Effect of dried black soldier fly (hermetia illucens) larvae feed on the blood parameter, carcass quality and cost analysis of crossbreed village chicken

An abstract of the research paper presented to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, in partial requirement of the course DVT 55204 – Research Project.
The poultry industry is an important component of Malaysia’s livestock sector yet rising feed costs have increased interest in sustainable alternative protein sources. Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL) offers a promising option due to their high nutritional value and potential cost efficiency. This study evaluated the effects of dried BSFL supplementation on blood parameters, carcass characteristics, and feed cost in crossbred village chickens (Ayam Kampung Kacuk) over a 9-week (63-day) period. Thirty chickens were assigned to three dietary treatments: T1 (control commercial diet), T2 (commercial diet + 5% dried BSFL), and T3 (commercial diet + 10% dried BSFL). Growth performance, feed intake, blood parameters, and carcass traits were assessed. Overall, BSFL supplementation did not affect selected blood parameters, with all values remaining within normal physiological ranges. While final body weight and major carcass components showed no significant differences among treatments, certain parts including head, thigh, and heart weights displayed significant variation. Feed cost analysis suggested that BSFL inclusion may influence cost efficiency without negatively impacting growth or carcass yield. These findings indicate that BSFL can be used as a partial feed ingredient in village chicken diets without adverse effects on performance or health.