EVALUATION OF THE USE OF BLACK SOLDIER FLY LARVAE AS A PROTEIN SOURCE IN FEEDING QUAIL BREEDERS ON PRODUCTIVE AND REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE

Finding new and sustainable feed sources in the poultry diet is a top goal for poultry producers, as it helps relieve pressure on traditional feed sources, such as soybeans and corn, which can also be used as human food. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the use of black soldier fly larvae as a protein source in the diet of breeder quails and its effect on productive and reproductive performance. A total of 120 quails, aged 49 days (80 females and 40 males) were used in the study. The birds were randomly assigned to four treatments, with each treatment consisting of five replicates and six birds per replicate . The treatments were as follows: the first group served as the control (without BSFL), while the second, third and fourth groups were supplemented with BSFL meal at levels of 5,10 and 15% respectively. Feed and water were provided ad libitum throughout the experimental period, which lasted for six weeks. The results obtained at the end of the experiment indicated no significant differences in the studied productive traits among all treatments compared to the control group. These qualities included the percentage of eggs production, average weight, mass, feed intake and conversion ratio as well as alteration in the live. In addition, the present study showed no significant changes in the reproductive performance of breeder quails in all treatments, including the percentages of fertility, hatchability from total eggs and fertilized eggs as well as embryonic mortality, all were compared to the control group