Search

The overall beneficial effect of live black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) on the welfare of broiler chickens, turkeys, and laying hens has already been discussed in the literature. However, scant information is available regarding the benefits of feeding live BSFL to medium‐growing chicken hybrids reared under organic/free‐range conditions, and whose welfare is frequently cited as being inadequate. The aim of this research was to advance our knowledge of this topic. To this end, 240 label naked neck birds (Hubbard JA57 hybrid) were assigned, at 21 days of age, to four experimental groups (6 replicates/treatment, 10 chickens/replicate), created according to sex (M/F) and the provision of a 10% live BSFL dietary supplementation (control males, control females, larvae males, and larvae females), and raised until 82 days of age. We performed behavioural observations, a tonic immobility test, and an avoidance distance (AD) test. We assessed feather damage and cleanliness, hock burn, footpad dermatitis, and skin lesion scores, and determined the concentration of excreta corticosterone metabolites (ECM) and the heterophile to lymphocyte heterophile/lymphocyte (H/L) ratio. The behavioural observations demonstrated increased physical and foraging activity (p < 0.05) in the live BSFL administered groups compared with C ones, providing valuable data on the explorative and recreational behaviour of this chicken genotype. The results also evidenced the usefulness of live BSFL as a fear reducer in females, as those receiving the BSFL supplement moved closer to the operator during the AD test (p < 0.01). No physical injuries or damage were observed on the birds, regardless of whether they received the BSFL supplementation or not. The ECM were unaffected by BSFL supplementation, while the H/L ratio was higher in the larvae groups than in the control ones (p = 0.050). In conclusion, live BSFL provision could constitute a powerful tool for improving life quality in medium‐growing chicken

Insects are promising alternatives to conventional protein and fat sources for ruminants.Legislation is more restrictive for the use of protein-rich insect meals than for insect oils.Insect meals seem to have lower in vitro digestibility than conventional plant meals.Insect products may modulate the ruminal environment (e.g., CH4 emissions and biohydrogenation).

Implications:In nature, insects are part of the natural diet of aquaculture species, poultry, and pigs.Nutritional value of insect meals is comparable or higher than conventional protein sources in animal feed.Large quantities and consistent quality and chemical composition of insect meals are required for use in animal feed.Insect meals may improve animal health and welfare.Insect frass is a good fertilizer with a lower environmental load than artificial fertilizers.

This research has been aimed at evaluating the eects of live black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) (Hermetia illucens) on the growth, slaughtering performance, and blood parameters of medium-growing chickens. Methods: A total of 240, 28-day-old, Label Rouge Naked Neck chickens were allotted to four experimental groups, according to the gender (males-females) and to the absence (control group, C) or presence (larvae group, L) of a dietary supplementation with 10% live BSFL, on the basis of the expected average daily feed intake (ADFI) (6 replicates/diet, 10 chickens/replicate). The birds were weighed weekly, and the feed consumption was recorded to calculate the average live weight, feed conversion ratio (FCR), average daily gain (ADG), and the ADFI. At 82 days of age, 2 birds/replicate (12 birds/diet) were selected and slaughtered. The blood samples were collected, and the carcass traits (carcass, breast, thigh, and organ weights and yields) were assessed.

This study was designed to assess the effects of dietary flaxseed on the proximate composition, fatty acid profile, lipid oxidation, colour and flavour of the longissimus thoracis muscle of double-muscled Piemontese young bulls. Compared to a control diet, the flaxseed diet had no significant effect on the moisture, protein or ether extract content. Flaxseed modified the fatty acid composition of beef. A more than doubled n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) content (from 21.1 to 46.7 g/kg of total fatty acids–TFA–in control and flaxseed beef, respectively; p <.001) and a lowered n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio (13.13 versus 5.60; p <.001) were observed. The total trans-octadecadienoic acids were also increased by flaxseed (7.8 vs 12.1 g/kg TFA; p =.001). The total saturated fatty acids (SFA), monounsaturated fatty acids and PUFA contents, as well as the PUFA/SFA ratio, remained unaffected by the treatment. Lipid oxidation stability tended to be negatively affected by flaxseed (p =.096). Such a negative effect was more pronounced as the ageing period advanced. The malondialdehyde content was ≤0.72 mg MDA/kg meat, and was therefore below the threshold values for rancidity. Meat colour was not influenced by dietary treatment. The inclusion of flaxseed in the diet increased beef flavour intensity perceived by consumers and did not negatively affect flavour acceptability. Properly combining the choice of animal breed and diet allows a slight improvement of the nutritional value of meat for human consumption.Highlights Proximate composition, colour and flavour of Piemontese beef are not affected by dietary flaxseed Dietary flaxseed increases ALA and long-chain n-3 PUFA and lowers the n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio of Piemontese beef Flaxseed unprotected from ruminal biohydrogenation does not allow labelling Piemontese beef as source of n-3 FA in the European Union.