Journal Article

Does the provision of live black soldier fly and yellow mealworm larvae improve Muscovy duck welfare?

Renna, Manuela, Biasato, Ilaria, Bellezza Oddon, Sara, Colombino, Elena, Macchi, Elisabetta, Schiavone, Achille, Meneguz, Marco, Miazzo, Raul Daniel, Bergagna, Stefania, Gariglio, Marta, Dabbou, Sihem

2023

Overview

Background The provision of environmental enrichments to Muscovy ducks could reduce the expression of the aggressive behaviors. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of black soldier fly (BSF) and yellow mealworm (YM) live larva provision on Muscovy duck performance, excreta corticosterone metabolites (ECM), behavior, and blood parameters. Methods A total of 126 3-day-old female Muscovy ducklings were allotted to 18 pens (6 replicates/treatment, 7 birds/pen) and assigned to 3 experimental treatments: a control group fed commercial feed, and two experimental treatments fed commercial feed plus the 5% (based on the expected daily feed intake, as fed basis) of BSF and YM live larvae (BSF and YM groups, respectively). A two-phase feeding program was applied: starter (from 3 to 31 days of age) and grower-finisher (from 32 to 55 days of age). The live weight, average daily gain, average daily feed intake, and feed conversion ratio were calculated. Larva consumption times were collected, and video recordings were performed during 3 periods (P) each day: the hour before (P1), during (P2), and after (P3) the larva administration. ECM were evaluated at 3, 31, and 55-day-old. Finally, the total red and white blood cell counts, serum proteins, lipids, and liver and renal function serum enzymes were evaluated on 12 birds/treatment. Results The experimental treatment did not affect the growth performance of the birds ( P  > 0.05). Larva consumption times were always similar between the two insect species, except at 14–18 days of age, were BSF larvae were consumed faster than YM larvae ( P  < 0.001). The birds showed less walking activity during P2, and preening behavior increased in YM birds during P3. The C birds increased the attack behavior over the weeks ( P  < 0.05). During weeks 1–3 the YM group reduced the attack frequency (P1 > P3; P  < 0.05). Finally, the provision of live BSF and YM larvae significantly reduced the ECM at 55 days of age and the heterophil to lymphocyte ratio ( P  < 0.05). Conclusions Live BSF and YM larva supplementation in Muscovy duck improves duck welfare, without impairing birds’ growth performance.

• Publisher: BioMed Central,Springer Nature B.V,Department of Veterinary Sciences,University of Turin,Largo Paolo Braccini 2,Grugliasco,Torino(TO)10095,Italy%Center Agriculture Food Environment(C3A),University of Trento,Via Edmund Mach 1,San Michele All'Adige,Trento(TN)38098,Italy%Department of Agricultural,Forest and Food Sciences,University of Turin,Largo Paolo Braccini 2,Grugliasco,Torino(TO)10095,Italy%BEF Biosystems s.r.l,Via Tancredi Canonico 18/C,Torino(TO)10156,Italy%Unidad de Investigación Aviar,Producción Avícola,Fac.Agr.y Vet.,Universi-dad Nacional de Río Cuarto,Cordoba,Argentina%Veterinary Medical Research Institute for Piemonte,Liguria and Valle d'Aosta,Via Bologna 148,Torino(TO)10154,Italy,BMC
• Subject: Age / Aggressive behavior / Agriculture / Animal Genetics and Genomics / Animal Physiology / Animal welfare / Aquatic birds / average daily gain / Behavior / Biomedical and Life Sciences / Biotechnology / blood serum / body weight / Cairina moschata / Consumption / Conversion ratio / Corticosterone / Diet / ducks / Environmental enrichment / excreta / Extracellular matrix / Feed conversion / feed intake / Feeds / females / Food Science / Foraging behavior / Grooming / growth performance / Hermetia illucens / heterophils / Insects / Larvae / Life Sciences / Lipids / liver / Lymphocytes / Metabolites / Muscovy / Poultry / Proteins / Renal function / Serum proteins / species / Tenebrio molitor / Waterfowl / Wildfowl