Fishmeal substitution with BSF maggots (<i>Hermetia illucens</i> L) larvae and the effect on growth performance and small intestine histomorphometry of native chickens

Abstract Nutrient absorption is influenced by the digestive system, particularly the stomach. Meanwhile, feed quality significantly impacts the intestinal histology condition, which is the microscopic structure of the intestinal wall. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the impact of maggot flour on histomorphometric of the small intestine and growth performance of native chicken. The experiment used a completely randomized design (CRD) with five treatments and four replications including P1 = 0% (no maggot flour), P2 = 25% (3.74% maggot flour), P3 = 50% (7.5% maggot flour), P4 = 75% (11.26% maggot flour), and P5 = 100% (15% maggot flour). The parameters observed were growth performance, histomorphometric, and length of the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. The results showed that replacing fish meal with Black Soldier fly (BSF) larvae flour as a protein source in the feed significantly (P &lt; 0.05) enhanced feed consumption, weight gain, protein consumption, and histomorphometric parameters, including villi surface area, height, crypt depth in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum, villi density, and the relative length of the three small intestine segments. However, no significant effects (P &gt; 0.05) were observed on feed conversion ratio and duodenal crypt depth. In conclusion, the best feeding level for enhancing the development performance and small intestinal histomorphometry of native chicken is substituting up to 75% of fishmeal in the diet with maggot flour.