Effects of dietary addition of mealworm (Tenebrio molitor L.) on growth performance, carcass quality, nutrient digestibility and nitrogen excretion in Japanese quails

The purpose of this study was determine the effects of using mealworm (Tenebrio molitor L.) as the primary source of protein in compound feeds instead of soybean meal on fattening performance, carcass quality, nutrient digestibility, and nitrogen excretion in Japanese broiler quails (Coturnix coturnix Japonica). A total of 120 one-day-old broiler quails divided into 4 groups, each with 10 replications, and the experiment lasted for 35 days. During the experiment, the control group animals were fed 34% soybean meal, while the other groups were provided 1.4% soybean meal as a substitute, and they were fed mealworms at 2.8 and 5.6 levels. Growth performance parameters were measured and calculated weekly throughout the experiment. Nutrient digestibility and nitrogen excretion measurements were performed in the last week of the experiment. At the end of the experiment, the lowest body weight gain and feed intake occurred in the 1,4% mealworm group (P<0.05), and the mealworm content in the feeds showed a cubic effect. The use of 5,6% mealworm in feeds significantly improved feed efficiency (P<0.05). In addition, the use of mealworms in feeds significantly increased dry matter, curude ash and metabolizable energy digestibility linearly (P<0.05), while Calcium and Phosphorus did not affect digestibility (P>0.05). Besides, the use of mealworms in feeds significantly increased excreta nitrogen excretion and nitrogen retention rate linearly (P<0.05). As a consequence, it has been shown that incorporating up to 5.6% mealworm to replace soybean meal in broiler quail compound diets may enhance performance and crude protein digestibiliti, hp digestibility energy utilization. Keywords: Mealworm (Tenebrio Molitor L.), growth performance, digestibility, nitrogen excretion, broiler quails