Improving the Dietary Protein Quality by Amino Acid Fortification with a High Inclusion Level of Micro Algae (Spirulina platensis) or Insect Meal (Hermetia illucens) in Meat Type Chicken Diets

Abstract

The objective of this study was to measure protein quality parameters (PPV, NPU and NPUstd) of chicken diets with complete substitution of soybean meal (SBM) by Spirulina meal (SM) or partly defatted Hermetia meal (HM). N balance experiments were based on the quantitative excreta collection method, divided into starter period (10 - 20 d) and grower period (25 - 35 d). The study utilized 70 all male meat type chicken (Ross 308). Data assessment applied the exponential N utilization model of the “Goettingen approach”. The control diet was based on wheat, corn and SBM. In four experimental diets SBM was completely substituted by SM or HM, but fortified with feed amino acids (AA) both on a basic level of supplementation (Lys and Met added equal to the control diet) and on an extended level (Lys, Met, Thr, Arg, Val, Ile, His added). At a basic level of AA supplementation, complete replacement of SBM by SM or HM in chicken diets depressed dietary protein quality significantly (p < 0.05). However, the extended level of AA supplementation improved protein quality parameters of the diets with both of the alternative proteins significantly (p < 0.05), but still generally not on par with the control diet. The observed responses were accentuated when the well-known effect of N intake on protein utilization was eliminated through the standardization of N intake by application of the “Goettingen approach”.