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- Dr. Yazavinder Singh work with alternative novel feed additives such as insects and plants. To be tested for both as ... moreDr. Yazavinder Singh work with alternative novel feed additives such as insects and plants. To be tested for both as feed (for animals) and food (humans). As a feed, target animals are monogastric animals, (poultry and rabbit) evaluating their health, live performances, and physicochemical and sensory traits as well as oxidative status of their products (meat and egg) for human consumption. As a food, insects or their processed products are included for food preparation and evaluating their physicochemical and sensory traits for human consumption.edit
Camelina sativa can be identified as a promising oilseed crop due to its short growth cycle, tolerance to drought and frost, low-input requirements, resistance to pests and diseases, feed, and non-feed applications. Compared to other... more
Camelina sativa can be identified as a promising oilseed crop due to its short growth cycle, tolerance to drought and frost, low-input requirements, resistance to pests and diseases, feed, and non-feed applications. Compared to other Brassicaceae family plants, camelina is mainly distinguished by high levels of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and antioxidant content. However, camelina contains secondary plant metabolites, such as glucosinolates, phytic acid, sinapine, etc., and their presence limits the use of camelina by-products (oil, seed or cake) in poultry feeding. The breakdown of these compounds forms complexes that can inhibit digestive enzymes, reduce the absorption of nutrients, and ultimately modify product quality. The content of these antinutritional compounds and plant seed quality can be modified by various techniques: hybridisation, mutation induction, gene engineering, etc. Moreover, methods such as infrared irradiation, multi-enzyme and copper supplementation, etc., can counter or mitigate the effect of plant secondary metabolites present in camelina seed or cake. In general, dietary inclusion of camelina seed or cake at high inclusion levels (> 10%) worsened the nutrient digestibility and thus reduced growth performances. However, carcass traits and meat proximate composition were comparable in birds-fed diets containing camelina by-products. The fatty acid profile of meat cuts and abdominal fat was significantly higher in alpha-linolenic acid and lower n-6/n-3 ratio, thus promoting the healthiness of products for human consumption. Also, the dietary inclusion of camelina did not modify the sensory profile of the products. The present article is a comprehensive and critical review of research carried out to improve the quality of camelina and its by-products to be used in broiler poultry feeding. This review gives information on the feeding value of camelina by-products, as well as a survey of the literature on their use in poultry diets to evaluate digestibility, performance, carcass traits, and meat quality.
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Silkworm oil was used in a rabbit diet to evaluate its benefit on the fatty acid (FA) profile of different carcass portions. Two experimental diets were prepared: a control diet (commercial diet with 13 g/kg sunflower oil) and a silkworm... more
Silkworm oil was used in a rabbit diet to evaluate its benefit on the fatty acid (FA) profile of different carcass portions. Two experimental diets were prepared: a control diet (commercial diet with 13 g/kg sunflower oil) and a silkworm oil diet (SWO) (commercial diet with 13 g/kg silkworm oil). Rabbits received the experimental diets the last three weeks before slaughter, which occurred at 10 weeks of age. At slaughter, hind leg meat, liver, and perirenal fat were sampled for FA profile analysis. The SWO diet significantly increased the n-3 FA of all three sampling sites and halved the n-6/n-3 ratio of hind leg meat and perirenal fat. Furthermore, the liver of SWO rabbits was also richer in C22:6 n-3 compared to that of control rabbits. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that the total dietary replacement of sunflower oil with silkworm oil in fattening rabbits positively changed the FA profile of the considered carcass tissues.
Research Interests:
Research Interests: Biology, Poultry Nutrition, Animals, Meat quality, Poultry, and 5 moreInsect, Meal, Broiler, Starter, and Feed Conversion Ratio
The present research was conducted to determine the optimal inclusion level of full-fat silkworm chrysalis meal (SWM) into laying quails’ diets, focusing on performance traits and egg physical quality. A total of 240 31-day-old female... more
The present research was conducted to determine the optimal inclusion level of full-fat silkworm chrysalis meal (SWM) into laying quails’ diets, focusing on performance traits and egg physical quality. A total of 240 31-day-old female Japanese quails were randomly assigned to four dietary groups (12 replicates/treatment; 5 quails/replicate); quails were initially fed a standard commercial diet for pullets until 63 days of age. When oviposition started, the experimental groups received the following diets: a conventional corn and soybean-based diet (control diet—C) and three other diets, including 4%, 8%, or 12% of full-fat SWM (SWM4, SWM8, SWM12, respectively). Experimental diets were provided until quails reached 119 days of age. Birds displayed satisfactory productive performance throughout the trial. SWM12 and SWM8 had higher (p < 0.001) egg production but also a higher feed conversion ratio compared to C. At the end of the trial, the eggs edible portion increased, and shell w...
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To determine the effect of the replacement of a dietary vegetable oil with the silkworm oil on the rabbit meat quality, two experimental diets were prepared: the control diet (commercial diet with 13 g/kg sunflower oil), and the control... more
To determine the effect of the replacement of a dietary vegetable oil with the silkworm oil on the rabbit meat quality, two experimental diets were prepared: the control diet (commercial diet with 13 g/kg sunflower oil), and the control diet with total replacement of sunflower oil by silkworm oil (SWO). Rabbits received the control diet from 5 to 7 weeks of age, followed by the two experimental diets until slaughter at 10 weeks of age. Physical traits, proximate composition and sensory evaluation of the hind leg meat were considered. A seven-day shelf-life at retail display of the loin meat evaluated water holding capacity, pH, L*a*b* colour, Warner-Bratzler shear force, and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARs) attributed to time and to dietary treatment within time. Experimental diets did not modify any of the considered traits measured on the hind leg meat, with exception of the hind leg weight, heavier in the SWO group (P<0.05). Shelf-life trial showed significant differences for L* and b* colour values of loin meat at day 0 of retail display, with higher values for SWO than control group (P<0.05). However, at day 3 and at day 7 no statistical difference was observed between the dietary groups. These colour differences were not attributable to the meat oxidation as TBARs did not vary neither between treatments, nor among retail display time. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that the total dietary replacement of sunflower oil with silkworm oil in fattening rabbits did not modify the physicochemical and sensory traits of the meat, as well as its shelf-life.
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Silkworm oil was used in a rabbit diet to evaluate its benefit on the fatty acid (FA) profile of different carcass portions. Two experimental diets were prepared: a control diet (commercial diet with 13 g/kg sunflower oil) and a silkworm... more
Silkworm oil was used in a rabbit diet to evaluate its benefit on the fatty acid (FA) profile of different carcass portions. Two experimental diets were prepared: a control diet (commercial diet with 13 g/kg sunflower oil) and a silkworm oil diet (SWO) (commercial diet with 13 g/kg silkworm oil). Rabbits received the experimental diets the last three weeks before slaughter, which occurred at 10 weeks of age. At slaughter, hind leg meat, liver, and perirenal fat were sampled for FA profile analysis. The SWO diet significantly increased the n-3 FA of all three sampling sites and halved the n-6/n-3 ratio of hind leg meat and perirenal fat. Furthermore, the liver of SWO rabbits was also richer in C22:6 n-3 compared to that of control rabbits. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that the total dietary replacement of sunflower oil with silkworm oil in fattening rabbits positively changed the FA profile of the considered carcass tissues.
Research Interests:
The present study was conducted to assess the effects of a 4% defatted silkworm (SWM-DEF) meal dietary incorporation into chickens’ diet at different growth stages on growth performances, carcass, and meat quality traits. A total of 90... more
The present study was conducted to assess the effects of a 4% defatted silkworm (SWM-DEF) meal dietary incorporation into chickens’ diet at different growth stages on growth performances, carcass, and meat quality traits. A total of 90 Ross 308 one-day-old male broiler chickens were randomly allocated into 3 dietary groups of 5 replicated pens/diet (6 chickens/pen). One group was fed a standard soybean-based diet (C); group SWM1 consumed a starter diet (1–10 days of age) including 4% SWM-DEF and then the C diet up to slaughter (11–42 days of age); group SWM2 was fed with the C diet in the starter phase and the 4% SWM-DEF diet up to slaughter. Individual live weight and pen feed intake were determined at the end of each feeding phase: starter, grower, and finisher. Weight gain and FCR were then calculated. At 42 days of age, chickens were slaughtered and carcass traits determined. Leg and breast physico-chemical meat quality was also evaluated. Results confirmed that SWM-DEF could be a possible alternative feed source for chickens since growth performance, carcass, and meat physical traits were overall comparable in the three treatment groups. The feeding stage seemed to play a relevant impact on the sole meat protein content (SWM1
< SMW2 and C; p < 0.001). Concluding, the results available to date indicate that 4% SWM-DEF can be provided to chickens in different growth phases, and the choice of the inclusion period is more an industrial cost-benefit evaluation. From the scientific point of view, however, an administration in the grower-finisher phase rather than in the starter one provided the best meat nutritional quality. Further investigations should focus on the impact on meat fatty acids profile and sensory traits, which are of utmost importance for consumers.
< SMW2 and C; p < 0.001). Concluding, the results available to date indicate that 4% SWM-DEF can be provided to chickens in different growth phases, and the choice of the inclusion period is more an industrial cost-benefit evaluation. From the scientific point of view, however, an administration in the grower-finisher phase rather than in the starter one provided the best meat nutritional quality. Further investigations should focus on the impact on meat fatty acids profile and sensory traits, which are of utmost importance for consumers.
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Insects are promising candidates as alternative sustainable sources of protein for poultry species. The present research studied the effect of a dietary inclusion of a defatted black soldier fly (BSF) larvae meal as an alternative protein... more
Insects are promising candidates as alternative sustainable sources of protein for poultry species. The present research studied the effect of a dietary inclusion of a defatted black soldier fly (BSF) larvae meal as an alternative protein source in the diets of laying quails, on productive performance, egg physicochemical quality, fatty acid profile, sensory traits and storage stability. A total of 225 laying quails were divided into 3 dietary groups (5 replicates/each). A conventional soybean meal-based diet was formulated (Control group), and two other diets were formulated including either 10% (BSF10) or 15% (BSF15) defatted BSF larvae meal. Laying quails showed satisfactory productive performance throughout the trial. BSF10 and BSF15 eggs had the highest shape index (p < 0.01), shell weight and percentage (p < 0.001) and the most intense yolk color (p < 0.001). Defatted BSF larvae meal increased the eggs’ saturated fatty acid content (p < 0.001) to the detriment of the polyunsaturated fraction (p < 0.001). Overall the eggs’ sensory profile was not affected by the dietary treatment, but BSF15 eggs had a higher feed off-flavor vs Control group (p < 0.05). At day 28 of storage, oxidative stability was higher in BSF10 vs. Control eggs (p < 0.01). Defatted BSF larvae meal can be considered a possible alternative ingredient to soybean meal in laying quail diets, up to the 15% inclusion level.
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The present research studied the effect of different killing methods on various quality attributes of the house cricket (Acheta domesticus) powder: physicochemical traits (pH, colour, radical scavenging activity, browning index, protein... more
The present research studied the effect of different killing methods on various quality attributes of the house cricket (Acheta domesticus) powder: physicochemical traits (pH, colour, radical scavenging activity, browning index, protein oxidation), nutritional profile (proximate composition), in vitro human digestibility, and oxidative stability of lipids during storage. With this purpose, seven different killing methods were compared: blanching (40 s at 100 °C), steaming (2 min 15 s), freezing (2 h 10 min at −20 °C), carbon dioxide (2 h 7 min at 25 °C), vacuum (1 h 35 min at 25 °C), plastic bag (3 h 1 min at 25 °C), and carbon dioxide + blanching (40 min carbon dioxide at 25 °C + 40 s blanching). All killing methods reduced the radical scavenging activity (p < 0.001) and increased the browning index (p < 0.001) of the cricket powder. Overall, cricket powder obtained through carbon dioxide, vacuum and plastic bag killing methods provided the best proximate composition (p < 0.001). Freezing, carbon dioxide, vacuum and plastic bag provided cricket powder with the highest polyunsaturated fatty acids proportion, thus having the healthiest lipid profile (p < 0.001), and guaranteed the lowest oxidative degree of lipids (p < 0.001). In the same groups, however, the lowest in vitro human digestibility was also observed (p < 0.001). Overall, none of the tested methods had detrimental effects on product quality and, at present, the choice of the most appropriate killing strategy seems a matter of equipment availability and cost- efficiency evaluations.
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Silkworm (Bombyx mori L.) pupae are a by-product derived from silk production, which is often treated as waste and thus discarded: this can cause serious environmental problems and a loss of nutrients. Silkworm pupae are a rich source of... more
Silkworm (Bombyx mori L.) pupae are a by-product derived from silk production, which is often treated as waste and thus discarded: this can cause serious environmental problems and a loss of nutrients. Silkworm pupae are a rich source of protein and lipids, and the resulting protein meal can provide promising outcomes as livestock feed, notably for monogastric species. However, one possible issue that needs to be considered is the possible im- plication of the 1-Deoxynojirimycin (1-DNJ), a bio-compound of the silkworm that impairs glucose absorption, in poultry nutrition. Therefore, the present study evaluated the effect of the dietary inclusion of full-fat or defatted silkworm pupa meal (SWM) on the apparent digestibility of nutrients, feed choice and faecal microbiome in meat-producing quails. For the digestibility trial, a total of thirty-three 27-day-old Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) were individually housed in digestibility cages and received three experimental diets: a control diet (control, commercial feed for fattening quails), and two other diets containing the 12.5% of either a full-fat SWM (SWM-FULL) or a defatted SWM (SWM-DEF). Subsequently, twenty-seven 33-day-old quails were simul- taneously provided with Control, SWM-FULL and SWM-DEF diets for a 10-day feed choice trial. The results of the digestibility trial showed that the DM intake and excreta production were higher in both SWM groups than in the Control one (P < 0.001). The apparent digestibility of DM, organic matter, CP, ether extract, starch and energy was lower in both SWM groups than in the control group (P < 0.001), suggesting the possible implication of chitin and 1-DNJ. The feed choice test showed that quails preferred the Control diet (P < 0.001). From the microbiome anal- ysis of the excreta, families such as Streptococcaceae (P < 0.05), Rikenellaceae and Eubacteriaceae (P < 0.01) and taxa at species level such as Lactobacillus delbrueckii (P < 0.05), Aneurinibacillus thermoaerophilus and Bacillus thermoamylovorans (P < 0.01) scored higher in SWM-FULL quails than in SWM-DEF and Control treatments. The present study demonstrated that a successful dietary inclusion of SWM for fattening quails needs to over- come the digestive criticalities caused by the of presence specific bio-compounds, namely chitin and 1-DNJ.
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The objective was to study the effect of the partial substitution of soybean meal and oil with full-fat silkworm (Bombyx mori L.) meal (SWM) in the diet of growing chickens, on their growth and meat quality traits. A total of 195... more
The objective was to study the effect of the partial substitution of soybean meal and oil with full-fat silkworm (Bombyx mori L.) meal (SWM) in the diet of growing chickens, on their growth and meat quality traits. A total of 195 1-day-old chicks of both sexes were allocated to 15 littered floor pens and assigned to three dietary treatments (5 replicates/treatments) until 8 weeks of age: a commercial diet (Control) and other two diets with an inclusion of either 25% (SWM25) or 50% (SWM50) SWM. At 8 weeks of age, two males/replicates were slaughtered and carcases dissected to compute yields. Pectoralis major muscle was subjected to pH and L*a*b* colour values, proximate composition and fatty acid profile analysis. All chickens showed satisfactory growth performance throughout the trial, with the best growth being observed in the SWM25 group. Carcase traits remained unaffected by the dietary treatment, but SWM25 chickens had a higher breast yield (p < .05) than the Control group. The pH of SWM50 breasts was higher than Control (p < .01). Dietary treatments affected meat protein content, differing between SWM25 and SWM50 (22.2 versus 23.3%, respectively; p < .05). SWM dietary inclusion increased n-3 PUFA and lowered the n-6 PUFA proportions in a level-dependent manner. Consequently, n-6/n-3 ratio diminished, thus improved, with the dietary SWM inclusion. Results showed that it is possible to partly substitute soybean meal/oil with SWM in the diet of chickens, ensuring satisfactory performance and carcase traits, and providing meat with a healthier n-6/n-3 ratio.