Laying performance, egg and carcass characteristics, and economic profitability of using fresh maggots in the ration of growing local chicken ( <i>Gallus domesticus</i> , L.) in Burkina Faso

Abstract

Abstract In Burkina Faso, traditional poultry farming suffers from the inaccessibility of protein inputs. However, fly larvae have a high potential to be used in poultry feed as an alternative protein source. This study aims to evaluate the effect of including fresh fly larvae in rations on the performance of growing local chickens and their economic profitability. Eighty-four local 12-week-old chickens were randomly divided into three treatments of 28 birds. These birds were fed for 18 weeks on three types of diets: a complete diet containing fishmeal (control treatment, T0), a diet without fishmeal (FWF) supplemented with 35 g/day of fresh larvae of housefly ( Musca domestica ) (Treatment 1, T1) and another one with 25 g/day of fly larvae (Treatment 2, T2). Feed intake, laying performance, egg and carcass characteristics and production costs were determined. Feed intake was significantly higher in Treatment T0 (62.76 g DM/individual/day) than in Treatment T1 (49.05 g DM/individual/day) and T2 (54.95 g DM/individual/day). Chickens fed with fresh maggots provided similar final live weights to the control and significantly higher carcass yields (71.63% and 71.48% for T1 and T2, respectively, versus 68.61% for T0). The mean age at egg-laying and laying index were in favour of the treatments, including fresh larvae, whereas the egg characteristics were similar. The cost per kilogram of fresh larvae was lower than that of locally sold fishmeal, resulting in a better profit margin. These results show that house fly larvae can be used as a substitute for fishmeal in traditional poultry farming. In addition, fresh larvae incorporated at 25 g/individual/day can provide good weight performance and improve the economic profitability of the farm.