PSVIII-B-16 Potential of Termites as a Protein Source for Chickens

Termite (Hodotermopsis sjostedti) meal was evaluated as a potential protein alternative for chicken feed. After chemical compositions, mineral and vitamin contents, and amino acid concentrations of termite meal were analyzed, 20-layer male chickens (8 d old and 78±0.9 g initial BW) were allocated into individual pens and randomly assigned one of the 4 diet treatments; a commercial diet (CON) and inclusion of freeze-dried ground termite meal of 3.3%, 6.7%, and 10.0% to monitor growth and feed intake. At 11 d old, chickens were slaughtered and meat and liver weight and blood plasma parameters were measured. Termite meal composited 61.5, 15.0, 7.8, and 4.9% of CP, crude fat, crude fiber, and ash, respectively. Mineral contents were 1.58, 8.25, 4.38, 13.1, 1.49, and 2.18 g/kg for Na, P, Ca, K, Mg, Cl, respectively, and 321, 108, and 0.38 mg/kg for Fe, Cu, and Se, respectively. Amino acid concentrations were 2.76, 1.35, 2.11, 3.52, 3.03, 0.72, 1.99, 2.20, 2.88, 3.70, 4.18, 0.50, 6.10, 3.25, 2.75, 2.30, 0.57, and 3.52% for arginine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, valine, alanine, aspartic acid, cystine, glutamic acid, glycine, proline, serine, tryptophan, and tyrosine. There were quadratic effects on final BW (P=0.09; 109, 110, 113, and 110 g for CON, 3.3%, 6.7%, and 10.0%, respectively; SE=1.42), ADG (P=0.09; 10.1, 10.7, 11.6, and 10.4 g for CON, 3.3%, 6.7%, and 10.0%, respectively; SE=0.47), intake (P=0.02; 23, 21, 24, and 20 g for CON, 3.3%, 6.7%, and 10.0%, respectively; SE=1.16), and plasma Ca concentration (P=0.02; 10.1, 10.5, 10.0, and 10.3 mg/dL for CON, 3.3%, 6.7%, and 10.0%, respectively; SE=0.13), whereas main effects of the treatment for all the items tested were not detected (P>0.05). In conclusion, termite meal can be used as an alternative protein source for chicken feed but could have an adverse effect at 10% inclusion.