| Livestock Research for Rural Development 37 (2) 2025 | LRRD Search | LRRD Misssion | Guide for preparation of papers | LRRD Newsletter | Citation of this paper |
The study investigated the effects of black soldier fly larvae and fermented broken rice. A completely randomized design with a factorial arrangement was used, with the first factor being the black soldier fly larvae (0%, 50% and 100%) and the second factor fermented broken rice (0 and 4%. Each treatment had 4 replications, each replication contained 10 ducks in a cage (5 males: 5 females). Treatment 1 (BSFL0-FBR0): BSFL0 diet + 0.0% fermented broken rice, Treatment 2 (BSFL0-FBR4%): BSFL0 diet + 4% (DM) fermented broken rice, Treatment 3 (BSFL50-FBR0): BSFL50 diet + 0.0% fermented broken rice, Treatment 4 (BSFL50-FBR4%): BSFL50 diet + 4% (DM) fermented broken rice, Treatment 5 (BSFL100-FBR0): BSFL100 diet + 0.0% fermented broken rice, Treatment 6 (BSFL100-FBR4%): BSFL100 diet + 4% (DM) Fermented broken rice.
The findings showed that ducks did not receive fermented broken rice gained weight significantly slower than those that did. Additionally, the amount of feed needed to produce a certain amount of weight (feed conversion ratio) was better in groups without fermented broken rice but with different levels of BSFL and also better in groups with fermented broken rice. The group that received fermented broken rice showed the best overall outcomes, with the lowest levels of harmful bacteria ( E. coli and Clostridium) and the highest levels of beneficial bacteria (Lactobacillus) in their manure.
The study determined that including 4% fermented broken rice, in the ducks' diet yielded the best overall outcomes. Furthermore, substituting 100% of fish meal with black soldier fly meal had no negative impact on the Muscovy ducks' health or growth.
Key words: Muscovy duck, performance, black soldier larvae, fermented broken rice
Muscovy ducks, originating from South America and domesticated by native populations, are highly valued globally due to their substantial meat production, unique taste, and low-calorie content (Surai, 2016; Eva C J A et al 2018). In Vietnam, numerous studies have examined the impact of different feed types on Muscovy duck growth and carcass characteristics (Tu et al 2012; Linh et al 2017). Research has shown that Muscovy ducks can effectively utilize various agricultural byproducts, including brewery waste, duckweed, palm kernel, and Silybum marianum seeds, leading to increased meat yield and economic benefits for farmers (Tu et al 2012; Ruben et al 2020; El-Garhy et al 2022). Nevertheless, there is a scarcity of research focusing on the integration of black soldier fly larvae and fermented broken rice into duck diets within the Mekong Delta.
Black soldier flies (Hermetia illucens) are globally distributed insects that pose no harm and unlike houseflies, do not spread diseases. Their high nutritional value makes them a popular ingredient in animal feed. Before transforming into pupae, black soldier flies are composed of 43-51% protein, 15-18% fat, 2.8-6.2% calcium, 1-1.2% phosphorus, and other essential nutrients. fermented broken rice is a supplement that improves duck health by enhancing digestion, accelerating growth, and preventing common illnesses like diarrhea and respiratory problems. fermented broken rice was a probiotic source for ducks. Probiotics are live microorganisms that were known to confer a health benefit when consumed, usually by improving or restoring the intestinal flora. Probiotics were generally considered safe to consume, as the beneficial microorganisms thrive while inhibiting the growth of harmful microorganisms. Additionally, it helps to reduce unpleasant odors and moisture in duck manure, maintaining a clean environment. This research aims to determine the impact of incorporating black soldier fly larvae and Fermented broken rice into the diet on the growth and digestive well-being of meat ducks.
The study was conducted from August to November 2024 at a farm in Binh Minh district, Vinh Long province, Vietnam. During the study, Muscovy ducks were collected from this farm and vaccinated against hepatitis, cholera, and H5N1. Ducks were raised in cages with sand floors and rice husk bedding, each cage measuring 3 x 1.2 x 0.8 meters and housing 10 ducks. This study employed a completely randomized factorial design with two factors: black soldier fly larvae replacing fish meal and fermented broken rice. Each treatment was performed 4 times. The treatments were as follows: 0%, 50%, and 100% BSFL soldier fly larvae replacing fish meal at levels of 0, 50, and 100% with 0 and 4% fermented broken rice FBR. Each treatment combination corresponds to a replacement percentage and a fermented broken rice dose, allowing for an analysis of these variables and their interactions.
From weeks 6 to 12, the Muscovy ducks were kept in pens and provided with a standard diet containing 17% crude protein and 2,860 kcal/kg of metabolizable energy (details in Table 1). They had continuous access to both food and water during the entire duration of the study. The study involved 240 ducks, each 6 weeks old and averaging around 810±30 grams in weight. These ducks were distributed evenly, with 10 per experimental unit and an equal distribution of males and females. The treatments tested were BSFL0-FBR0, BSFL0-FBR4%, BSFL50-FBR0, BSFL50-FBR4%, BSFL100-FBR0 and BSFL100-FBR4%. The trial spanned 7 weeks, from 6 to 12 weeks of age, with ducks fed either a control fish meal diet or diets where 50% or 100% of the fish meal protein was replaced with black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) protein.
|
Table 1. The ratio of ingredients and the nutritional profile of the diets |
|||||
|
Treatment |
FBR |
||||
|
BSFL0 |
BSFL50 |
BSFL100 |
|||
|
Fish meal |
16.0 |
5.3 |
0 |
- |
|
|
BSFL meal |
- |
11.4 |
19.3 |
- |
|
|
Corn meal |
19.0 |
17.6 |
17.2 |
- |
|
|
Rice bran |
32.3 |
33.1 |
31.0 |
- |
|
|
Soybean meal |
12.0 |
12.0 |
12.0 |
- |
|
|
Wheat meal |
13.7 |
13.6 |
13.5 |
- |
|
|
Premix |
4.0 |
4.0 |
4.0 |
- |
|
|
CMC |
3.0 |
3.0 |
3.0 |
- |
|
|
Total |
100 |
100 |
100 |
- |
|
|
DM |
94.5 |
94.3 |
94.1 |
69.5 |
|
|
OM |
88.9 |
89.2 |
89.0 |
99.4 |
|
|
CP |
17.0 |
17.1 |
17.1 |
8.23 |
|
|
EE |
4.8 |
6.3 |
7.2 |
3.35 |
|
|
CF |
4.1 |
4.3 |
4.6 |
2.01 |
|
|
Total ash |
11.1 |
10.8 |
11.0 |
0.60 |
|
|
ME (kcal/kg) |
2860 |
2865 |
2,867 |
3,350 |
|
|
FBR: fermented broken rice, Source: Janssen (1989) |
|||||
Yeast includes rice flour and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (1 g equals 8.9 x 108 CFU)
- 10kg broken rice, add 50g yeast, mix with 2kg water, keep the mixture for 45 minutes.
- Fermented broken rice is put in a plastic bag, incubated completely, at room temperature from 28-310C, after 3 days the fermented broken rice has a fragrant smell and can be used for the experiment.
Throughout the study, several growth parameters were tracked, including body weight at the start and end of the experiment, body weight gain, average ADFI, and FCR. To measure daily feed intake, the total feed consumed by 10 ducks (5 males and 5 females) in each pen was recorded. Ducks were individually weighed at the beginning of the study and then weekly thereafter.
At the end of the 12-week research period, fecal samples were collected to evaluate the presence of Lactobacillus, Salmonella spp., E. coli and Clostridium perfringens. To quantify these bacteria, the colony counting method was utilized. For each treatment group, approximately 100 grams of feces were gathered directly from the barn, with samples taken from 10 ducks per group.
The samples were immediately placed in cold storage to preserve their condition. Subsequently, they were homogenized and sent to the Biology Laboratory at the Center for Analytical Services in Can Tho City, where colony counting methods were applied to assess the levels of the targeted microorganisms.
At the conclusion of the experiment, two male and two female ducks from each group were selected for slaughter and subsequent carcass evaluation. Body measurements were collected using the methods described by Salomon in 1996.
The chemical composition of the feed samples was analyzed to determine the content of DM, OM, CP, EE, CF, and ash, following the established AOAC (1990) procedures. Neutral detergent fiber was measured using the method developed by Van Soest et al (1991), and metabolizable energy was calculated based on Janssen's (1989) formula.
Data analysis was performed using the General Linear Model (GLM) in Minitab version 18.1.0 (Minitab, 2018), with treatment differences evaluated through the Tukey method in the same software.
Table 2 shows that the ducks on the BSFLO-FBR0 diet consumed significantly less dry DM, OM, CP, and EE daily (p<0.05) than those on other diets, with ducks on the BSFL100-FBR4% and BSFLO-FBR4% diet showing the highest intake levels. When it came to fermented broken rice, ducks on the FBR4% diet had significantly higher daily intakes of DM, OM and EE (p<0.05) compared to ducks on the FBR0 diet. The DM and CP intakes in this study surpassed those recorded in Pham Tan Nha's 2022 research on Muscovy ducks, which reported intakes of 119-125 gDM/day and 16.6-20.8 gCP/day. This can be explained by the fact that the diet supplemented with 4% fermented broken rice stimulated the ducks' appetite, so they consumed more feed.
|
Table 2. Daily intakes of feed and nutrient of Muscovy duck, g/duck/day |
||||||||
|
BSFL, % |
FBR |
DM |
OM |
CP |
EE |
|||
|
0 |
0 |
141.8c |
130.9c |
24.11 |
3.91b |
|||
|
4 |
145.3a |
132.9a |
24.70 |
3.99c |
||||
|
50 |
0 |
142.3b |
131.6b |
24.19 |
4.99a |
|||
|
4 |
142.6b |
130.7b |
24.24 |
4.28b |
||||
|
100 |
0 |
142.6b |
130.7b |
24.24 |
4.28b |
|||
|
4 |
146.6a |
135.4a |
24.92 |
5.01a |
||||
|
SEM |
0.87 |
0.75 |
0.25 |
0.06 |
||||
|
p value |
0.04 |
0.03 |
0.07 |
0.01 |
||||
|
BSFL |
142.2b |
131.1b |
24.18 |
4.39ab |
||||
|
FBR |
144.8a |
133.0a |
24.62 |
4.43ab |
||||
|
BSFL*FBR |
143.5ab |
132.1ab |
24.4 |
4.41ab |
||||
|
a,b,c Mean values with different superscripts within the same column were different at p<0.05 |
||||||||
|
Table 3. Daily weight gain, final live weight and feed conversion ratio (FCR) of Muscovy duck (g/ducks) |
||||||||
|
BSFL (%) |
FBR |
Initial live weight |
Final live weight |
Daily weight gain |
FCR |
|||
|
0 |
0 |
810 |
3.201b |
48.8b |
2.91ab |
|||
|
4 |
810 |
3400a |
52.8a |
2.75b |
||||
|
50 |
0 |
815 |
3192bc |
48.5b |
2.93ab |
|||
|
4 |
807 |
3386a |
52.6a |
2.71b |
||||
|
100 |
0 |
811 |
2,967c |
44.0c |
3.23a |
|||
|
4 |
808 |
3378a |
52.5a |
2.79b |
||||
|
SEM |
25.10 |
44.45 |
1.09 |
0.04 |
||||
|
p value |
0.02 |
0.02 |
0.03 |
0.02 |
||||
|
BSFL |
812 |
3120bc |
47.1b |
3.02a |
||||
|
FBR |
808 |
3388a |
52.6a |
2.75b |
||||
|
BSFL*FBR |
810 |
3254ab |
49.9ab |
2.89b |
||||
|
a. b. c Mean values with different superscripts within the same column were different at p<0.05 |
||||||||
Table 3 indicates that daily weight gain (DWG) was lower for ducks not receiving fermented broken rice (FBR0 treatments) compared to those receiving fermented broken rice (FBR4% treatments), with this difference being significant (p<0.05).
The daily weight gain (DWG) observed in this study ranged from 44.0g to 52.8g/duck, which was significantly higher than the 34.4g to 36.8g/duck reported in previous studies on Muscovy ducks (Pham Tan Nha, 2022; Nguyen Thuy Linh, 2010).
Ducks that received fermented broken rice supplementation showed a notable increase in final live weights compared to those that did not receive fermented broken rice (FBR0 treatments) (p<0.05). This improvement was due to the higher daily weight gain observed in the fermented broken rice supplemented ducks. The final live weights of the Muscovy ducks in this study varied between 2967g and 3400g, aligning with previous research by Dang Thi My Tu in 2012. The better FCR in the treatments BSFL0-FBR4%, BSFL50-FBR4% and BSFL100-FBR4% which were supplemented with fermented broken rice, possibly due to higher daily weight gain, showed a significant difference (p < 0.05). These FCR values, ranging from 2.71 to 3.23, were similar to those found by Pham Tan Nha, 2022.
|
| Figure 1.The effect of black soldier larvae and fermented broken rice on DWG of Muscovy ducks |
Figure 1 illustrates that the addition of fermented broken rice to the diet resulted in higher daily weight gain for ducks than for ducks without supplementation. In terms of BSFL level, the daily weight gain of BSFL50-FBR4% and BSFL100-FBR4% diet was equivalent to that of BSFL0-FBR4% CTLF4 diet.
 |
| Figure 2. Impact of Black Soldier Fly Larvae and fermented broken rice on FCR in Muscovy Ducks |
Figure 2 illustrates that the addition of fermented broken rice resulted in improved FCR. Regarding the effect of black soldier fly larvae supplementation, the FCR of the BSFL50-FBR4% and BSFL100-FBR4% groups was similar to that of the control group (BSFL0-FBR0). This suggests that replacing 100% of fishmeal with black soldier fly larvae meal did not have a significant impact on duck performance.
|
Table 4. Carcass values and internal organs of Muscovy duck Supplemente black soldier larvae and fermented broken rice in diets (g/duck) |
||||||||
|
BSFL (%) |
FBR |
Slaughter |
Carcass |
% |
Breast |
% Breast |
Thigh |
% Thigh |
|
0 |
0 |
3,201b |
2286b |
71.4 |
466ab |
20.4 |
448b |
19.6 |
|
4 |
3.400a |
2451a |
72.1 |
502a |
20.5 |
498a |
20.3 |
|
|
50 |
0 |
3.192bc |
2273b |
71.2 |
459ab |
20.2 |
459b |
20.2 |
|
4 |
3,386a |
2435a |
71.9 |
494a |
20.3 |
489a |
20.1 |
|
|
100 |
0 |
2,967c |
2071c |
69.8 |
414b |
20.0 |
420b |
20.3 |
|
4 |
3,378a |
2425a |
71.8 |
487a |
20.1 |
490a |
20.2 |
|
|
SEM |
23.40 |
20.9 |
0.22 |
3.34 |
0.26 |
4.06 |
0.35 |
|
|
pv alue |
0.02 |
0.01 |
0.60 |
0.01 |
0.7 |
0.02 |
0.06 |
|
|
BSFL |
3.120bc |
2210b |
70.8 |
446b |
20.2 |
442b |
20.0 |
|
|
FBR |
3,388a |
2437a |
71.9 |
494a |
20.3 |
492a |
20.2 |
|
|
BSFL*FBR |
3.254b |
2324ab |
71.4 |
470ab |
2.03 |
467ab |
20.1 |
|
|
a. b. c Mean values with different superscripts within the same column were different at p<0.05 |
||||||||
The final weight of the live ducks accurately predicted their weight after slaughter. The weight of the ducks without feathers or organs (carcass) was notably heavier for ducks in the BSFL0-FBR4%, BSFL50-FBR4% and BSFL100-FBR4% groups compared to others (p<0.05). However, the proportion of carcass weight to live weight was about the same for all groups and matched previous research. While the BSFL0-FBR4%, BSFL50-FBR4% and BSFL100-FBR4% group had significantly more breast and thigh meat, the percentage of these parts relative to the total carcass weight was similar across all groups.
Table 5 reveals that after 12 weeks, Salmonella bacteria were nearly undetectable in the Muscovy duck manure, especially in the FBR4% treatments group. On the other hand, the levels of Lactobacillus were increased. The FBR4% group was notable for having the highest concentration of beneficial Lactobacillus bacteria and the lowest amounts of harmful E. coli and Clostridium perfringens. This was beneficial for the ducks' well-being, as Lactobacillus supports gut health, whereas the other two bacteria are linked to disease. The presence of BSFL in the feed did not influence the concentrations of these bacteria in the manure.
|
Table 5. Bacteria density in Muscovy ducks at 12 th weeks age of the experimental |
|||||
|
BSFL (%) |
FBR |
Lactobacillus |
Salmonella spp./25g (+/-) |
E.coli |
Clostridium perfringens |
|
0 |
0 |
2.18b |
Positive |
6.01a |
3.86a |
|
4 |
6.22a |
Non detected |
2.76b |
2.06b |
|
|
50 |
0 |
2.05bc |
Positive |
6.08a |
3.99a |
|
4 |
5.78a |
Non detected |
2.79b |
2.08b |
|
|
100 |
0 |
1.88c |
Positive |
5.88a |
4.18a |
|
4 |
5.63a |
Non detected |
2.83b |
2.16b |
|
|
SEM |
0.35 |
- |
0.06 |
0.04 |
|
|
p value |
0.02 |
- |
0.01 |
0.02 |
|
|
BSFL |
2.04b |
Positive |
5.99a |
4.01a |
|
|
FBR |
5.88a |
Non detected |
2.79b |
2.10b |
|
|
BSFL*FBR |
3.96ab |
Positive* Non detected |
4.39ab |
3.06ab |
|
|
a. b. c Mean values with different superscripts within the same column were different at p<0.05 |
|||||
Adding 4% fermented broken rice to the Muscovy ducks' diet increased the content of Lactobacillus in the stool. The FBR4% group showed the highest levels of Lactobacillus.
 |
| Figure 3. The effect of black soldier larvae and fermented broken rice on Lactobacillus |
In contrast, adding fermented broken rice to the ducks' feed significantly lowered the harmful bacteria E. coli and Clostridium in their digestive system after three months. This improvement is likely because fermented broken rice boosted the beneficial bacteria Lactobacillus, which helped control the harmful ones. The group receiving the highest dose of fermented broken rice (FBR4%) had the best results with the least amount of E. coli and Clostridium. These findings are similar to previous research showing that fermented feed can enhance beneficial gut bacteria and reduce harmful bacteria in ducks (Niem and Nha, 2018).
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