Use of Acheta domesticus meal as a full soybean substitute in the feeding of slow-growing chicks

Jaime Nieto; Javier Plaza; Javier Lara; José-Alfonso Abecia; Isabel Revilla; Carlos Palacios

doi:10.1016/j.psj.2023.102503

Use of Acheta domesticus meal as a full soybean substitute in the feeding of slow-growing chicks

Poult Sci. 2023 Apr;102(4):102503. doi: 10.1016/j.psj.2023.102503. Epub 2023 Jan 16.

Authors

Jaime Nieto¹, Javier Plaza², Javier Lara³, José-Alfonso Abecia⁴, Isabel Revilla⁵, Carlos Palacios²

Affiliations

¹ Area of Animal Production, Faculty of Environmental and Agricultural Sciences, University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain. Electronic address: jaimenl@usal.es.
² Area of Animal Production, Faculty of Environmental and Agricultural Sciences, University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain.
³ Animal Husbandry and Animal Health Assistance Educational Program, High-School Torres Villarroel, 37008 Salamanca, Spain.
⁴ Institute of Research in Environmental Sciences of Aragón (IUCA), University of Zaragoza, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain.
⁵ Area of Food Technology, E.P.S. of Zamora, University of Salamanca, 49022 Zamora, Spain.

Abstract

Sustainable poultry meat production involves the use of slow-growing chick strains and the utilization of new protein sources as an alternative to the current monopoly of soybean meal. In this scenario, a study was conducted to assess the effect of replacing soybean meal with domestic cricket (Acheta domesticus) meal on the developing cycle of slow-growing chicks. To this end, a total of 128 one-day-old male chicks (Colorield) were randomly assigned into 16 experimental units, each consisting of 8 chicks, which in turn were grouped into 2 groups fed isoproteic and isoenergetic diets in which the protein source differed: the control group (C) fed soybean meal and the Acheta group (AD) fed Acheta domesticus insect meal as the main protein source. Chicks were slaughtered at 95 d of age. Three different diets (F1, F2 and F3) were used for each experimental group according to the nutritional needs of the birds during their growth. The F1 diet (1-29 d) resulted in higher feed and water intake and higher body weight gain for group C, but a lower feed conversion rate. On the contrary, during F2 (29-60 d) no differences in productive performances were observed between the 2 groups, except for a higher water intake for group C. Finally, during the period corresponding to diet F3 (60-95 d) there were only differences in feed intake, which was higher for the AD group. In conclusion, the substitution of soybean meal for Acheta domesticus meal caused a decrease in feed intake during the first month and consequently a lower body weight. During the first 4 weeks of life of the chicks, a partial replacement of soybean meal may be recommended, since high inclusions of A. domesticus meal in this period seem to be detrimental in young chicks. Given the absence of relevant differences in productive performances between both groups, it could be concluded that the use of A. domesticus cricket meal can be a potential protein alternative to soybean meal.

Keywords: Acheta domesticus; alternative poultry farming; high-protein source; insect meal; slow-growing chick.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial, Veterinary

MeSH terms

Animal Feed / analysis
Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
Animals
Body Weight
Chickens
Diet / veterinary
Glycine max*
Gryllidae*
Male