Effect of partial replacement of soybean meal with gamma-irradiated black soldier fly larvae or crushed grasshopper on growth performance, carcass traits, meat quality and organoleptic characteristics in broiler chickens.

1. The objective of the study was to investigate the effects of feeding varying levels of gamma-irradiated black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) and crushed grasshopper (GH) on performance, meat quality and organoleptic characteristics of broiler chickens2. A feeding trial with 546, one d old male broiler chicks was conducted for 42 d. The birds were weighed and randomly divided into seven dietary treatments in a completely randomised design experiment. Each treatment was replicated six times with 13 chicks in each. The experimental diets were isonitrogenic and isocaloric and consisted of: 1) basal diet (maize/soybean-based diet, control group) and diets 2-7 containing either 8%, 16% or 24% of BSFL or GH replacement instead of soybean meal in the basal diet, respectively.3. Results indicated that chicks fed 24% BSFL replacement exhibited a significant increase in average daily gain and a decrease in feed conversion ratio, along with marked improvements in carcass and breast meat yields (p < 0.05), while meat colour remained unaffected. In contrast, the sensory attributes of breast muscle were significantly enhanced in chicks receiving an 8% GH replacement (p < 0.05).4. The data showed that dietary inclusion of 24% BSFL enhanced growth performance, carcass traits and oxidative stability and 8% GH meal optimised meat sensory properties and lipid metabolism. These dietary interventions did not adversely affect meat colour, carcass traits or internal organ weights, which confirmed their safety and nutritional suitability. Gamma irradiation further promoted microbial safety, nutrient bioavailability, thereby demonstrating the advantages of irradiated insect-based feeds in poultry production.