Production and Valorization of Maggot Meal: Sustainable Source of Proteins for Indigenous Chicks

Aims: The feed industry needs new sources of highly digestible protein to substitute other valuable limited protein sources of animal origin such as fishmeal in animal feed. The aim of this study was to exploit the potential of the housefly larvae (maggots) in production of a low-cost, high-quality protein source to supplement feeds for poultry farmers.

Methodology: A trial on production of maggot meal was conducted at the farm of the University of Dschang, using substrates such as: cow dung, chicken manure and pig manure. These substrates were supplemented with fish waste which was used as a seed. A completely randomized design with three treatments (substrates) and four replicates was used. After harvest, the maggots were dried and ground to get maggot meal which was used in the diets of 45 on-day-old, non-sexed indigenous chicks. For growth experiments, a random design of three treatments and three replicates was used. Fishmeal was partly and totally substituted by maggot meal in two experimental diets, which were used to feed two groups of 15 chicks. A third group of 15 chicks was fed with a control diet, without maggot meal. Each chick was considered as an experimental unit and was fed for a period of eight weeks.

Results: Maggots were harvested four days after oviposition regardless of the substrate. Supplement with fish waste, maggots production of differences substrates doesn’t show significant difference (P > 0.05). The productivity of pig manure was slightly higher (260.32±73.18 g), followed by chicken manure (254.12±50.59 g) and cow dung (249.97±72.44 g). The chicks subjected to the experimental diet in which the fishmeal has been totally substituted by maggot meal recorded significantly higher average weight gain (886.60±158.50 g) as compared to those subjected to the partially substituted and control diets, which recorded 650.59±103.50 g and 611.20±136.90 g, respectively at the end of the experiment.

Conclusion: The results indicated that maggot meal can be used as an alternative to fishmeal in poultry feed.