Effects of eri silkworm (Samia ricini) pupae inclusion in broiler diets on growth performances, health, carcass characteristics and meat quality

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the appropriate amount of eri silkworm pupae meal (Samia ricini) to add to the broiler diet.

Methods: Two hundred 1-day-old male chicks with initial weight at 50.03±0.56 g/chick were divided into four groups (five replicates per group and ten chicks per replicate): a control group fed a corn-soybean diet and experimental groups supplemented with 5%, 10%, or 15% eri silkworm pupae meal. All experimental diets were isocaloric and isonitrogenous and formulated respecting nutrient requirements. Growth performances were collected during the experimental period and other parameters were collected at the end of experiment when broilers reached thirty-eight days old.

Results: A higher cold carcass weight and skin yellowness in the broilers fed 10% eri silkworm pupae meal compared with the other groups (p<0.05). Therefore, supplementation with 10% eri silkworm pupae meal is suggested for the broiler diet formulation because it did not cause any serious negative consequences on growth performance, health status, carcass characteristics and meat quality. However, the usage of eri silkworm pupae meal at 15% is not recommend because it led to negative outcomes.

Conclusion: The addition of eri silkworm pupae at 10% can be used as an alternative protein sources for broiler chickens which provided benefits on cold carcass weight and skin yellowness without adverse effects.