significance in quail production. The growth performance of quail was also evaluated through the average daily gain (ADG). Data in Table 3 show that ADG is higher in diets including BSFL meal than that in CTL (p<0.05). Values of ADG in B9, B18 and B27 range 4.04-4.11 g vs 3.5 g in CTL. Feed intake is an important indicator in poultry production and is directly affected by nutrient’s concentration in the diet, and other factors. Through this indicator, it is possible to assess the health status of poultry flocks, the quality of feed and the level of feeding and care. Daily feed intake reflects also palatability and feed suitability for quail. Data in Table 3 indicate that daily feed intake is increasing when increasing levels of BSFL meal in diets. Daily feed intake is highest in B18, then B27, and lowest in CTL (p<0.05). Feed conversion ratio (FCR) represents the efficiency of feed utilisation, which is an important indicator in quail production. One of many factors affect in FCR is characteristics of the diet (nutrition value, feed processing technology, feed quality). Results in Table 3 show that FCR values intend to increasing levels of BSFL however are not significantly defferent among treatments (p>0.05), range 3.82-4.33. The correlation coefficents between live weight, ADG, FCR and increasing BSFL rates in diets are presented in Figures 1, 2 and 3, respectively.

Cullere et al (2016b) reported that inclusion of 10 and 15% of BSFL meal in soyabean meal-based diets did not affect ADG, feed intake and FCR of quails. ADG ranged 8.24-8.40 g/day; feed intake ranged 23.3-24.4 g/day and FCR 2.83-2.90. Mat et al (2021) found that, inclusion of 20 and 25% of BSFL meal in broiler quail diets improved ADG, daily feed intake and FCR. These authors indicated that ADG of quails fed 20 and 25% BSFL meal-based diets (3.3-3,4 g/day) were higher than that in control and 15% BSFL meal-based diets (2.1-2.8 g/day). Mulyono et al (2021) studied on replacing fishmeal by BSFL meal plus Trichoderma in laying quails and found that daily feed intake reduced at level of 100% replacement, but FCR maintained.

The results of this study showed that inclusion of BSFL meal 9-27% as DM diet improved average daily gains of broiler quails, daily feed intake but not feed conversion ratios.

Carcass traits

Data on carcass characters of quail meat present in Table 4. Absolute value of carcass, thighs plus breasts weights are different among treatments due to different slaughter weight. However, carcass dressing and percentage of breasts plus thighs are not significant among them (p>0.05). In general, including BSFL meal in diets does not affect carcass characteristics of quail meat.

Cullere et al (2016b) found that carcass dressing and percentage of breast meat yield were not significant different among treatmentary diets of broiler quails fed the control diet and diets containing 10 and 15% BSFL as DM. These authors reported that carcass dressing ranged 64.1-64.7% and breast percentages of 30.7-30.8%. In addition, Cullere et al (2016b) reported also that inclusion of 10 and 15% of BSFL meal reduced meat pH values from 5.76 (control diet) to 5.67-5.68 (diets contained BSFL meal).

The results of this study show that carcass dressing and percentage of breast and thighs meat did not affect by inclusion of BSFL meal in diets of growing quails.

Chemical composition of meat

Data on chemical composition of meat indicate that DM and total ash contents are affected by BFSL inclusion (p<0.05) but not CP and EE (p>0.05). DM content is higher in B9 and B18 than that in CTL and B27 (p<0.05). Content of total ash is highest in B9 and CTL and lowest in B27. Differences in DM and ash contents do not reflect the diet effects on chemical composition of quail meat.

Cullere et al (2016a) reported that inclusion of 10 and 15% BSFL meal in diets did not affect proximate composition and cholesterol concentration of breast meat. However, with increasing BSFL meal, the total saturated fatty acid and total monounsaturated fatty acid proportions raised to the detriment of the polyunsaturated fatty acid fraction thus lowering the healthiness of the breast meat.

The results of recent study show that increasing inclusion of BSFL meal (9-27% as DM diet) did not affect crude protein and ether extract contents but raised dry matter content, and fatty acid profile of meat did not analyze in the study.

Conclusion

• Inclusion of black soldier fly larvae meal affects possitively daily weight gains but does not affect feed conversion ratio.
  
  
• In general, inclusion of black soldier fly larvae meal does not affect carcass characteristics and meat quality of quails.

Acknowledgement

The authors also acknowledge the partial support of the Strong Research Group Program of Hue University (Code: 06/HD-DHH).

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