Effect of Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia ILLUCENS) Larvae Meal on the Laying Performance of Improved Kenyan Indigenous Chicken
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Date
2024-03
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Kenyatta University
Abstract
Kenya’s poultry production is constrained by high production costs occasioned by the high
price of protein ingredients such as fishmeal and soybean meal, hence the need to seek
alternative sources of proteins in poultry feed. This study evaluated the live weight
changes, feed conversion efficiency, and egg production and their quality in the Improved
Kenyan Indigenous Chicken raised on the BSFLM as protein sources. Five dietary
treatments were formulated with BSFL meal replacing both FM and SBM at different
inclusion levels: 0% BSFLM, 25% BSFLM, 50% BSFLM, 75% BSFLM and 100%
BSFLM. These diets met the nutritional requirements of a layer chicken. Fifty-five laying
indigenous hens aged 31 weeks at the peak of production were obtained from the KALRO
Naivasha poultry unit, where they had undergone genetic improvement. The chickens were
divided into five groups, each with 11 birds, and allocated the five trial diets in a completely
randomized experimental design. The chickens were individually placed in layer battery
cages from where they were fed 200 g/bird/day of the experimental diets. The amount of
feed taken by the birds, production of eggs, weight of the eggs, and live body weight were
recorded weekly for 22 weeks. Egg characteristics were also determined. The finding of
the study showed significant differences (p < 0.05) in average daily feed intake among the
diets but changes in feed consumption were not consistent with increasing BSFL inclusion
in the diet. Production of eggs was also affected by dietary BSF larvae inclusion, with diet
D4 (100% BSFLM) having the highest laying percentage (84.2%) while the control diet
had the lowest laying percentage (54.0%). Egg weight ranged from 57g in the control to
63 g in the D3 (75% BSFLM) layers. The highest egg yolk colour intensity (15) was for
D4 (100% BSFLM) layers and the lowest was for control layers. The weight gain among
the birds on diets containing BSF larvae was not significantly different. BSFL inclusion
levels D3 (75% BSFLM) and D4 (100%BSFL) had the best return on investment. The
results of this present study therefore demonstrate the potential usage of BSF larvae in
improved indigenous chicken layer diets.
Description
A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science (Animal Nutrition and Management) in the School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences of Kenyatta University March, 2024
Supervisors:
1.Leonard Munga
2.Ann Wachira