Research Note: Effects of partial replacement of noug seed (Guizotia abyssinica) cake with maggot meal in dual-purpose chicken

The aim of this trial was to evaluate the effect of partial replacement of noug seed cake (NSC) with housefly maggot meal (HFLM) on the growth performance, complete blood count, carcass traits, and gizzard erosion. A total of 120 twenty-seven-day-old Sasso chickens were divided into 4 groups in a completely randomized design. Four diets were prepared to replace NSC with HFLM at the rate of 0%, 20%, 40%, and 60%, labeled as C, T1, T2, and T3, respectively. During the 28-d trial, the chickens were provided feed and water ad libitum. Average daily feed intake (ADFI), final body weight (FBW), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were not affected by increasing the dietary level of HFLM (P > 0.05). However, there was a difference (P < 0.05) in body weight gain (BWG) between the control and treatment groups, in which a higher BWG was achieved in T1. In this trial, the crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), and gross energy (GE) in HFLM were 34.06%, 26.85%, and 3871 (kcal/kg), respectively. Blood indices including white blood cells, granulocytes, red blood cells, hemoglobin, and hematocrit were higher in treatment diets (P < 0.05) than in the control diets. No negative effects (P > 0.05) on carcass characteristics were found between the treated and control groups. Furthermore, no discrepancy (P > 0.05) in liver color scores and mortality rate were observed between the control and treatment diets. Surprisingly, feeding HFLM resulted in higher gizzard erosion scores (P < 0.05) in the group fed 40% HFLM. Overall, replacement of NSC at the rate of 20% HFLM in dual-purpose chicken feed produced higher BWG with no gizzard erosion and mortality.