An experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of raw and processed silkworm pupae meal (SWPM) as an alternative to fishmeal in broiler ration. Raw and processed silkworm pupae meal (w/w) replaced fishmeal in a standard broiler diet at 0, 25 and 50% levels. Each of the five diets was fed ad lib to 5 groups of broiler chicks housed on deep litter system from 2nd to 5th week of age. Broiler chicks fed diets containing raw SWPM replaced at 25 and 50% levels with fishmeal showed a reduction (P<0.05) in the body weight gain. However, birds fed the processed SWPM at both 25 and 50% levels showed an increase (P<0.05) in body weight gain, which was comparable with the control diet. There was no significant difference in the feed consumption in the groups fed either raw or processed SWPM diets when compared with the control diet. There was a significant (P<0.05) decline in the feed conversion ratio in the group of birds fed the diets in which 25 and 50% fishmeal was replaced by raw SWPM. However, the feed conversion ratio showed a improvement (P<0.05) in the group fed the diet with processed SWPM at both the levels. The dressing percentage, eviscerated yield percentage and giblet percentage did not differ significantly among the various treatment groups. So far as the cost benefit analysis is concerned, the cost of production per kg live weight in the group of birds fed processed SWPM was comparable with the control group. It is concluded that there was an improvement in the performance of broiler chicken when fishmeal in standard broiler diet was replaced at 25 and 50% level with processed SWPM.
Silkworm pupae meal, broilers, performance, carcass traits
