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Dalle Zotte A, Singh Y, Palumbo B, Contiero B, Cullere M. Live yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) larvae: a promising nutritional enrichment for laying quails. Poult Sci 2024; 103:103759. [PMID: 38678977 PMCID: PMC11060950 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2024.103759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2024] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
The study aimed to evaluate the effect of supplementing live Tenebrio molitor (TM) larvae to laying quails (Coturnix japonica) as nutritional enrichment. Live performances, apparent digestibility of nutrients (including that of sole live TM larvae), egg physicochemical quality, sensory traits, and storage stability were considered in this experiment. Sixty laying quails were divided into 2 dietary groups (6 replicated cages/group; 5 quails/cage): a Control group received a basal diet for laying quails and a TM10 group was fed with the Control diet supplemented with live TM larvae (10% of the expected daily feed intake). For the digestibility trial, 30 laying quails were divided into 3 dietary groups: the first 2 groups were fed with the Control and TM10 diets, while the third group received ad libitum live TM larvae (TM100) as a complete replacement for the Control diet. Overall, no mortality was recorded during the trials. Quails fed TM showed a remarkable capability of digesting dietary chitin (P < 0.0001). TM100 quails showed the lowest digestibility for dry matter, crude protein, and energy, but that of ether extract was the highest (P < 0.001). The presence of live TM larvae stimulated quails' feed intake (P < 0.0001), but did not affect performance traits. Similarly, overall physicochemical quality attributes and storage stability were comparable in Control and TM10 eggs. The sensory features of quail eggs differed in TM10 vs. Control groups: TM10 eggs had the lowest overall flavor (P < 0.01), sulfur (P < 0.05) and greasy-oily (P < 0.01) intensities. Therefore, a 10% TM dietary supplementation is effective in stimulating feeding activity of quails, but it did not provide any productive improvement compared to a standard diet. Further studies should assess the possible beneficial effect of live TM supplementation on quail's gut health. The digestibility trial with the sole live TM larvae allowed to assess the specific nutritional value of this emerging feedstuff which is of utmost importance for future feed formulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Dalle Zotte
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Legnaro, Padova 35020, Italy
| | - Yazavinder Singh
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Legnaro, Padova 35020, Italy.
| | - Bianca Palumbo
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Legnaro, Padova 35020, Italy
| | - Barbara Contiero
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Legnaro, Padova 35020, Italy
| | - Marco Cullere
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Legnaro, Padova 35020, Italy
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2
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Bongiorno V, Gariglio M, Zambotto V, Cappone EE, Biasato I, Renna M, Gasco L, Bergagna S, Manenti I, Macchi E, Gai F, Schiavone A. Organic medium-growing chickens fed live black soldier fly larvae: A welfare improvement study. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) 2024. [PMID: 38863379 DOI: 10.1111/jpn.13997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
The overall beneficial effect of live black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) on the welfare of broiler chickens, turkeys, and laying hens has already been discussed in the literature. However, scant information is available regarding the benefits of feeding live BSFL to medium-growing chicken hybrids reared under organic/free-range conditions, and whose welfare is frequently cited as being inadequate. The aim of this research was to advance our knowledge of this topic. To this end, 240 label naked neck birds (Hubbard JA57 hybrid) were assigned, at 21 days of age, to four experimental groups (6 replicates/treatment, 10 chickens/replicate), created according to sex (M/F) and the provision of a 10% live BSFL dietary supplementation (control males, control females, larvae males, and larvae females), and raised until 82 days of age. We performed behavioural observations, a tonic immobility test, and an avoidance distance (AD) test. We assessed feather damage and cleanliness, hock burn, footpad dermatitis, and skin lesion scores, and determined the concentration of excreta corticosterone metabolites (ECM) and the heterophile to lymphocyte heterophile/lymphocyte (H/L) ratio. The behavioural observations demonstrated increased physical and foraging activity (p < 0.05) in the live BSFL administered groups compared with C ones, providing valuable data on the explorative and recreational behaviour of this chicken genotype. The results also evidenced the usefulness of live BSFL as a fear reducer in females, as those receiving the BSFL supplement moved closer to the operator during the AD test (p < 0.01). No physical injuries or damage were observed on the birds, regardless of whether they received the BSFL supplementation or not. The ECM were unaffected by BSFL supplementation, while the H/L ratio was higher in the larvae groups than in the control ones (p = 0.050). In conclusion, live BSFL provision could constitute a powerful tool for improving life quality in medium-growing chickens. Further research is required to clarify the stress modulation role of live BSFL on poultry production.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marta Gariglio
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Valeria Zambotto
- Institute of Sciences of Food Production, National Research Council, Turin, Italy
| | | | - Ilaria Biasato
- Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Manuela Renna
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Laura Gasco
- Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Stefania Bergagna
- Veterinary Medical Research, Institute for Piemonte, Liguria and Valle d'Aosta, Turin, Italy
| | - Isabella Manenti
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Macchi
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Francesco Gai
- Institute of Sciences of Food Production, National Research Council, Turin, Italy
| | - Achille Schiavone
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
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3
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Mullan S, Nogueira SSC, Nogueira-Filho S, Zanella A, Rooney N, Held SDE, Mendl M. Farming non-typical sentient species: ethical framework requires passing a high bar. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL & ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS 2024; 37:10. [PMID: 38803823 PMCID: PMC11127879 DOI: 10.1007/s10806-024-09928-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
More widespread farming of species not typically used as livestock may be part of a sustainable approach for promoting human health and economic prosperity in a world with an increasing population; a current example is peccary farming in the Neotropics. Others have argued that species that are local to a region and which are usually not farmed should be considered for use as livestock. They may have a more desirable nutrient profile than species that are presently used as livestock. It may also reduce the pressure from hunting on other wild species, and cause less environmental damage than exotic species. We propose a sentiocentric utilitarian framework that could be used to decide whether species that are local, but generally not used as livestock, should be farmed. To illustrate the use of our decision-making framework, we employ two contrasting neotropical case studies: the Spotted Paca (Cuniculus paca) and the Capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris). We argue that it may be acceptable to use non-sentient species that are typically not farmed as livestock. However, research should determine whether farming them offers human, environmental or sustainability benefits. In addition, we recommend that if invertebrate species are considered for farming, research should be conducted to determine the likelihood that they are sentient. Finally, given the ethical failings of current livestock farming practices, we argue that a high bar must be met if 'new' species that are sentient are to be farmed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siobhan Mullan
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Selene S. C. Nogueira
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Rod. Jorge Amado, Km 16 - Salobrinho, Ilhéus, BA 45662-900 Brazil
| | - Sérgio Nogueira-Filho
- Departamento de Ciências Agrárias E Ambientais, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Rod. Jorge Amado, Km 16, Salobrinho, Ilhéus, BA 45662-900 Brazil
| | - Adroaldo Zanella
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, University of São Paulo, R. Duque de Caxias, 225, Caixa Postal 23, Pirassununga, SP 13635-900 Brazil
| | - Nicola Rooney
- Bristol Vet School, University of Bristol, Langford, Avon, BS40 5DU UK
| | | | - Michael Mendl
- Bristol Vet School, University of Bristol, Langford, Avon, BS40 5DU UK
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4
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Dörper A, Berman HM, Gort G, van Harn J, Dicke M, Veldkamp T. Effects of different black soldier fly larvae products on slow-growing broiler performance and carcass characteristics. Poult Sci 2024; 103:103481. [PMID: 38340663 PMCID: PMC10869907 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2024.103481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Black soldier fly (BSF) larvae have gained significant attention as ingredients for poultry feed to improve value chain circularity and sustainability. Black soldier fly larvae contain bioactive compounds which can potentially improve broiler health and thereby performance. However, the functionality of bioactive compounds likely depends on how larvae are processed prior to feeding and to which extent larvae products are included in the diet. This may explain the variable results reported in literature on broiler performance and carcass characteristics when feeding them different types of BSF larvae products at different inclusion levels. Therefore, the present research aimed to investigate the effects of different BSF larvae products and inclusion levels in diets on performance and carcass characteristics of slow-growing broilers. The experiment started with 1,728 one-day-old slow-growing male broilers (Hubbard JA757). Nine dietary treatments were used, each replicated eight times. One group of broilers was given a control diet. The following BSF larvae products were investigated: live larvae, a combination of BSF larvae meal and oil mimicking the nutritional composition of the live larvae, and BSF larvae meal and oil separately. All insect products were tested at two inclusion levels. All diet programs were nutritionally comparable (isoenergetic and based on balanced levels of digestible essential amino acids). During the 7-wk trial, several performance parameters and carcass characteristics were measured. The results show that comparable or better broiler performance was achieved with the inclusion of BSF larvae products in the diets compared to the control. Based on the feed conversion ratio (FCR), the unprocessed larvae product and the highest inclusion level led to the most favorable results. Carcass characteristics remained unchanged when BSF larvae products were used in the diets compared to the control group, indicating favorable production output. The BSF larvae products investigated seem suitable feed ingredients for broilers at the current levels tested, generating performance benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Dörper
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, 6700AA, the Netherlands.
| | - Henrieke M Berman
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, 6700AA, the Netherlands; Animal Nutrition Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, 6700AH, the Netherlands
| | - Gerrit Gort
- Biometris, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, 6700AA, the Netherlands
| | - Jan van Harn
- Wageningen Livestock Research, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, 6700AH, the Netherlands
| | - Marcel Dicke
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, 6700AA, the Netherlands
| | - Teun Veldkamp
- Wageningen Livestock Research, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, 6700AH, the Netherlands
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5
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Huang C, Hernandez CE, Wall H, Tahamtani FM, Ivarsson E, Sun L. Live black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae in feed for laying hens: effects on hen gut microbiota and behavior. Poult Sci 2024; 103:103429. [PMID: 38244264 PMCID: PMC10831256 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2024.103429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
This study examined the effects of including live black soldier fly (BSF, Hermetia illucens) larvae in the diet of laying hens on gut microbiota, and the association between microbiota and fearfulness. A total of 40 Bovans White laying hens were individually housed and fed 1 of 4 dietary treatments that provided 0, 10, 20%, or ad libitum daily dietary portions of live BSF larvae for 12 wk. Cecum microbiota was collected at the end of the experiment and sequenced. Behavioral fear responses to novel objects and open field tests on the same hens were compared against results from gut microbiota analyses. The results showed that the bacteria genera Enterococcus, Parabacteroides, and Ruminococcus torques group were positively associated with increased dietary portion of live larvae, while Lactobacillus, Faecalibacterium, Bifidobacterium, Subdoligranulum, and Butyricicoccus were negatively associated with larvae in the diet. Inclusion of larvae did not affect fear behavior, but the relative abundance of Lachnospiraceae CHKCI001 and Erysipelatoclostridium was associated with fear-related behaviors. Further studies are needed to determine whether the change in gut microbiota affects fearfulness in the long-term.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenxuan Huang
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Science, Uppsala 75007, Sweden; College of Animal Science and Technology, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding 071001, China
| | - Carlos E Hernandez
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Science, Uppsala 75007, Sweden
| | - Helena Wall
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Science, Uppsala 75007, Sweden
| | | | - Emma Ivarsson
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Science, Uppsala 75007, Sweden
| | - Li Sun
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Science, Uppsala 75007, Sweden.
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Acar MC, Türkekul B, Karahan Uysal Ö, Özkan S, Yalcin S. Effects of Partial Replacement of Soybean with Local Alternative Sources on Growth, Blood Parameters, Welfare, and Economic Indicators of Local and Commercial Broilers. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:314. [PMID: 38275775 PMCID: PMC10812567 DOI: 10.3390/ani14020314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The effects of the partial replacement of soybean with alternative local agri-industry by-products and black soldier fly (BSF) larvae meal on broiler growth performance, blood biochemistry, welfare, and, subsequently, economic performance of these diets were evaluated. A total of 524 day-old chicks from a local and a commercial strain were fed one of the three diets from the day of hatch to the slaughter age. The diets were the following: a soybean-based control diet, a diet in which soybean was partially replaced (SPR) with agri-industrial by-products, or a diet with BSF larvae meal added to the SPR (SPR + BSF). There was no effect of the diets on the slaughter weight, total feed consumption, and feed conversion of the chickens. The SPR + BSF diet reduced the blood glucose, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, protein, triglycerides, and cholesterol levels in the local chickens and the gamma-glutamyl transferase, protein, and creatinine levels in the commercial broilers. The negative effect of the SPR diet on plumage cleanliness in the commercial broilers was alleviated by the SPR + BSF diet, whereas 100% of the local birds presented either slight or moderate soiling. The results showed that, due to the high cost of the BSF larvae meal, the SPR + BSF diet was not economically feasible. In a further study, the price trends of BSF larvae will be examined from the standpoint of economic profitability conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muazzez Cömert Acar
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ege University, 35100 İzmir, Türkiye; (M.C.A.); (S.Ö.)
| | - Berna Türkekul
- Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, Ege University, 35100 İzmir, Türkiye; (B.T.); (Ö.K.U.)
| | - Özlem Karahan Uysal
- Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, Ege University, 35100 İzmir, Türkiye; (B.T.); (Ö.K.U.)
| | - Sezen Özkan
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ege University, 35100 İzmir, Türkiye; (M.C.A.); (S.Ö.)
| | - Servet Yalcin
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ege University, 35100 İzmir, Türkiye; (M.C.A.); (S.Ö.)
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7
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Dalmoro YK, Franceschi CH, Stefanello C. A Systematic Review and Metanalysis on the Use of Hermetia illucens and Tenebrio molitor in Diets for Poultry. Vet Sci 2023; 10:702. [PMID: 38133252 PMCID: PMC10747995 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10120702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Insect meal as a protein source has been considered a sustainable way to feed animals. H. illucens and T. molitor larvae meal are considered high-protein sources for poultry, also presenting considerable amounts of fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals. However, other potential components in insect meal and insect oil have been more extensively studied in recent years. Chitin, lauric acid, and antimicrobial peptides can present antimicrobial and prebiotic functions, indicating that low levels of their inclusion in insect meal can beneficially affect broilers' health and immune responses. This systematic review was developed to study the impact of insect products on the health parameters of broilers, and a metanalysis was conducted to evaluate the effects on performance. A database was obtained based on a selection of manuscripts from January 2016 to January 2023, following the mentioned parameters. Both H. illucens and T. molitor meal or oil products had positive effects on poultry health status, especially on the ileal and cecal microbiota population, immune responses, and antimicrobial properties. The average daily gain was greater in broilers fed T. molitor meal compared to H. illucens meal (p = 0.002). The results suggest that low levels of insect meal are suitable for broilers, without resulting in negative effects on body weight gain and the feed conversion ratio, while the insect oil can totally replace soybean oil without negative impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuri Katagiri Dalmoro
- Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria 97105-900, RS, Brazil;
| | - Carolina H. Franceschi
- Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 91540-000, RS, Brazil;
| | - Catarina Stefanello
- Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria 97105-900, RS, Brazil;
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8
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van Leuffen N, Ipema AF, Bolhuis JE. Comparing Pixel Changes and Manual Observations for Mapping Broiler Activity during Dried Black Soldier Fly Larvae ( Hermetia illucens) Provisioning. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2200. [PMID: 37444001 DOI: 10.3390/ani13132200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2023] [Revised: 07/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Welfare issues in broilers include inactivity and poor leg health. Activity can be stimulated by providing whole dried Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BFSL), but it is unknown whether this effect changes over time. Therefore, effects of BSFL provisioning on broiler activity per minute were assessed in detail. Additionally, the use of pixel changes as a proxy for broiler activity was explored. Broilers were housed in groups of 28 (n = 4 pens, <33 kg/m2). Dried BSFL were scattered through the pen of treatment groups at 08:00, 11:00, 14:00, and 17:00. Activity was assessed per minute both manually using scan sampling, and automatically as percent pixel changes for 30 min around BSFL provisioning, and at 14, 21 and 28 days of age. Both methods were moderately positively correlated and showed that BSFL provisioning increased activity. Activity as assessed by manual observations decreased at 17:00, at 21, and 28 days in both groups. The pixel changes indicated that this could be due to low activity levels in the control group. Using pixel changes seems to be a promising, timesaving tool to score broiler activity, but future research is necessary to validate this method and determine how high activity can be maintained over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noa van Leuffen
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, 6700 AH Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Department of Research, Aeres University of Applied Sciences, 8251 JZ Dronten, The Netherlands
| | - Allyson F Ipema
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, 6700 AH Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - J Elizabeth Bolhuis
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, 6700 AH Wageningen, The Netherlands
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9
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Jacobs L, Blatchford RA, de Jong IC, Erasmus MA, Levengood M, Newberry RC, Regmi P, Riber AB, Weimer SL. Enhancing their quality of life: environmental enrichment for poultry. Poult Sci 2023; 102:102233. [PMID: 36351344 PMCID: PMC9647224 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2022.102233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Providing environmental enrichments that increase environmental complexity can benefit poultry welfare. This Poultry Science Association symposium paper is structured around four themes on 1) poultry preferences and affective states 2) species-specific behavior, including play behavior and the relationship between behavior, activity level and walking ability, 3) environmental enrichment and its relationship with indicators of welfare, and 4) a case study focusing on the application of enrichments in commercial broiler chicken production. For effective enrichment strategies, the birds' perspective matters most, and we need to consider individual variation, social dynamics, and previous experience when assessing these strategies. Play behavior can be a valuable indicator of positive affect, and while we do not yet know how much play would be optimal, absence of play suggests a welfare deficit. Activity levels and behavior can be improved by environmental modifications and prior research has shown that the activity level of broilers can be increased, at least temporarily, by increasing the environmental complexity. However, more research on impacts of enrichments on birds' resilience, on birds in commercial conditions, and on slow(er)-growing strains is needed. Finally, incorporating farmers' expertise can greatly benefit enrichment design and implementation on commercial farms.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Jacobs
- School of Animal Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
| | - R A Blatchford
- Department of Animal Science, Center for Animal Welfare, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - I C de Jong
- Wageningen Livestock Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - M A Erasmus
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IA, USA
| | | | - R C Newberry
- Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Faculty of Biosciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
| | - P Regmi
- Department of Poultry Science, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - A B Riber
- Department of Animal Science, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - S L Weimer
- Department of Poultry Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, USA
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10
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Kaczor M, Bulak P, Proc-Pietrycha K, Kirichenko-Babko M, Bieganowski A. The Variety of Applications of Hermetia illucens in Industrial and Agricultural Areas-Review. BIOLOGY 2022; 12:25. [PMID: 36671718 PMCID: PMC9855018 DOI: 10.3390/biology12010025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae, Linnaeus, 1978), commonly known as the black soldier fly (BSF), is a saprophytic insect, which in recent years has attracted significant attention from both the scientific community and industry. The unrestrained appetite of the larvae, the ability to forage on various organic waste, and the rapid growth and low environmental impact of its breeding has made it one of the insect species bred on an industrial scale, in the hope of producing fodder or other ingredients for various animals. The variety of research related to this insect has shown that feed production is not the only benefit of its use. H. illucens has many features and properties that could be of interest from the point of view of many other industries. Biomass utilization, chitin and chitosan source, biogas, and biodiesel production, entomoremediation, the antimicrobial properties of its peptides, and the fertilizer potential of its wastes, are just some of its potential uses. This review brings together the work of four years of study into H. illucens. It summarizes the current state of knowledge and introduces the characteristics of this insect that may be helpful in managing its breeding, as well as its use in agro-industrial fields. Knowledge gaps and under-studied areas were also highlighted, which could help identify future research directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Kaczor
- Institute of Agrophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Doświadczalna 4, 20-290 Lublin, Poland
| | - Piotr Bulak
- Institute of Agrophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Doświadczalna 4, 20-290 Lublin, Poland
| | - Kinga Proc-Pietrycha
- Institute of Agrophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Doświadczalna 4, 20-290 Lublin, Poland
| | - Marina Kirichenko-Babko
- Institute of Agrophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Doświadczalna 4, 20-290 Lublin, Poland
- Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, B. Khmelnitsky 15, 01030 Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Andrzej Bieganowski
- Institute of Agrophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Doświadczalna 4, 20-290 Lublin, Poland
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11
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Seyedalmoosavi MM, Mielenz M, Görs S, Wolf P, Daş G, Metges CC. Effects of increasing levels of whole Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae in broiler rations on acceptance, nutrient and energy intakes and utilization, and growth performance of broilers. Poult Sci 2022; 101:102202. [PMID: 36257076 PMCID: PMC9579412 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2022.102202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Meal of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL), which requires extraction of protein and fat, is a novel protein source for poultry, while unprocessed whole BSFL could even directly be fed to chickens. Newly hatched Ross-308 chicks (n = 252) received whole BSFL at 10% (L10), 20% (L20), or 30% (L30) of voluntary feed intake (FI) of control chickens (CON) that received no BSFL but only age-specific diets (n = 63 birds / group) for 42 days (d). Acceptance and nutrient and energy intake of birds by BSFL and FI were calculated. Plasma metabolites were measured using an automatic enzymatic analyzer and immunoglobulins with ELISA. Depending on the variable, data were analyzed using ANOVA or repeated measures ANOVA to address treatment, time and interaction effects. Birds consumed all offered larvae. With the exception of d1, time spent by birds eating their daily portion of larvae (TSL, min/pen) did not differ among the larvae supply groups (P = 0.982). The L10 had a higher larvae eating rate (LER) that is, speed of larvae intake than did L20 and L30 (P < 0.05), implying increased competition for less available BSFL. The ratio of LER to feed eating rate (FER) was greater than 50 fold change difference (FCD), indicating a strong interest of chickens in BSFL over regular feed. Whole BSFL intake up to 30% of voluntary FI did not adversely affect broiler growth (P > 0.05). The L30 had lower total dry matter and metabolizable energy intakes (P < 0.05), although total fat intake was higher in L30 than in CON (P < 0.05). Compared with CON, 30% whole BSFL increased dietary protein-to-energy ratios, plasma uric acid and serum alkaline phosphatase concentrations (P < 0.05). We conclude that whole BSFL can be included in broiler rations up to 20% without negatively affecting growth performance and nutrient conversion efficiency, whereas a higher proportion is associated with lower protein utilization efficiency, possibly due to lower total energy intake.
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Affiliation(s)
- M M Seyedalmoosavi
- Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Institute of Nutritional Physiology, Dummerstorf, Germany
| | - M Mielenz
- Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Institute of Nutritional Physiology, Dummerstorf, Germany
| | - S Görs
- Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Institute of Nutritional Physiology, Dummerstorf, Germany
| | - P Wolf
- University of Rostock, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Chair of Nutrition Physiology and Animal Nutrition, Rostock, Germany
| | - G Daş
- Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Institute of Nutritional Physiology, Dummerstorf, Germany.
| | - C C Metges
- Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Institute of Nutritional Physiology, Dummerstorf, Germany
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12
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Parodi A, Ipema AF, Van Zanten HHE, Bolhuis JE, Van Loon JJA, De Boer IJM. Principles for the responsible use of farmed insects as livestock feed. NATURE FOOD 2022; 3:972-974. [PMID: 37118291 DOI: 10.1038/s43016-022-00641-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Parodi
- Animal Production Systems group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Allyson F Ipema
- Adaptation Physiology group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Hannah H E Van Zanten
- Farming Systems Ecology group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - J Elizabeth Bolhuis
- Adaptation Physiology group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Joop J A Van Loon
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Imke J M De Boer
- Animal Production Systems group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
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13
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Ipema AF, Bokkers EA, Gerrits WJ, Kemp B, Elizabeth Bolhuis J. Provision of black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) in different ways benefits broiler welfare and performance, with largest effects of scattering live larvae. Physiol Behav 2022; 257:113999. [DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2022.113999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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14
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Facchini E, Shrestha K, van den Boer E, Junes P, Sader G, Peeters K, Schmitt E. Long-Term Artificial Selection for Increased Larval Body Weight of Hermetia illucens in Industrial Settings. Front Genet 2022; 13:865490. [PMID: 35783268 PMCID: PMC9240604 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.865490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) farming has exponentially increased in recent years due to the ability of its larvae to efficiently convert low-grade organic materials into high-value food, feed, and technical products. There is a need to further improve the efficiency of production, to meet the rising demands for proteins in the feed and food industries under limited resources. One means of improvement is artificial selection, which has been widely applied in plants and in other livestock species. In 2019, a genetic improvement program was started with the aim to increase larval body weight in black soldier fly larvae. In this paper, we present the outcomes of this breeding program after 10, 13, and 16 generations of selection. The performance of the selected body weight line was compared to the base population line over six experimental rounds under different environmental conditions. Under automated production settings, an average increase of +39% in larval weight, +34% in wet crate yield, +26% in dry matter crate yield, +32% in crude protein per crate, and +21% crude fat per crate was achieved in the selected line compared to the base population line. This research demonstrates the potential contribution of artificial selection to improve efficiency when farming black soldier flies in industrial settings. Further research is needed to fully unlock that potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Facchini
- Hendrix Genetics Research Technology & Services B.V., Boxmeer, Netherlands
| | | | | | | | - Gaya Sader
- Protix Biosystems B.V., Dongen, Netherlands
| | - Katrijn Peeters
- Hendrix Genetics Research Technology & Services B.V., Boxmeer, Netherlands
| | - Eric Schmitt
- Protix Biosystems B.V., Dongen, Netherlands
- *Correspondence: Eric Schmitt,
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15
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Taylor PS, Hemsworth PH, Rault JL. Environmental Complexity: Additional Human Visual Contact Reduced Meat Chickens' Fear of Humans and Physical Items Altered Pecking Behavior. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:310. [PMID: 35158634 PMCID: PMC8833824 DOI: 10.3390/ani12030310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Increased environmental complexity can improve animal welfare, depending on the resources provided and use by the animal. We provided chickens either with physical items that posed no biosecurity risk and were inexpensive (balls, chains, perches and rope) (P; n = 36) or additional visual human contact (10 min daily) (HC; n = 36) compared to farm-like standard control groups (C; n = 36) with 3 pens per treatment. Additional human contact reduced fear of humans at 35 days of age, but not general fearfulness. P birds required more inductions to induce tonic immobility compared to HC and C birds at 21 days of age. However, other indicators of fear (open field test and plasma corticosterone concentration) did not significantly differ. P birds favored the woodblock for resting, and the perch but preferred to sit underneath the perch rather than on top. When pecking items were not provided, C and HC chickens redirected their pecking behavior toward the litter. Overall, there was little evidence that our physical items improved the chickens' behavioral time budget, fear, physiological stress or production. Additional human contact should be investigated in large scale experiments to ensure its effectiveness to reduce fear of humans on farm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peta S. Taylor
- School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2350, Australia
| | - Paul H. Hemsworth
- Animal Welfare Science Centre, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia;
| | - Jean-Loup Rault
- Institute of Animal Welfare Science, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria;
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Live black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) provisioning is a promising environmental enrichment for pigs as indicated by feed- and enrichment-preference tests. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2021.105481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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17
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Colombino E, Biasato I, Ferrocino I, Bellezza Oddon S, Caimi C, Gariglio M, Dabbou S, Caramori M, Battisti E, Zanet S, Ferroglio E, Cocolin L, Gasco L, Schiavone A, Capucchio MT. Effect of Insect Live Larvae as Environmental Enrichment on Poultry Gut Health: Gut Mucin Composition, Microbiota and Local Immune Response Evaluation. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:2819. [PMID: 34679839 PMCID: PMC8532707 DOI: 10.3390/ani11102819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Hermetia illucens (HI) and Tenebrio molitor (TM) live larvae as environmental enrichment on the mucin composition, local immune response and microbiota of broilers. A total of 180 four-day-old male broiler chickens (Ross 308) were randomly allotted to three dietary treatments (six replicates/treatment; ten animals/replicate): (i) control (C); (ii) C+HI; (iii) C+TM. Live larvae were distributed based on 5% of the expected daily feed intake. At slaughter (39 days of age), samples of duodenum, jejunum and ileum (twelve animals/diet) were submitted to mucin histochemical evaluation. Expression of MUC-2 and cytokines was evaluated by rt-qPCR in jejunum. Mucin staining intensity was not influenced by diet (p > 0.05); however, this varied depending on the intestinal segment (p < 0.001). No significant differences were recorded for IL-4, IL-6 TNF-α, MUC-2 and INF-γ gene expression in jejunum, while IL-2 was lower in the TM group compared to HI and C (p = 0.044). Caecal microbiota showed higher abundance of Clostridium, Saccharibacteria and Victivallaceae in the HI group, while Collinsella was higher in the TM group. The results suggested that live insect larvae did not impair mucin composition or local immune response, and can slightly improve caecal microbiota by enhancing a minor fraction of short chain fatty acid-producing taxa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Colombino
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, 10095 Grugliasco, TO, Italy; (M.G.); (M.C.); (E.B.); (S.Z.); (E.F.); (A.S.); (M.T.C.)
| | - Ilaria Biasato
- Department of Agricultural, Forestry and Food Sciences, University of Turin, 10095 Grugliasco, TO, Italy; (I.B.); (I.F.); (S.B.O.); (C.C.); (L.C.); (L.G.)
| | - Ilario Ferrocino
- Department of Agricultural, Forestry and Food Sciences, University of Turin, 10095 Grugliasco, TO, Italy; (I.B.); (I.F.); (S.B.O.); (C.C.); (L.C.); (L.G.)
| | - Sara Bellezza Oddon
- Department of Agricultural, Forestry and Food Sciences, University of Turin, 10095 Grugliasco, TO, Italy; (I.B.); (I.F.); (S.B.O.); (C.C.); (L.C.); (L.G.)
| | - Christian Caimi
- Department of Agricultural, Forestry and Food Sciences, University of Turin, 10095 Grugliasco, TO, Italy; (I.B.); (I.F.); (S.B.O.); (C.C.); (L.C.); (L.G.)
| | - Marta Gariglio
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, 10095 Grugliasco, TO, Italy; (M.G.); (M.C.); (E.B.); (S.Z.); (E.F.); (A.S.); (M.T.C.)
| | - Sihem Dabbou
- Center Agriculture Food Environment (C3A), University of Trento, 38010 San Michele all’Adige, TN, Italy;
| | - Marta Caramori
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, 10095 Grugliasco, TO, Italy; (M.G.); (M.C.); (E.B.); (S.Z.); (E.F.); (A.S.); (M.T.C.)
| | - Elena Battisti
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, 10095 Grugliasco, TO, Italy; (M.G.); (M.C.); (E.B.); (S.Z.); (E.F.); (A.S.); (M.T.C.)
| | - Stefania Zanet
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, 10095 Grugliasco, TO, Italy; (M.G.); (M.C.); (E.B.); (S.Z.); (E.F.); (A.S.); (M.T.C.)
| | - Ezio Ferroglio
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, 10095 Grugliasco, TO, Italy; (M.G.); (M.C.); (E.B.); (S.Z.); (E.F.); (A.S.); (M.T.C.)
| | - Luca Cocolin
- Department of Agricultural, Forestry and Food Sciences, University of Turin, 10095 Grugliasco, TO, Italy; (I.B.); (I.F.); (S.B.O.); (C.C.); (L.C.); (L.G.)
| | - Laura Gasco
- Department of Agricultural, Forestry and Food Sciences, University of Turin, 10095 Grugliasco, TO, Italy; (I.B.); (I.F.); (S.B.O.); (C.C.); (L.C.); (L.G.)
| | - Achille Schiavone
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, 10095 Grugliasco, TO, Italy; (M.G.); (M.C.); (E.B.); (S.Z.); (E.F.); (A.S.); (M.T.C.)
| | - Maria Teresa Capucchio
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, 10095 Grugliasco, TO, Italy; (M.G.); (M.C.); (E.B.); (S.Z.); (E.F.); (A.S.); (M.T.C.)
- Institute of Sciences of Food Production, CNR, 10095 Grugliasco, TO, Italy
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de Jong IC, Blaauw XE, van der Eijk JA, Souza da Silva C, van Krimpen MM, Molenaar R, van den Brand H. Providing environmental enrichments affects activity and performance, but not leg health in fast- and slower-growing broiler chickens. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2021.105375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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19
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Ipema AF, Bokkers EAM, Gerrits WJJ, Kemp B, Bolhuis JE. Providing live black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) improves welfare while maintaining performance of piglets post-weaning. Sci Rep 2021; 11:7371. [PMID: 33795772 PMCID: PMC8016837 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-86765-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
During weaning, piglets experience concurrent social, physical, and nutritional stressors. Consequently, piglets often have poor feed intake and display increased oral manipulative behaviours post-weaning, indicative of compromised welfare. Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) possess many attractive properties for pigs and could therefore function as effective edible enrichment, potentially alleviating weaning stress by facilitating exploration and promoting feed intake. In this study, pairs of piglets received a small amount of either live BSFL or wood shavings (8 pens/treatment) scattered throughout the pen twice a day for 11 days after weaning. Home-pen behaviour was scored by instantaneous scan sampling on day 2, 5 and 8, and behavioural responses to a novel environment and novel object were scored on day 10/11. Performance-related parameters were observed regularly. Larvae provisioning increased floor-directed exploration and decreased object-directed exploration, pig-directed oral manipulation, fighting and eating of pellets, and reduced neophobia towards a novel object. Pellet intake was significantly decreased by BSFL provisioning during day 4-11 post-weaning, although feed and net energy intake including BSFL never differed between treatments. BSFL provisioning did not influence piglet growth, feed efficiency, energy efficiency, and faecal consistency. To conclude, live BSFL provisioning positively affected post-weaning piglet behaviour while maintaining performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allyson F Ipema
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Eddie A M Bokkers
- Animal Production Systems Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Walter J J Gerrits
- Animal Nutrition Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Bas Kemp
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - J Elizabeth Bolhuis
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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