Yazan N. Al-Hasan1*, Hassan Abbas1, and Emad Al-Horani2
1 Animal production Department. Faculty of Agriculture Engineering. Homs University, Syria
3 General Commission for Scientific Agriculture Research, Syria
(*Corresponding author: Yazan N. Al-Hasan, Email: yalh8870@gmail.com).
Received: 13/ 11/ 2025 Accepted: 22/ 1/ 2026
Abstract:
This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of partially replacing soybean meal with different levels of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) meal on the productive performance and feed efficiency of laying hens. The experiment lasted for 60 laying weeks, using 150 laying hens, randomly distributed into five experimental groups. Each group consisted of three replicates, with 10 hens per replicate. The first group (G0, control) was fed a standard diet. For the other four groups, BSFL meal was included at increasing levels: G1 (4%), G2 (6%), G3 (8%), and G4 (10%). All groups were subjected to the same management and care conditions throughout the experimental period. The results showed a significant (P < 0.05) superiority of the group treated with 6% BSFL meal (G2) in all key productive parameters. This group recorded the highest egg production rate, egg weight, and daily egg mass. Furthermore, the same group (G2) achieved the best (lowest) feed conversion ratio, indicating its high economic efficiency compared to the control and other experimental groups is concluded from this study that the inclusion of black soldier fly larvae meal at a 6% level in the diets of laying hens is an effective strategy for improving productive performance and feed efficiency.
Keywords: Laying hens, black soldier fly larvae, Hermetia illucens, productive performance, feed conversion ratio, soybean meal.
Full paper in Arabic: PDF