Nutritional quality of dried maggot meal in western Burkina Faso

Animal protein is the limiting factor in livestock production in Sub-Saharan Africa. The inaccessibility of conventional sources to local producers and their high cost are leading to pronounced protein deficiencies in traditional livestock farms, which are major suppliers of animal products (meat, fish, and eggs) to urban centres. A number of non-conventional sources of protein are being proposed to address this problem, including invertebrate meals, particularly from insect larvae such as houseflies. To assess their potential for animal nutrition, bromatological analyses were carried out on samples of sun-dried housefly larvae packaged for transport at the animal nutrition laboratory of INERA (Institut National de l'Environnement et des Recherches Agricoles) Kamboinsé in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso). These analyses were carried out in accordance with the analysis methods developed by AFNOR (2000) for animal feed. The parameters determined were dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), fat (FM), crude protein (CP) and mineral matter (MM) content, crude cellulose (CC), calcium (Ca), and total phosphorus (P). The results showed a DM content of 91.87%, including 78.90% OM. The FM, CP, and CC rates were 3.93%, 48.85%, and 9.16%, respectively. Metabolizable energy was estimated at 2,491.42 Kcal/kg DM. The quantities of P and calcium were 2.18 mg/kg DM and 5.96 mg/kg DM. These results indicate appreciable levels of crude protein and trace elements, making maggot meal an excellent source of animal protein. The results suggest that maggot meal can be incorporated into the feed of monogastric animals, including poultry, to improve productivity and reduce production costs.