Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the effect of black soldier fly (BSF; Hermetia illucens) larvae meal Amin MAG® on growth performance, economic efficiency, histomorphologicl features of the intestine and blood indices of chickens. A total 144 cobb chicks were reared for 35 days and randomly assigned into 4 dietary treatments. The dietary treatments formulated to contain BSFL meal at 0, 60, 120, 150 Kg/ Ton for D1, D2, D3, and D4respectively). Our results showed that body weight (BW), body weight gain (BWG), and relative growth rate (RGR) showed non-significant differences for D2 along the rearing period compared to other groups. Additionally, D2, D3, and D4 recorded non-significant changes in final ( BW ,BWG, RGR and FI) .Regarding cost parameters as total feed cost, total variable cost (TVC) and total cost (TC) and total return recorded non-significant difference among treated groups, while economic efficiency, relative economic efficiency and benefit cost ratio (BCR) resulted in non-significant differences for D2 and D3 compared to D1 while D4 significantly decreased compared to D1. Moreover, D2 recorded a marked increase in villi length across all the segments of the intestine compared to D1. No changes were observed for the blood and serum parameters, except for total leucocytic count (TLC), globulin and total protein which showed significant increase for D4 compared to D1. So, adding BSF to cobb diets at 60 and 120 Kg/ Ton does not negatively effect on growth performance, economic efficiency with no impacts on hematochemical parameters and gut and liver morphology.

Key words: Blood parameters, Cobb, Economic efficiency, Growth performance, Gut morphometry.