Effects of Insect Formulated Feeds on Performance and Nutrient Retention Characteristics of Caged Cobb Broilers

Objective: The objective was to evaluate the effects of varying grades of insect-formulated feeds (IFF) on finishing-phase performance and nutrient retention of caged Cobb broilers. Materials and Methods: Cobb broilers (n=1050) were randomly assigned 50 per treatment in triplicates to African palm weevil (APW), housefly maggot (HFL) and Cockroach (CKR) formulated meals for six weeks respectively. Meals were formulated with larval stages of APW, HFL and adult CKR in single and combined forms, and commercial hybrid feed served as control. Birds were raised in an experimental animal house dimensioned 21.34-meter length by 3.05-meter breadth and divided into seven squared compartments. These seven compartments were further partitioned into three compartments each using wood, ply boards and net gauze which served as the triplicates for the experiment. Meals and water were served ad libitum and feeding was done twice daily. Weekly readings of body length, weight, breast width, feed efficiency and nutrient retention analysis were done using fecal samples. Results and Discussion: Growth performance increased weekly and was highest in broilers fed African palm weevil meals (p< 0.05). Nutrient retention equally increased (p< 0.05). The retention of dry matter, crude protein and calcium, ether extract, crude ash and phosphorus increased in housefly and African palm weevil and commercial hybrid feed respectively. Implications and Applications: Using these insects can result in improved performance and greater nutrient retention; however, an increased number of weeks is required to assess more growth performance. A formulated feed meal of African palm weevils could be adopted as a viable alternative meals for commercial production of broiler meat.