The role of insects in animal nutrition has been reconsidered during recent years, paving the way for an increasing market for edible insects. Their protein and amino acid balance make them a promising source of protein for replacing high value proteins. Yellow mealworm, Tenebrio molitor L. (TM; Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) larvae, have shown positive effects on broiler performance in several research studies and have a strong potential as a sustainable alternative protein source for monogastric animals. This study aimed to assess the effect of replacing various ratios of basal diets with T. molitor larvae on broiler performance as well as on several meat and welfare characteristics. For the study, 120 one-day-old male chicks (Ross 308) were randomly allocated in 3 treatments and 4 replications (10 birds per pen). Birds of the control group (basal diet) were fed with typical commercial maize and soymeal-based rations in mash form. The other 2 groups were treated with the same diet, after replacing 5% and 10% with dried TM larvae, respectively. On d 35 (end of trial), meat samples were collected and analysed. Body weight, feed intake, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio during the periods of 1 to 10 d (starter period), 11 to 24 d (grower period), 25 to 35 d (finisher period) and 1 to 35 d (total period) were assessed. Pododermatitis, diarrhoea, feather score and litter conditions were also assessed during the trial. The results indicated that TM larvae inclusion in the broilers' diet positively affected body weight gain values, as well as the carcass yield, the meat composition and various welfare traits. Additionally, the dietary treatments with TM larvae favourably affected meat composition and colour parameters, whereas there were also some positive effects on lipid and protein oxidation. Saturated fatty acids were decreased by the dietary supplementation whereas the polyunsaturated fatty acids to SFA ratio increased. In general, the study showed that whole TM larvae addition can provide a promising alternative to soybean meal in the diet of broilers, demonstrating a positive impact on growth, welfare and meat characteristics.

近年来，人们重新考虑了昆虫在动物营养中的作用，为食用昆虫的市场增长铺平了道路。它们的蛋白质和氨基酸平衡使它们成为替代高价值蛋白质的有前途的蛋白质来源。黄粉虫，黄粉虫L.（TM；鞘翅目：拟粉虫科）幼虫，在几项研究中显示出对肉鸡生产性能的积极影响，并且具有作为单胃动物可持续替代蛋白质来源的强大潜力。本研究旨在评估用T. molitor替代各种基础日粮比例的效果幼虫对肉鸡生产性能以及几种肉类和福利特性的影响。在这项研究中，120 只一天大的雄性小鸡 (Ross 308) 被随机分配到 3 个处理组和 4 个重复（每栏 10 只鸡）。对照组（基础日粮）的鸡只喂食典型的商业玉米和豆浆形式的日粮。在分别用干燥的 TM 幼虫替代 5% 和 10% 后，其他 2 组接受相同的饮食。在第 35 天（试验结束），收集并分析肉类样本。1～10d（育肥期）、11～24d（生长期）、25～35d（肥育期）和1～35d（总期）进行了评估。试验期间还评估了足皮炎、腹泻、羽毛评分和垫料状况。结果表明，在肉鸡日粮中加入 TM 幼虫对体重增加值、胴体产量、肉成分和各种福利特性有积极影响。此外，用 TM 幼虫进行的饮食处理对肉的成分和颜色参数产生了有利影响，同时对脂质和蛋白质氧化也产生了一些积极影响。膳食补充剂减少了饱和脂肪酸，而多不饱和脂肪酸与 SFA 的比例增加了。总的来说，该研究表明，在肉鸡日粮中添加整个 TM 幼虫可以提供一种有前途的豆粕替代品，证明对生长、福利和肉类特性有积极影响。肉类成分和各种福利特性。此外，用 TM 幼虫进行的饮食处理对肉的成分和颜色参数产生了有利影响，同时对脂质和蛋白质氧化也产生了一些积极影响。膳食补充剂减少了饱和脂肪酸，而多不饱和脂肪酸与 SFA 的比例增加了。总的来说，该研究表明，在肉鸡日粮中添加整个 TM 幼虫可以提供一种有前途的豆粕替代品，证明对生长、福利和肉类特性有积极影响。肉类成分和各种福利特性。此外，用 TM 幼虫进行的饮食处理对肉的成分和颜色参数产生了有利影响，同时对脂质和蛋白质氧化也产生了一些积极影响。膳食补充剂减少了饱和脂肪酸，而多不饱和脂肪酸与 SFA 的比例增加了。总的来说，该研究表明，在肉鸡日粮中添加整个 TM 幼虫可以提供一种有前途的豆粕替代品，证明对生长、福利和肉类特性有积极影响。膳食补充剂减少了饱和脂肪酸，而多不饱和脂肪酸与 SFA 的比例增加了。总的来说，该研究表明，在肉鸡日粮中添加整个 TM 幼虫可以提供一种有前途的豆粕替代品，证明对生长、福利和肉类特性有积极影响。膳食补充剂减少了饱和脂肪酸，而多不饱和脂肪酸与 SFA 的比例增加了。总的来说，该研究表明，在肉鸡日粮中添加整个 TM 幼虫可以提供一种有前途的豆粕替代品，证明对生长、福利和肉类特性有积极影响。