Effect of Supplementation of Black Soldier Fly Meal on The Performance, Blood Constitutes, and Histological Features in Fayoumi Chicks

This study investigated the influence of long-term dietary supplementation of defatted black soldier fly larvae Hermetia illucens meal (DBSF-M) on the live performance, carcass%, edible giblets and lymphoid organs weight %, blood biochemicals and histological features of liver and lymphoid organs in a slow-growing chicken. One hundred- eighty chicks, aged one week, were divided into three groups (group/ 5 replicates) according to the dietary DBSF-M supplementation levels. The 1st group was fed a basal diet, which served as a control. The 2nd and 3rd groups were fed basal diets with 3 and 6 g DBSF-M / kg feed, respectively, for 10 weeks of age. Then, five chicks per treatment were sacrificed to obtain organs and blood samples. Both levels of DBSF-M supplementation reduced feed intake, increased body weight gain, and enhanced the feed conversion ratio of chicks. They also increased the thymus weight and reduced liver weight. In addition, they reduced triglycerides and AST levels and increased the anti-oxidant capacity level of treated chicks. The low dose of DBSF-M (3g/kg feed) did not affect the liver, or thymus while increasing the measures of the bursa; (medulla width, cortex thickness, and follicle width), and white pulp of spleens. Meanwhile, the high dose of DBSF-M (6 g/kg feed) negatively altered the structure of the examined tissues. ‌ Conclusively, 3 g BSF/ kg feed can be a sustainable feed additive for enhancing the feed conversion ratio and immune indices of the growing chicks