Digestive Organs, Total Leukocytes, and Spleen of Laying Quail Fed Diets Containing Black Soldier Fly Larvae

Abstract Feed is a major factor in successful quail egg production. However, feed prices often increase and the main protein source (Meat and bone meal (MBM)) is still imported. Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) can be a solution for a feed protein source to replace MBM. This research aims to analyze the size of the digestive organs, spleen, and total of leukocytes of laying quail feed with BSFL. This research was carried out at Arkan Quail Farm from November 2023 to March 2024. The parameters observed were the relative weight and relative length of digestive organs, the relative weight of immune organs, and total leukocytes. Data were analyzed using a t-test with 2 treatments (R0: feed without BSFL and R1: feed with BSFL). Each treatment was given five repetitions using ten quail during the laying period (40 weeks old). The research showed that giving BSFL in feed did not significantly affect the weight percentage and relative length of the digestive organs, relative weight of immune organs, and total leukocytes of the laying quail. The results indicated that including BSFL and MBM into the feed is equally beneficial. Consequently, it can be concluded that using 12% BSFL can substitute MBM in the diet of laying quail without negatively impacting the digestive and immune organs.