Replacement of fish meal with maggots in broiler diets: Effects on performance and nutrient retention

Abstract

The effects of replacing O, 33.3, 66.7 or 100% of dietary fish meal (9%) with housefly maggots (Musca  domestica. Linn) was investigated using broilers from day old to 5 weeks of age. Increasing the dietary  level of maggots reduced feed intake and weight gain while increasing the feed; gain ratio (P>0.05). There was  however no significant effect of dietary maggots on mortality rate (P>0.05). Replacement of dietary fish meal with maggots caused significant reduction in  niti·ogen retention (P<0.05) but an increase in fat  retention (P>0.05). There was no significant effect of replacing dietary fish meal with maggots on the  metabolizable energy value of the diets (P>0.05). It is concluded that maggots could replace only 33% of dietary fish meal (9%) without compromising  performance and nutrient retention in broiler chicks. The cost of harvesting and  processing maggots is about 15% of equivalent weight of fish meal, making even partial replacement of  fishmeal with maggots economical.

Key words: Maggots, fishmeal, broiler performance, nutrient retention.