title: Yellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor, L.) as a possible alternative to soybean meal in broiler diets.
abstract: The aim of the study was to evaluate the feasibility of replacing soybean meal (SBM) with Tenebrio molitor larvae (TML) meal in broiler diets. A total of 80 30-d-old male Shaver brown broilers were divided into two groups fed on two isoproteic and isoenergetic diets differing for protein source (SBM vs. TML). Up to 62 d of age, body weight and feed intake were recorded weekly and body weight gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR), protein efficiency ratio (PER) and European efficiency factor (EEF) were calculated. At 62 d, blood samples were collected from 16 birds/group for evaluation of blood profiles. Feed intake was not different between groups considering the entire period of the trial. The FCR was more favourable in the TML than SBM group from 46 d of age and in the entire period of the trial (4.13 vs. 3.62). The PER was higher in the SBM than in the TML group (1.92 vs. 1.37) while the EEF was higher in broilers fed on the TML diet (132.6 vs. 156.2). Albumin-to-globulin ratio was higher in broilers fed on SBM than in the other group (0.44 vs. 0.30). aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase were higher in TML than SBM (195.1 vs. 178.6 U/l and 82.07 vs. 46.71 U/l, respectively). Uric acid was higher in broilers fed on SBM than TML (5.40 vs. 4.16 mg/dl). TML did not affect feed intake and growth rate of broilers from 30 to 62 d of age when compared to an isoproteic and isoenergetic SBM diet, but FCR of the TML group was more favourable than that of the SBM group. The lowest albumin-to-globulin ratio in broilers fed on TML suggests a higher immune response, probably due to the prebiotic effects of chitin.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science , University of Napoli Federico II , Napoli , Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bovera
authors.affiliation: a Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science , University of Napoli Federico II , Napoli , Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Piccolo
authors.affiliation: b Department of Agricultural, Forest, and Food Sciences , University of Torino , Grugliasco , Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gasco
authors.affiliation: a Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science , University of Napoli Federico II , Napoli , Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marono
authors.affiliation: a Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science , University of Napoli Federico II , Napoli , Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Loponte
authors.affiliation: a Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science , University of Napoli Federico II , Napoli , Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vassalotti
authors.affiliation: a Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science , University of Napoli Federico II , Napoli , Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mastellone
authors.affiliation: a Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science , University of Napoli Federico II , Napoli , Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lombardi
authors.affiliation: c Faculty of Meteorology, Environment and Arid Land Agriculture, Arid Land Agriculture Department , King Abdulaziz University , Jeddah , Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Y A
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Attia
authors.affiliation: a Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science , University of Napoli Federico II , Napoli , Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nizza
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis*; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000662:veterinary; D002645:Chickens / Q000097:blood / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary; D007814:Larva / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development; D008297:Male; D013025:Glycine max / Q000737:chemistry; D013712:Tenebrio / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development