Despins J L, Axtell R C
Department of Entomology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27695-7613, USA.
Poult Sci. 1995 Feb;74(2):331-6. doi: 10.3382/ps.0740331.
Experiments were conducted to determine the effects of feeding larvae of the darkling beetle (lesser mealworm), Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) to broiler chicks on chick growth. Chicks readily fed on the larvae and exhibited reduced growth in the absence of other feed. Chicks 3 to 8 d old restricted to a diet of only larvae consumed 1,552 +/- 172 (mean +/- SD) larvae per chick per day and their body weights were significantly less (mean = 84 g) at the end of the 6 d than for chicks on starter feed during the same time. After return to starter feed for 8 d after feeding on larvae for 6 d, the chicks did not compensate for the reduced weight and their body weights were significantly less (mean = 170 g) than for chicks on starter feed for the 14 d. Chicks from age 2 through 9 d were given a choice between broiler starter feed and darkling beetle larvae. The numbers (mean +/- SD) of larvae consumed per chick per day were: 389 +/- 18, 631 +/- 14, 496 +/- 20, and 287 +/- 33, for Days 2 to 3, 4 to 5, 6 to 7, and 8 to 9, respectively. The body weight of chicks feeding on starter feed and larvae was significantly greater than the weight of chicks consuming feed only. In the presence of larvae, the mean feed consumption per chick was less than for chicks provided with only starter feed. The beetle larvae were 68% crude protein and 21% fat (DM basis) and had higher amounts of 18 amino acids than the starter feed.
进行了多项实验，以确定将暗黑鳃金龟（小粉虫）幼虫，即赤拟谷盗（Panzer）（鞘翅目：拟步甲科）投喂给肉鸡雏鸡对雏鸡生长的影响。雏鸡很容易取食这些幼虫，并且在没有其他饲料的情况下生长减缓。3至8日龄的雏鸡若仅以幼虫为食，每只雏鸡每天消耗1552±172（平均值±标准差）只幼虫，在6日龄结束时，它们的体重显著低于同期食用雏鸡开食料的雏鸡（平均值 = 84克）。在以幼虫为食6天后再恢复食用雏鸡开食料8天，这些雏鸡未能弥补体重减轻的情况，其体重显著低于食用14天雏鸡开食料的雏鸡（平均值 = 170克）。对2至9日龄的雏鸡提供肉鸡开食料和暗黑鳃金龟幼虫供其选择。每只雏鸡每天消耗的幼虫数量（平均值±标准差）分别为：第2至3天389±18只、第4至5天631±14只、第6至7天496±20只、第8至9天为287±33只。食用开食料和幼虫的雏鸡体重显著高于仅食用饲料的雏鸡。在有幼虫的情况下，每只雏鸡的平均采食量低于仅提供雏鸡开食料的雏鸡。这些甲虫幼虫的粗蛋白含量为68%，脂肪含量为21%（干物质基础），并且所含的18种氨基酸比开食料更多。
