Impact of the addition of grasshopper meal (Tettigonia viridissima) to the diet of young Broiler chickens in Mahagi, Democratic Republic of Congo

Abstract: Improvement of poultry farming by providing nutritional quality based on local ingredients. We closely examined the zootechnical performance induced by this inclusion, as well as the ration losses resulting from different feed formulations. The 12-day-old chicks placed in pens were gradually accustomed to local food and then divided into groups according to diets. The growth of the chicks was monitored by weekly measurements carried out on a sample of 15 chickens randomly selected from a batch of 20 chicks per test. 63 days later, an average weight gain of 2591g was noticed. The initial hypotheses are confirmed. It should be noted that feeds with 15% grasshopper meal gave the best zootechnical performance, with a higher live weight than other formulations. The exception was ration losses in tests where grasshopper meal was present at a lower rate (5%) or absent. These results prove the effectiveness of integrating grasshopper meal into the Broiler diet, both in terms of performance and reduction of ration losses, thus paving the way for new feeding practices in local livestock farming.