UTILIZATION OF BLACK SOLDIER FLY LARVAE FOR LAYER CHICKEN DIETS OF FARMERS IN BAN NON SALA, SAKON NAKHON PROVINCE

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the utilization of black soldier fly larvae for laying chicken diets. Thirty 34 to 46 week-old laying hens were randomly divided into 5 treatment groups. Each group consisted of six replicates of one bird. The dietary treatments were given to the groups of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 with the mixed ratios of the feed containing the black soldier fly larvae and the regular chicken feed at 0:100, 30:70, 60:40, 90:100 and 100:0, respectively. The results showed that treatment groups 1 and 2 had significantly increase in hen-day production and egg mass (p<0.01). The treatment groups 3 and 5 had highest feed intake per dozen eggs (p<0.05), whereas the treatment 5 had highest feed cost per dozen eggs (p<0.05).The treatment groups 1, 2, 3 and 4 had highest shell breaking strength (p<0.01), whereas the treatment groups 1 and 2 had highest shell thickness (p<0.05). The treatment groups 3, 4 and 5 had higher feed cost than that of the groups 1 and 2 (p<0.01), whereas the groups 1 and 2 had highest net income (p<0.01). It was concluded that the optimum mixed ratio of feed containing black soldier fly larvae and regular layer chicken diet was 30:70 as it resulted in an increase in net income. The findings of the study led to the promotion among the farmers in the village of Non Sala, Chiang Kruea Sub-district, Mueang District, Sakon Nakhon Province to feed layer hens with mixture of commercial chicken diets and black soldier fly larvae which could reduce the expense for purchasing only the commercial chicken feed.