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Context: Increasing demand for animal products, and scarcity and cost of conventional feed ingredients, drive the search for alternative energy and protein sources for poultry feed. Insects provide opportunities as a sustainable, high-quality and low-cost component of poultry feed. Aims: This study evaluated the effects of dietary inclusion of powdered Tenebrio molitor (yellow mealworm) larvae meal on productive performance, egg quality characteristics and blood parameters of laying hens. Methods: In total, 126 Bovans White laying hens, 63 weeks of age, were allocated to three dietary groups, each with seven replicate cages of six birds per cage. Treatments were: a basal diet, and two experimental diets comprising the basal diet plus T. molitor larvae meal at 2.5% or 5% inclusion rate. The duration of the study was 8 weeks. Key results: Egg production, egg mass and feed conversion ratio were all improved (P < 0.05) by inclusion of T. molitor meal in the diet. The lower rate of inclusion was more effective with respect to egg production and feed conversion ratio. Inclusion of larvae meal did not influence (P > 0.05) feed intake, egg weight or bodyweight gain. Furthermore, egg quality characteristics and blood parameters were not influenced (P > 0.05) by dietary treatment. Conclusions: The study showed that inclusion of T. molitor larvae meal in the diet of laying hens could improve productive performance, especially at the 2.5% level. Implications: Powdered meal of T. molitor larvae is an appropriate, unconventional feed ingredient for laying hens, and may have a role in improving socioeconomic and environmental outcomes, aligning with the United Nations' sustainable development goals. The rising the price of grains and predicted shortages of feed ingredients due to land and water scarcity and climate change lead to rising costs of production, which in turn drive the exploration of alternative protein sources. This study showed that yellow mealworm in the diet of laying hens improved productive performance, especially in 2.5% inclusion level. It can be considered an appropriate unconventional feed ingredient for laying hens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary Tenebrio molitor larvae meal (TM meal) inclusion on the performance, carcass traits, caecum microbiota and blood parameters of broiler chickens. A total of 180‐day‐old chickens were allocated to three dietary groups with five replicate pens (12 birds/pen). Experimental diets were included a corn‐soybean basal diet, and two diets with 2.5% and 5% TM. TM‐included diets have been administered for periods of starter (1–10 days) and grower (11–25 days). A regular finisher diet was given to all groups during the 26–42 days of age. Diets containing TM meal did not influence feed intake and mortality percentage. Feed conversion ratio was lower with the 2.5% TM meal diet compared with the control group at starter period (p <.05). Besides, broiler chickens fed TM meal included diet had a higher body weight gain than the control group during 1–10 days of age (p <.05). The carcass characteristics and length and weight of different parts of small and large intestines were not influenced by diets. TM meal inclusion decreased the albumin‐to‐globulin ratio compared with the control group (p <.05). Additionally, lower total count of aerobic and Escherichia coli bacteria was observed in response to diet inclusion of 5% TM meal. Overall, the inclusion of TM meal in broilers' diet improved body weight gain and feed conversion ratio in the starting period, decreased albumin‐to‐globulin ratio and E. coli bacteria content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]