Evaluation of mealworm meal as an alternative to Soyabean meal in the diet for white leghorn layers

Feed is the major cost in poultry farm operation.Search for low cost feed ingredients has been the target of the experts since long.Current research explored the replacement of soya bean meal in layer ration with meal worm meal.A total 150, layer birds were divided into five groups of 30 birds each with three replicates (n=10) each.Five experimental rations with 0% (T1), 25% (T2), 50% (T3), 75% (T4) and 100% (T5) replacement of soybean meal with meal worm meal were developed according to NRC requirements of layers.Egg quality traits, antibodies titer and organoleptic properties showed no significant difference among the groups.The overall return was found increasing with increasing level of meal worm meal.Significant difference was recorded in economics of feed price/ kg; lowest significant price was in the MW-4 and MW-5 groups (42.14 and 41.58 Pakistani rupees respectively.Significant difference was recorded in egg cost per dozen in .The net profit had significant difference in MW-4 (42.57Pakistani rupees) as compared to other treatments.This study concluded that soybean meal in layer ration could be successfully replaced with mealworm meal.This inclusion will reduce the cost of production without compromising the egg quality and antibody level of the layers.The findings will help motivate the poultery owners to include mealworm in the diet.Further research about the mealworm rearing and commercial application is needed.