Effects of Dietary Yellow Mealworm (Tenebrio Molitor) supplementation on meat and structural egg quality of different aged-laying hens

Global poultry production faces dual pressures of sustainable protein scarcity and age-specific nutritional demands. Tenebrio molitor (TM) emerges as an eco-friendly alternative protein source, yet its differential effects across laying hen life stages remain unquantified. This study aimed to identify optimal TM dietary inclusion levels for pre-laying (96-day-old) and peak-laying (236-day-old) hens by evaluating key performance indicators, including meat quality, nutritive indices, antioxidant enzyme activities, and structural egg quality. Eighty uniform-weight Hy-Line Brown hens (60-day-old and 200-day-old) were randomly assigned by age to four dietary groups (0 %, 5 %, 10 %, or 20 % TM) for a 35-day period, with ten replicates per group. Results demonstrated age-dependent responses to TM supplementation. In 96-day-old hens, most TM levels were ineffective. Conversely, in 236-day-old hens, 10 % TM addition level optimally improved meat texture, while maintaining antioxidant capacity, and enhanced eggshell strength. Based on these findings, we propose an age-stratified TM supplementation strategy: less than 5 % supplementation for pre-laying hens and 10 % for peak-laying hens. This precision nutrition approach enhances insect protein utilization efficiency in poultry farming while optimizing the eating quality and nutritional value of poultry products from laying hens.