TITLE:
Effects of 50 Percent Substitution of Soybean Meal by Alternative Proteins from Hermetia illucens or Spirulina platensis in Meat-Type Chicken Diets with Graded Amino Acid Supply
AUTHORS:
Susanne Velten, Carmen Neumann, Martina Bleyer, Eva Gruber-Dujardin, Maria Hanuszewska, Barbara Przybylska-Gornowicz, Frank Liebert
KEYWORDS:
Growing Chickens, Feed, Growth Performance, Histology, Morphometry, Spirulina platensis, Hermetia illucens
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Animal Sciences,
Vol.8 No.2,
April
11,
2018
ABSTRACT: Alternative protein sources, such as insects or
algae meals are in special focus of animal nutrition in order to replace
soybean meal (SBM). As part of the multidisciplinary project “sustainability
transitions” this study evaluated effects of replacing SBM by partly defatted
larvae meal from the black soldier fly, Hermetia
illucens or meal from the micro algae Spirulina
platensis in broiler diets. The aim of the current study was to investigate
the chickens’ growth
performance and the intestinal morphology as well as the health status. 288
one-day-old male growing chickens (Ross 308) from a commercial hatchery were
randomly allotted to 48 pens (6 birds per pen) for the growth study with five
diets and feed supply on free choice level. The control diet was based on wheat, corn and SBM. The experimental diets
replaced 50% of SBM by the alternative proteins under study, both on a basic
level of amino acid (AA) supplementation (Lys and Met added equal to the
control diet) (diet HM and SM) and an extended level of AA fortification (Lys,
Met, Thr, Arg, Val added) (diet HM+ and SM+). Response
of chickens was evaluated by zoo-technical parameters, which were under weekly
control (e.g. growth, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, mortality). After
finishing the growth study birds from control and the experimental diets at the
basic level of AA supplementation were slaughtered after 12 hour fastening and
utilized for gut morphometric analysis and histological evaluation of the
health status. Diets at a basic level of AA fortification led to significant
depression of growth, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, and protein
conversion ratio, respectively. In addition, the acceptance of the Spirulina diet was lower (p ≤ 0.001) as compared to the Hermetia based diet. However,
the extended level of AA supplementation improved all
parameters significantly. Diets without extended AA
supply altered some morphological parameters of the intestinal wall, but the
nutritional significance of this observation needs to be verified in AA balanced
diets. The health state of chicken was not impaired by the diets under study.