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Effects of black soldier fly larvae oil on growth performance, gut physiology and fatty acid composition of broiler chickens

Kim, Y., D. Kim, S. Lee, T. Kim, H. Lee, and K. Lee
2020

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of the black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) oil on growth performance, carcass traits, short-chain fatty acids, fatty acid composition in abdominal fat, and serum parameters in broilers. It is expected that dietary black soldier fly larvae oil would affect growth performance, gut physiology, serum parameter and fatty acid composition in broiler chickens. A total 450 one-day-old male broiler chicks (Ross 308) were randomly allocated to three treatments with 10 replicates. A corn and soybean meal-based diet was used to formulate three experimental diets containing corn oil, coconut oil and BSFL oil at the level of 50 g per kg of diet. Data were analyzed by ANOVA using the PROC GLM followed by Duncan’s multiple range test in SAS. None of dietary fat sources affected body weight gain and feed intake in broiler chickens during days 1 to 30. Feed conversion ratio was decreased (P < 0.05) in the coconut oil and BSFL oil groups compared with the corn oil group. Ileal weight-to-length ratio significantly elevated (P < 0.05) in BSFL oil group compared with corn and coconut oil groups in 30-day-old broilers. The pH of the breast meat was lowest (P < 0.05) in the coconut oil group compared with that in the corn oil and BSFL oil groups. Branched-chain fatty acids in ileal contents were higher (P < 0.05) in chickens fed the BSFL oil group compared with those fed either corn or coconut oil group at 15 days. On the other hand, ileal propionate contents were higher (P < 0.05) in the coconut oil-fed group compared with the corn and BSFL oil groups at 30 days. BSFL and coconut groups had higher proportions (P < 0.05) of saturated fatty acid being dominant in lauric and myristic acids in the abdominal fat compared with the corn group. On the other hand, unsaturated fatty acids including oleic acid, linoleic acid, and arachidonic acid were higher (P < 0.05) in the corn oil group than in coconut and BSFL oil groups. BSFL oil group lowered (P < 0.05) concentrations of total cholesterol in serum samples compared with corn and coconut oil groups at 30 days. BSFL oil group increased (P < 0.05) total antioxidant capacity in serum samples compared with corn oil and coconut oil groups at 30 days.

In conclusion, the present study suggests that dietary BSFL oil improve feed conversion ratio and increase the incorporation of medium chain fatty acids into abdominal fat in broiler chickens.