The impact of full-fat Hermetia illucens larvae meal on the health and immune system function of broiler chickens

Ingredient composition and nutrient content of complete diets (g/kg, as-fed basis) with or without full-fat Hermetia illucens (HI) larvae meal fed to broiler chickens at 1–14, 15–35 and 36–42 days of life (dol)

Item	Diet
	Starter (1–14 dol)				Grower (15–35 dol)				Finisher (36–42 dol)
	HI-0	HI-50	HI-75	HI-100	HI-0	HI-50	HI-75	HI-100	HI-0	HI-50	HI-75	HI-100
Substitution¹ (%)	0	50	75	100	0	50	75	100	0	50	75	100
Ingredients
Corn	300.0	300.0	300.0	300.0	300.0	300.0	300.0	300.0	200.0	200.0	200.0	200.0
Wheat	288.0	303.6	288.1	274.6	315.6	330.3	319.0	311.2	467.6	494.6	489.6	484.1
Soybean meal	340.0	170.0	85.0	0.0	300.0	150.0	75.0	0.0	240.0	120.0	60.0	0.0
Soybean oil	30.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	45.0	25.0	30.0	25.0	55.0	35.0	30.0	25.0
HI larvae meal	0.0	200.0	300.0	400.0	0.0	170.0	250.0	340.0	0.0	130.0	200.0	270.0
Monocalcium phosphate	15.0	4.0	4.0	3.0	13.0	4.0	4.0	3.0	12.0	3.0	3.0	3.0
Fodder chalk	12.5	6.0	6.0	4.0	12.5	6.0	6.0	4.0	12.5	4.0	4.0	4.0
Sodium bicarbonate	1.5	1.5	1.5	1.5	1.5	1.5	1.5	1.5	1.5	1.5	1.5	1.5
Fodder salt	2.0	0.5	0.5	0.5	2.0	1.0	0.0	0.0	2.0	0.5	0.0	0.0
L-Lysine HCl	2.5	4.2	4.5	6.0	2.5	3.5	5.7	6.5	1.8	3.0	3.5	4.0
DL-Methionine	2.4	2.8	3.0	3.0	1.6	1.7	1.9	1.9	1.2	1.5	1.5	1.5
L-Threonine	0.2	1.5	1.5	1.5	0.4	1.0	1.0	1.0	0.5	1.0	1.0	1.0
Choline chloride	0.9	0.9	0.9	0.9	0.9	0.9	0.9	0.9	0.9	0.9	0.9	0.9
Mineral-vitamin premix²	5.0	5.0	5.0	5.0	5.0	5.0	5.0	5.0	5.0	5.0	5.0	5.0
Calculated nutrient content
AME_N, kcal/kg	3,000	3,000	3,000	3,000	3,120	3,120	3,120	3,120	3,180	3,180	3,180	3,180
Total protein⁴	233.6	238.1	237.8	237.2	213.8	218.2	214.9	216.3	196.1	192.5	194.5	195.0
Lysine³	13.5	13.5	13.5	13.5	11.7	11.8	11.8	11.8	10.0	10.0	10.0	10.0
Methionine³	6.3	6.4	6.7	6.7	5.9	6.0	6.0	6.0	4.7	4.9	5.0	5.0
Met+ Cys³	10.1	10.2	10.2	10.3	9.5	9.6	9.6	9.6	7.5	7.7	7.7	7.7
Threonine³	8.2	8.2	8.4	8.4	8.2	8.4	8.4	8.4	6.8	7.0	7.0	7.1
Tryptophan³	2.3	2.3	2.3	2.3	2.2	2.1	2.2	2.1	2.1	2.0	2.0	2.0
Crude fibre⁴	28.8	32.4	31.3	34.2	27.8	35.3	35.6	35.8	27.8	30.5	31.7	31.2
Crude fat⁴	50.3	74.0	93.5	131.5	64.9	75.6	105.7	125.7	75.8	82.2	104.3	119.1
Total calcium³	10.0	10.0	9.9	9.9	9.4	9.4	9.3	9.3	8.8	8.8	8.6	8.6
Available phosphate³	4.8	4.9	4.9	4.9	4.5	4.6	4.6	4.6	4.0	4.1	4.1	4.1
Na³	1.7	1.7	1.8	1.8	1.7	1.6	1.6	1.6	1.7	1.6	1.6	1.6

1 ¹ – Substitution of proteins from genetically modified soybean meal with processed insect protein derived from farmed Hermetia illucens (HI) larvae

1 ² – Premix composition on days 1–35: 2,400,000 IU of vitamin A; 600,000 IU of vitamin D₃; 10,000 IU of vitamin E; 600 mg of vitamin K₃; 400 mg of vitamin B₁ 1,400 mg of vitamin B₂; 6,000 mg of niacin (B₃); 2,800 mg of pantothenic acid; 800 mg of vitamin B₆; 5,000 μg of vitamin B₁₂; 30,000 μg of biotin; 80,000 mg of choline chloride; 300 mg of folic acid; 14,000 mg of iron; 20,000 mg of manganese; 2,400 mg of copper; 12,000 mg of zinc; 200 mg of iodine; 80 mg of cobalt; 50 mg of selenium; 5,000 mg of antioxidant; 240 g of calcium; 14,000 mg of salinomycin coccidiostat. Premix composition on days 36–42: 1,800,000 IU of vitamin A; 600,000 IU of vitamin D₃; 7,500 IU of vitamin E; 300 mg of vitamin K₃; 300 mg of vitamin B₁; 1,000 mg of vitamin B₂; 4,000 mg of niacin (B₃); 2,800 mg of pantothenic acid; 600 mg of vitamin B₆; 4,000 μg B₁₂; 24.000 μg of biotin; 80,000 mg of choline chloride; 300 mg of folic acid; 14,000 mg of iron; 20,000 mg of manganese; 2,400 mg of copper; 12,000 mg of zinc; 200 mg of iodine; 80 mg of cobalt; 50 mg of selenium; 5,000 mg of antioxidant; 340 g of calcium

1 ³ – Calculated according to Polish feedstuff analysis tables (40)

1 ⁴ – Values analytically evaluated according to standard methods (1)

1 DL – dextro- and levorotatory; L – levorotatory; AME_N – Apparent metabolisable energy corrected to zero nitrogen balance; Met – methionine; Cys – cysteine

Table 2.

Ingredient composition and energy value of full-fat Hermetia illucens larvae meal

Ingredients	%
Dry matter	93.20
Crude protein	40.76
Crude fat	29.38
Crude fibre	6.65
Crude ash	6.94
Ca	1.38
Na	0.23
Total P	0.78
Energy value	MJ/kg
Gross energy	24.81
AME_N	18.16

1 AME_N – Apparent metabolisable energy corrected to zero nitrogen balance

Table 3.

Production parameters of broiler chickens fed diets with different levels of full-fat Hermetia illucens (HI) larvae meal

Parameter	Age (days)	Group				SEM	P-value
Parameter	Age (days)	HI-0	HI-50	HI-75	HI-100	SEM	P-value
BW (g)	42	3046.0^a	2727.0^b	2504.5^b	2378.0^c	39.80	<0.001
FCR (kg/kg)	1–42	1.63^a	1.59^a	1.59^a	1.77^b	0.068	0.009
CM (%)	1 – 42	3.15^a	5.20^b	7.20^c	28.20^d	0.62	<0.001

1 BW – body weight; FCR – feed conversion ratio; CM–culling and mortality

1 HI-0 – group that received fodder without the addition of full-fat HI larvae meal; HI-50 – group that received fodder with proteins from soybean meal and full-fat HI larvae meal in a 50 : 50 ratio; HI-75 – group that received fodder with proteins from soybean meal and full-fat HI larvae meal in a 25 : 75 ratio; HI-100 – group that received fodder exclusively with proteins from full-fat HI larvae meal

1 SEM – standard error of the mean

1 ^a–d – mean values within a row (dietary treatment) not followed by a common superscript are significantly different by Tukey’s test (P < 0.05)

Table 4.

Mean values (± standard deviation) of haematological parameters in blood samples of 21-day-old broiler chickens (n = 5)

Group	Parameter				Leukogram (%)
	RBC (10¹²/L)	WBC (10⁹/L)	Hb (g/dL)	PCV (%)	Lymphocytes	Granulocytes			Monocytes
	RBC (10¹²/L)	WBC (10⁹/L)	Hb (g/dL)	PCV (%)	Lymphocytes	Heterophils	Eosinophils	Basophils	Monocytes
HI-0	1.92 (±0.42)	29.60 (±24.00)	9.34 (±1.25)	25.40 (±3.43)	53.60 (±12.36)	39.60 (±11.06)	0.60 (±0.45)	1.20 (±0.45)	5.20 (±3.70)
HI-50	1.56 (±0.54)	26.70 (±14.75)	9.1 (±0.34)	25.60 (±0.55)	57.40 (±9.94)	37.00 (±10.91)	0.80 (±1.09)	2.20 (±2.86)	3.00 (±1.41)
HI-75	1.22 (±0.26)	18.2 (±7.16)	9.38 (±0.58)	26.60 (±0.89)	60.20 (±6.94)	34.00 (±9.77)	0.80 (±1.30)	1.80 (±1.09)	3.20 (±3.11)
HI-100	1.58 (±0.40)	20.90 (±9.15)	8.82 (±1.35)	24.20 (±2.95)	55.80 (±10.01)	37.80 (±11.63)	0.90 (±1.31)	1.60 (±0.89)	4.80 (±2.39)

1 HI-0 – group that received fodder without the addition of full-fat HI larvae meal; HI-50 – group that received fodder with proteins from soybean meal and full-fat HI larvae meal in a 50 : 50 ratio; HI-75 – group that received fodder with proteins from soybean meal and full-fat HI larvae meal in a 25:75 ratio; HI-100 – group that received fodder exclusively with proteins from full-fat HI larvae meal

1 RBC – red blood cells; WBC – white blood cells; Hb – haemoglobin; PCV – packed cell volume

Table 5.

Mean values (± standard deviation) of haematological parameters in blood samples of 42-day-old broiler chickens (n = 5)

Group	Parameter				Leukogram (%)
	RBC (10¹²/L	WBC (10⁹/L)	Hb (g/dL)	PCV (%)	Lymphocytes	Granulocytes			Monocytes
	RBC (10¹²/L	WBC (10⁹/L)	Hb (g/dL)	PCV (%)	Lymphocytes	Heterophils	Eosinophils	Basophils	Monocytes
HI-0	2.02 (±0.43)	10.40 (±4.80)	11.26 (±0.89)	30.80 (±1.30)	26.30 (±13.92)	77.40 (±12.99)	0.40 (±0.42)	0.20 (±0.40)	4.20 (±2.97)
HI-50	1.40 (±0.35)	17.60 (±3.36)	9.84 (±0.69)	26.40 (±1.95)	34.00 (±11.91)	62.20 (±11.61)	0.30 (±0.26)	0.10 (±0.25)	3.8 (±2.77)
HI-75	1.48 (±0.16)	11.70 (±4.98)	9.48 (±0.67)	25.60 (±1.67)	29.60 (±13.06)	73.40 (±12.54)	0.30 (±0.67)	0.20 (±0.33)	4.6 (±3.21)
HI-100	1.34 (±0.13)	17.50 (±9.28)	10.28 (±1.06)	27.80 (±2.49)	25.30 (±19.51)	42.80 (±41.91)	0.50 (±1.09)	0.30 (±0.89)	3.8 (±2.48)

1 RBC – red blood cells; WBC – white blood cells; Hb – haemoglobin; PCV – packed cell volume

Table 6.

Mean values (± standard deviation) of biochemical parameters in blood serum samples of 21-day-old broiler chickens (n = 10)

Group	Parameter
Group	ALT (U/L)	AST (U/L)	ALP (U/L)	TP (g/dL)	CK (U/L)	LDH (U/L)	CALC (mg/dL)	PHOS (mg/dL)	UA (mg/dL)
HI-0	9.80 (±4.78)	239.00 (±114.00)	29,881.00 (±36,308.00)	2.60 (±0.19)	4,966.00^a (±2,563.00)	1,780.00 (±133.00)	11.43^a (±0.60)	7.81^a (±0.78)	6.75^a (±1.45)
HI-50	9.21 (±5.16)	177.00 (±27.00)	39,223.00 (±48,949.00)	2.69 (±0.26)	2,058.00^b (±542.00)	1,502.00 (±699.00)	12.27^ab (±1.70)	4.45^b (±0.86)	8.80^ab (±3.02)
HI-75	8.69 (±7.64)	163.00 (±9.00)	33,367.00 (±34,329.00)	2.71 (±0.23)	2,104.00^b (±699.00)	1,419.00 (±542.00)	12.33^ab (±1.30)	6.06^b (±1.29)	8.41^ab (±6.03)
HI-100	8.93 (±6.78)	169.00 (±15.00)	19,175.00 (±23,075.00)	2.64 (±0.19)	2,021.00^b (±1,330.00)	1,588.00 (±541.00)	12.58^b (±0.90)	6.13^b (±1.15)	10.10^b (±3.64)

1 ALT – alanine aminotransferase; AST – aspartate aminotransferase; ALP – alkaline phosphatase; TP – total protein; CK – creatine kinase; LDH – lactate dehydrogenase; CALC – calcium; PHOS – phosphorus; UA – uric acid

1 ^a–b – mean values in a column not followed by a common superscript are significantly different at P ≤ 0.05

Table 7.

Mean values (± standard deviation) of biochemical parameters in blood serum samples of 42-day-old broiler chickens (n = 10)

Group	Parameter
Group	ALT (U/L)	AST (U/L)	ALP (U/L)	TP (g/dL)	CK (U/L)	LDH (U/L)	CALC (mg/dL)	PHOS (mg/dL)	UA (mg/dL)
HI-0	14.50 (±7.42)	428.00^a (±69.00)	9,020.00 ±4,594.00	3.01 ±0.29	28,086.00^a ±7,286.00	4,679.00^a ±981.00	11.14^a ±0.18	7.09^a ±0.85	4.60^a ±1.97
HI-50	11.70 (±8.16)	338.00^b ±61.00	5,668.00 ±2,398.00	3.16 ±0.20	15,321.00^b ±5,732.00	2,843.00^b ±434.00	11.35^ab ±0.63	6.49^ab ±0.94	6.66^b ±1.68
HI-75	12.30 (±7.16)	265.00^c ±30.00	6,662.00 ±2,795.00	3.27 ±0.27	13,469.00^b ±3,085.00	2,206.00^c ±459.00	12.61^b ±0.42	5.73^b ±0.54	6.70^b ±1.36
HI-100	10.70 (±6.29)	278.00^bc ±51.00	5,575.00 ±2,288.00	3.21 ±0.12	14,805.00^b ±5,483.00	2,280.00^c ±322.00	11.95^b ±0.99	5.80^b ±0.85	6.78^b ±2.68

1 ^a–c – mean values in a column not followed by a common superscript are significantly different at P ≤ 0.05

Table 8.

Mean values of post-vaccination antibody titres in serum samples of broiler chickens on the 21^st and 42^nd days of life (n = 23)

Group	Titre age of birds (days)
	aMPV		NDV		IBV
	21	42	21	42	21	42
HI-0	9	5	213	197	172	2,147^a
HI-50	5	1	287	108	140	877^b
HI-75	26	27	209	88	169	866^b
HI-100	5	25	368	117	133	918^b

1 ^a–b – mean values in a column not followed by a common superscript are significantly different at P ≤ 0.05

Table 9.

Results of cytometric analysis of blood samples of broiler chickens on the 21^st and 42^nd days of life (n = 8)

Group	Mean size of particular T and B cell subpopulations as percentages of gated lymphocytes (± standard deviation) age of birds (days)
Group	CD3⁺CD4⁺		CD3⁺CD8a⁺		CD4⁺CD8a⁺		CD3⁻Bu-1⁺
21	42	21	42	21	42	21	42
HI-0	4.81^a (±0.82)	9.59 (±3.88)	3.70^ab (±1.36)	2.12 (±0.69)	0.55 (±0.25)	0.27 (±0.13)	5.2 (±0.55)	5.19 (±0.63)
HI-50	5.09^a (±0.89)	7.22 (±2.00)	3.95^a (±1.06)	2.20 (±2.28)	0.39 (±0.11)	0.22 (±0.11)	5.49 (±0.42)	5.08 (±0.32)
HI-75	6.60^b (±1.17)	7.58 (±3.61)	3.68^ab (±1.07)	2.99 (±1.82)	0.45 (±0.28)	0.21 (±0.10)	5.19 (±1.00)	5.24 (±0.56)
HI-100	5.67^ab (±1.42)	6.59 (±1.12)	2.34^b (±1.04)	3.27 (±1.76)	0.46 (±0.23)	0.24 (±0.10)	5.09 (±0.56)	5.58 (±0.39)

1 ^a–b – mean values in a column not followed by a common superscript are significantly different at P ≤ 0.05

Table 10.

Results of cytometric analysis of spleen samples of broiler chickens on the 42^nd day of life (n = 8)

Group	Mean size of particular T and B cell subpopulations as percentages of gated lymphocytes (± standard deviation)
Group	CD3⁺CD4⁺	CD3⁺CD8a⁺	CD4⁺CD8a⁺	CD3⁻Bu-1⁺
HI-0	30.91^a ±7.36	49.14 ±7.20	2.16 ±0.74	13.92 ±0.84
HI-50	25.18^a ±6.37	51.14 ±5.34	2.17 ±0.48	14.86 ±2.72
HI-75	23.06^ab ±4.12	55.48 ±4.00	1.81 ±0.57	13.03 ±1.63
HI-100	22.70^b ±4.95	55.98 ±5.47	1.95 ±0.75	14.51 ±3.33

1 ^a–b – mean values in a column not followed by a common superscript are significantly different at P ≤ 0.05

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jvetres-2023-0022 | Journal eISSN: 2450-8608 (formerly 2300-3235)

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Language: English

Page range: 197 - 207

Submitted on: Nov 22, 2022

Accepted on: Apr 12, 2023

Published on: Jun 16, 2023

Published by: National Veterinary Research Institute in Pulawy

In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services

Keywords:

broiler chickens,

health status,

humoral and cell-mediated immunity,

Hermetia illucens,

processed insect protein

Related subjects:

Life sciences,

Molecular biology,

Microbiology and virology,

Life sciences, other,

Medicine,

Veterinary medicine

© 2023 Bartłomiej Tykałowski, Andrzej Koncicki, Joanna Kowalczyk, Marcin Śmiałek, Tadeusz Bakuła, Daria Murawska, Wiesław Sobotka, Tomasz Stenzel, published by National Veterinary Research Institute in Pulawy
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Volume 67 (2023): Issue 2 (June 2023)