Effect of dietary inclusion of yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) larvae meal on productive performance, egg quality indices and blood parameters of laying hens.

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]