Effects of replacing fishmeal with earthworm powder on growth performance, nutrient retention, blood traits, antioxidant activity, intestinal characteristics and carcass traits in broilers

• Main Author: 李明哲
• Other Authors: 連塗發
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2017
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/f994h7

碩士 === 國立嘉義大學 === 動物科學系研究所 === 106 === This study aimed to investigate the feasibility that used earthworm powder to replace fish meal in the broiler’s diet. This study consisted of two trials. This study was using a total of 120 days old Arbor Acres broilers with equal of male and female and randomly divided into 3 groups with 4 replicates. During the five-week experiment, the earthworm powder was used to partially replace fish meal. The replacement levels were 0% (E0), 50% (E50) and 100% (E100) of the fish meal protein. Trial 2 using of 24 the average weight of 1.5 kg of Arbor Acres broilers, male and female half, grouping as trial 1. Experiment results showed that feed intake (at 22-35 days of age) in replacement level 100% group was significantly better than the fish meal group (P<0.05), but average weight gain and feed efficiency showed no significant difference (P>0.05). There was no significant difference in nutrient retention among groups (P>0.05). Nevertheless, the serum cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and serum protein among groups were no significant differences (P>0.05). When comparing the antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), Trolox equivalent and scavenging O2- were higher at E50 and E100 groups (P<0.05), and it decreased linearly (P<0.001) as dietary earthworm powder supplementation increased. In intestinal characteristics, results showed that E100 decreased primary amine ammonia content than the E0 group (P<0.05), and it decreased linearly (P<0.001) as dietary earthworm powder supplementation increased. In an aspect of the intestinal microflora and intestinal morphology were no significant differences among groups (P>0.05). In addition, the weight and relative weight of the spleen in the E100 group were significantly higher than those in the E0 group (P <0.05), and the addition of the earthworm powder was linear (P <0.01), and the Proventriculus and gizzard of the E50 group were significantly higher in the E0 group. There was no significant difference between the other groups, meat quality, and panel evaluation. In conclusion, the earthworm powder replacing with the fish meal had no effect on growth performance and could increase the antioxidant capacity of broilers. Thus earthworm powder used for fish meal substitution has its potential if the cost is similar.