Effect of graded levels of Imbrasia belina meal on blood lipid profile, bone morphometric and mineral content of broiler chickens

The effect of increasing dietary levels of Imbrasia belina worm meal on blood lipid profile, bone morphometric and mineral content in Arbor acres broiler chicks were assessed. A total of 360-day old chicks were randomly allocated to 4 dietary treatments, with each treatment group replicated 6 times (n = 15/replicate). The inclusion levels of the I. belina worm meal in the diets were 0 % (Treatment 1= control), 4 % (Treatment 2), 8 % (Treatment 3) and 12 % (Treatment 4). A 3-phase feeding program of starter (0−14d), grower (15−28d), and finisher (29−35d) was employed for the study. Total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TGL), high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), bone morphometrics and mineral content were recorded at the end of study. There was no significant difference of total cholesterol (CHOL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) concentration in all the treatments. However, significant concentrations were observed in triglycerides (TGL) and T3 showed highest levels compared to other treatments, at 35 days of age. The dietary inclusion levels of Imbrasia belina had no effect on femur weight, width, relative bone density, and bone breaking strength. However, the significant difference was observed on femur length, robusticity index and ash percentage. Also, broiler chickens fed T1 (6.62 g/100 g, 15.23 g/100 g dry matter) had the highest femur Ca and P content. Femur Z content of broilers fed T4 (24.08 mg/100 g dry matter) was highest. The correlation analyses showed significant moderate relationships between ash and femur weight, but however significant positive relationships with calcium, magnesium, manganese and zinc. More so, the correlation between femur strength and calcium and phosphorous was significant positive with a higher magnitude. The result of this study suggests that I. belina meal up to 12 % can be effectively utilized in broiler diets without any adverse effect on and bone mineral properties.