Open AccessEffects Of Replacing Dietary Fishmeal With Maggots On Performance And Nutrient Retention Of Laying Hens
Author(s) -
J. O. Atteh,
DD Adeyoyin
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
nigerian journal of animal production
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 0331-2062
DOI - 10.51791/njap.v20i.2101
Subject(s) - maggot , fish meal , housefly , biology , meal , zoology , nutrient , fish <actinopterygii> , food science , musca , larva , fishery , botany , ecology
Laying hens (53 weeks old) were fed a basal diet with 9% fish meal and diets in which housefly maggots (Musca domestica, Linn) replaced 33.3, 66.7 and 100% of the fish meal in the basal diet during a 6-week trial period. Average daily feed intake were 125.1, 115.1, 109.1 and 105.7g respectively (P<0.05). Corresponding total weight gain per bird during the trial period were 210, 180, 20 and 37g respectively (P 0.05). There was also no significant effects of the treatments on protein or fat retention by laying hens. It is concluded that housefly maggots could replace fish meal (9%) in layer's diet without detrimental effects on their performance. Maggots is a cheap alternative to fishmeal in laying hen diets, the cost of its production being only 15% of the equivalent weight of fishmeal.