Superworm Meal Supplementation in Broilers: Impacts on Growth, Immunity, and Profitability
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55627/agrivet.004.02.01377Keywords:
Superworm Meal, Broilers, Performance, Feed Conversion Ratio, Carcass QualityAbstract
This study investigated the efficacy of superworm-based diets on broilers' performance, immunity, and economics from 1 to 42 days. A total of 120 day old chicks, were divided into four groups having three replicates with 10 birds in each, and were kept in cages. The first group was kept as a control group and fed a basal diet. Group SW1 was supplemented with 1 g/kg of defatted superworm meal (D-SWM) in the feed. Group SW2 was added 2 g/kg of defatted superworm meal to the diet, while Group SW3 was supplemented with 3 g/kg of defatted superworm meal. The Body weight (BW) at day 42 was significantly (p<0.05) increased in the SW1 group, while the lowest was recorded in the control group. The overall BW in the finisher phase was significantly highest in the SW1 group, as compared to the control group. On day 35, feed intake (FI) was significantly higher in the control group compared to the supplemented groups. On day 42, the D-SWM supplementation significantly affected broiler chickens' feed consumption (p<0.05). The highest FI at day 42 was reported in the control group compared to the D-SWM supplemented groups. The overall feed intake was the highest (p<0.05) in the control group, followed by the SW2 and SW3 groups, while the lowest was reported in the SW1 defatted mealworm supplemented group. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) on day 35 significantly increased in the control group compared to the superworms supplemented group. At day 42, the D-SWM supplementation significantly affected broiler chickens' feed conversion (p<0.005). The overall FCR in the finisher phase was significantly (p<0.05) highest in the control group, while the lowest was reported in the SW1 group. The carcass weight (CW) was significantly affected by DSWM supplementation. The highest carcass weight was reported in the SW1 group, while the lowest was noted for the SW2 group. The eviscerated weight (EW) was the highest in the M1 group as compared to the control group. The dry matter % of broiler chickens supplemented with D-SWM was significantly increased in the control and SW1 groups, followed by SW2 and SW3 groups. The crude protein (CP) digestibility was significantly higher in the control, while it was lowered in the SW3 group. The superworm meal supplementation had a significant effect on the ether extract (EE) digestibility. The EE digestibility was the highest in the control as compared to SW3 group. The Newcastle disease virus (NDV) titer significantly increased in the SW1, SW2, and SW3 while it decreased in the control group. The gross return (GR) and profit margin (PM) were significantly highest in the SW1 group, while the lowest was reported in the control group. In the duodenum, the villus height (VH), crypt depth (CD), and villus surface area VSA were significantly (p< 0.005) affected by the DSWM supplementation. The VH, CD, and VSA also significantly increased in the SW supplemented group compared to the control group, which was lower than the supplemented group. In the Jejunum, the VSA was significantly higher in the defatted SW supplemented group than in the control. It was concluded that the DSWM at the rate of 1% improved the body weight, feed conversion ratio, carcass weight, eviscerated weight, histomorphology, gross return, and profit margin.
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