Estimation of metabolizable energy and utilization of fly larvae (Musca domestica L.) in the feeding of broilers

Larvae of the domestic fly (Musca domestica L.) seem to be a viable alternative for use in animal feeding. Thus, in this study the appparent and true metabolic energy contents, corrected for nitrogen balance, of dry larvae, were estimated by the method of Sibbald, as 4 071 ± 133 and 4 252 ± 218 kcal kg-1, respectively. For evaluation of dry fly larvae as a protein and energy source for broilers, an experiment of 7 weeks duration was conducted, using 70 female day-old chicks of the Ross strain, divided into five experimental units of 7 chicks each assigned to each of two treatments. The experimental design was completely randomized with repeated measurements. All chicks were housed in wire floor, electrically heated batteries until 4 weeks of age, and then moved to grower batteries. The treatments were: T1, diet with dry fly larvae; and T2, diet with soybean meal and soybean oil; both diets in mash form and supplemented with sorghum, minerals, and vitamins, were offered ad libtium. Experimental data were recorded weekly. No differences (P>.05) were found between T1 and T2 in bodyweight gain (2 107 vs 2 148 g), feed intake (4 064 vs 4 158g), and in feed conversion ratio (1.93 vs 1.94), respectively. Three birds on each treatment died from ascites syndrome. The results show that the protein and energy supplied by the dry fly larvae support animal performance similar to that of chicks fed a conventional diet of sorghum-soybean