Effects of graded dietary black soldier fly larvae powder inclusion on semen quality and serum biochemical indices of Luxi game breeder roosters

The present study investigated the effects of graded dietary inclusion of black soldier fly larvae powder (BSFLP) as a partial replacement of soybean meal on semen quality and oxidative status in Luxi game breeding cock. Five levels of BSFLP inclusion diets (isocaloric and isonitrogenous) at 0, 5, 10, 15, or 20% were fed to Luxi game breeding cocks (n = 40) to assess semen quality parameters, antioxidant enzyme activities, and biochemical indicators. The results showed that, compared with the control group, dietary supplementation with 10-20% BSFLP improved sperm motility, viability, and acrosome integrity in Luxi game breeding cocks (p < 0.05). Moreover, sperm linearity, swing, curvilinear motion speed, linear motion speed, and lateral swing amplitude were improved (p < 0.05). However, no statistically significant effects were found for progressive motility, average path velocity (VAP), mean angular displacement of the sperm head trajectory (MAD), or beat cross frequency (BCF) (p > 0.05). Compared with the control group, the activities of CAT, GSH, GR, and SOD in semen were significantly increased (p < 0.05), and the content of MDA in semen was significantly decreased (p < 0.05) when 5-20% BSFLP was added to the diet. Additionally, there were no significant differences in serum ALT, AST, TP, ALB, and ALP among Luxi game breeding cocks supplemented with 10-20% BSFLP (p > 0.05). Polynomial contrast analysis revealed significant linear responses for several reproductive and antioxidant parameters, whereas quadratic effects were not detected. Biochemical indicators were unaffected by the inclusion of BSFLP, suggesting that dietary BSFLP up to 20% did not adversely affect liver-related or metabolic parameters under the conditions of this study. Hence, the present study concludes that the dietary inclusion of 5-20% BSFLP can serve as an effective alternative protein source to enhance semen quality and antioxidant enzyme activity in the Luxi game breeding cock.