Star Laura, Arsiwalla Tarique, Molist Francesc, Leushuis Raymond, Dalim Monika, Paul Aman
R&D, Schothorst Feed Research B.V., 8218 NA Lelystad, The Netherlands.
Product Development, Protix B.V., 5107 NC Dongen, The Netherlands.
Animals (Basel). 2020 Jan 28;10(2):216. doi: 10.3390/ani10020216.
Feather pecking is a key welfare challenge in laying hen husbandry. Feeding of live Hermetia illucens larvae could provide a possible solution to reduce feather pecking in hens. This research investigates effects of dispensing live larvae to non-beak trimmed older laying hens on production performance, behavior and welfare. Control treatment hens were provided a commercial diet, while larvae treatment hens were provided live larvae (using special dispenser) on top of a soy-free diet. Feather condition, production performance and egg quality were measured during the initiation (67 weeks age) and termination (78 weeks age) of the trial. Behavior of birds was monitored using video recording. Feed conversion ratio, body weight gain and egg laying parameters were similar for both treatments. At termination of the trial, larvae-fed hens exhibited better feather condition in comparison to control hens ( = 0.004). Behavioral observations indicated that larvae provision influenced the number of birds on floor during morning and afternoon hours. In conclusion, live H. larvae could successfully replace soy in diets of older laying hens (in combination with local plant proteins). Provisioning of these insects also had a positive effect on the feather condition of laying hens with intact beaks.
啄羽是蛋鸡养殖中一个关键的福利挑战。投喂活体黑水虻幼虫可能是减少母鸡啄羽行为的一种解决方案。本研究调查了向未断喙的老龄蛋鸡投喂活体幼虫对其生产性能、行为和福利的影响。对照处理组的母鸡饲喂商业日粮，而幼虫处理组的母鸡在无豆日粮基础上（使用特殊投喂器）投喂活体幼虫。在试验开始（67周龄）和结束（78周龄）时测量羽毛状况、生产性能和蛋品质。使用视频记录监测鸡的行为。两种处理的饲料转化率、体重增加和产蛋参数相似。在试验结束时，与对照母鸡相比，投喂幼虫的母鸡羽毛状况更好（P = 0.004）。行为观察表明，投喂幼虫影响了上午和下午时段在地面活动的鸡的数量。总之，活体黑水虻幼虫可以成功替代老龄蛋鸡日粮中的大豆（与当地植物蛋白搭配）。投喂这些昆虫对未断喙蛋鸡的羽毛状况也有积极影响。
