PhD in Veterinary Sciences for Animal Health and Food Safety

Contacts

Supervisor

Achille Schiavone

Curriculum vitae

Curriculum Vitae

Phd thesis

Insect meal and live larvae as innovative feedstuff in ducks

In a context of increasing world population, the future global demand of agricultural products will rapidly increase, with an expansion of 1.1% per year from 2005/2007 to 2050. Thus, the growing of food per capita consumption, together with changes in diet habits, will determine an increase in livestock consumption (more than 75% by 2050, at a global level). Poultry sector is having the highest development in the recent years. This increase in poultry meat consumption is related to several factors, related to the absence of religious taboos, the lower price compared to other meat products, and health factors. However, the intensification of poultry production brings with it many animal welfare problems, such as damaging behavior, injuries, various kinds of diseases, and increased mortality rate. So, provide a more stimulating environment could help to reduce aggressive phenomena. The possibility to use insects as raw materials in feed is particularly interesting, since they present a lower environmental impact compared to the conventional vegetable protein sources currently used in poultry feeding (such as soybean meal) in terms of land utilization, water use, and GHG emissions. One of the main advantages of insects’ rearing is that they can be fed by a wide variety of organic side streams (such as fruit and vegetable wastes). Thus, the possibility to use organic wastes for insect rearing could be useful to manage wastes and produce, at the same time, high value edible biomass.

The objective of the present PhD research was the evaluation of the dietary inclusion of insect meal and live insect larvae in ducks. Two experimental trials were carried out: the first one consisted in four experimental diets with increasing levels of Hermetia illucens (HI) larva meal (0, 3, 6, 9% HI larva meal inclusion, respectively), while the second trial consisted in the daily provision of live HI and Tenebrio molitor (TM) larvae at the 5% of the expected daily feed intake. Different productive and welfare parameters were evaluated to assess the suitability of these new feed ingredients in ducks: growth and slaughtering performance, digestibility, behavior, blood chemistry, meat quality parameters, organs histopathology and gut histomorphology assessment.

The results showed that the overall growth performance, carcass yields, and the meat quality parameters were not negatively affected by the experimental treatments. Moreover, the suitability of the dietary inclusion of HI larva meal in Muscovy duck is also confirmed by the good overall nutrient digestibility, while the behavioral patterns observed were only slightly affected by the daily provision of live HI and TM larvae. The observed positive effects on haematological traits in both the experimental trial suggest that the dietary inclusion of both HI larva meal and HI and TM live larvae is suitable for Muscovy ducks. The unaffected organs’ histology and gut morphology in both the experimental trial provide positive information about the dietary insect inclusion, showing preserved intestinal and organs’ functions. The obtained results suggest that the dietary inclusion of HI larva meal and the dietary provision of HI and TM live larvae are satisfactory for animal performance and well-being.

Research activities

Articles on indexes journals

Gariglio M., Dabbou S., Biasato I., Capucchio M.T., Colombino E., Hernández F., Madrid J., Martínez S., Gai F., Caimi C., Bellezza Oddon S., Meneguz M., Trocino A., Vincenzi R., Gasco L., Schiavone A. Nutritional effects of the dietary inclusion of partially defatted Hermetia illucens larva meal in Muscovy duck. Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology, 2019, 10:37. doi: 10.1186/s40104-019-0344-7.

Gariglio M., Dabbou S., Crispo M., Biasato I., Gai F., Gasco L., Piacente F., Odetti P., Bergagna S., Plachà I., Valle E., Colombino E., Capucchio M.T., Schiavone A. Effects of the dietary inclusion of partially defatted black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) meal on the blood chemistry and tissue (spleen, liver, thymus, and bursa of Fabricius) histology of Muscovy ducks (Cairina moschata domestica). Animals, 2019, 9, 307. doi:10.3390/ani9060307. 

Caimi C., Renna M., Lussiana C., Bonaldo A., Gariglio M., Meneguz M., Dabbou S., Schiavone A., Gai F., Elia A. C., Prearo M., Gasco L. First insights on Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens L.) larvae meal dietary administration in Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii Brandt) juveniles. Aquaculture, 2020, 515, 734539.

Castillo A., Schiavone A., Cappai M. G., Nery J., Gariglio M., Sartore S., Franzoni A., Marzoni M. Performance of Slow-Growing Male Muscovy Ducks Exposed to Different Dietary Levels of Quebracho Tannin. Animals, 2020, 10(6), 979.

Abstracts in International Conferences

Gariglio M., Dabbou S., Caimi C., Biasato I., Gai F., Capucchio M.T., Biasibetti E., Birolo M., Trocino A., Vincenzi R., Meneguz M., Gasco L., Schiavone A. Evaluation of carcass and meat traits of Muscovy duck fed with black soldier fly partially defatted meal. Journal of Insects as Food and Feed, Vol. 4:s38. The 2nd International Conference Insects to Feed the World͛ (IFW 2018) Wuhan (China P.R.). May 15-18, 2018. Oral presentation

Gariglio M., Dabbou S., Caimi C., Biasato I., Bellezza Oddon S., Meneguz M., Vincenzi R., Gai F., Biasibetti E., Capucchio M.T., Trocino A., Gasco L., Schiavone A. Effect of black soldier fly defatted meal on the growth performance and carcass yield of Muscovy duck: Preliminary results. World’s Poultry Science Journal, Vol. 74: 63. 6th Mediterranean Poultry Summit (MPS 2018), Turin (Italy). June 18-20, 2018. Oral presentation

Gariglio M., Dabbou S., Gasco L., Biasato I., Madrid Sanchez J., Martinez S., Gai F., Caimi C., Schiavone A. Digestibility of Muscovy duck fed with black soldier fly partially defatted meal. 22nd European Symposium on Poultry Nutrition (ESPN 2019), Gdansk (Poland), June 10-13, 2019. Oral presentation

Gariglio M., Dabbou S., Gai F., Bellezza Oddon S., Trocino A., Guzmán A.P., Gasco L., Schiavone A. Meat proximate composition and fatty acids profile of Muscovy duck fed with partially defatted Black Soldier Fly meal. XVII European Symposium on the Quality of Eggs and Egg Products and XXIV European Symposium on the Quality of Poultry Meat (Egg & Meat 2019), Cesme (Turkey), June 23-26, 2019. Oral presentation

Gariglio M., Dabbou S., Biasato I., Gai F., Colombino E., Capucchio M.T., Trocino A., Gasco L., Schiavone A. An overview of dietary effects of Hermetia illucens meal in Muscovy duck. XXIII Congress of the European Society of Veterinary and Comparative Nutrition (ESVCN 2019),Turin (Italy), September 18-20, 2019. Vincitrice del premio prof.ssa Giulia Giordani come miglior poster per le specie avicole. Poster

Meneguz M., Dama A., Caimi C., Gariglio M., Schiavone A., Gai F., Gasco L. Preliminary result of high fibre material impact on growth performance of black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens). Journal of Insects as Food and Feed, Vol. 4: s31. The 2nd International Conference ‘Insects to Feed the World’ (IFW 2018), Wuhan (China P.R.). May 15-18, 2018. (Oral presentation)

Gasco L., Schiavone A., Serra G., Anedda R., Trocino A., Caimi C., Gariglio M., Malfatto V., Dabbou S., Devic E., Chatzifotis S., Meneguz M., Gai F. Apparent digestibility of insect protein meals for rainbow trout. Journal of Insects as Food and Feed, Vol. 4: s39. The 2nd International Conference ‘Insects to Feed the World’ (IFW 2018), Wuhan (China P.R.). May 15-18, 2018. (Oral presentation)

Caimi C., Varello K., Gai F., Gariglio M., Meneguz M., Francese D. R., Dabbou S., Schiavone A., Prearo M., Bozzetto E., Gasco L. Histological evaluation in sturgeon’s gut fed Hermetia illucens meal. Journal of Insects as Food and Feed, Vol. 4: s41. The 2nd International Conference ‘Insects to Feed the World’ (IFW 2018), Wuhan (China P.R.). May 15-18, 2018. (Oral presentation)

Dabbou S., Lauwaerts I., Biasato I., Ferrocino I., Colombino E., Garcés Narro C., Gariglio M., Gasco L., Capucchio M.T., Cocolin S., Schiavone A. Effect of modified insect oil on growth performance, carcass traits, gut morphology, histological features and fecal microbiota in broiler chicken diets. 22nd European Symposium on Poultry Nutrition (ESPN 2019), Gdansk (Poland), June 10-13, 2019. (Poster)

Abstract in National Conferences

Sartore S., Soglia D., Maione S., Dabbou S., Gariglio M., Sacchi P., Rasero R., Mugnai C., Gasco L., Gai F., Schiavone A. Genetic diversity, productive and reproductive performance in Italian chicken breed Bianca di Saluzzo. 23rd ASPA Congress, Sorrento (Italy), June 11–14, 2019. (Poster)

Soglia D., Sartore S., Maione S., Gariglio M., Sacchi P., Rasero R., Mugnai C., Gasco L., Gai F., Schiavone A., Dabbou S. Genetic diversity, productive and reproductive performance in Italian chicken breed Bionda Piemontese. 23rd ASPA Congress, Sorrento (Italy), June 11–14, 2019. (Poster)

Attended Seminars and Workshops

ECM Event - Utilizzo degli insetti in alimentazione animale: stato dell'arte e prospettive
Grugliasco (Italy), 13/10/2017

VII Seminar de Nutricion de Animales de Compania
Murcia (Spain), 06/03/2018

7th Workshop on Animal Production: from tradition to innovation
Beijing (China P.R.), 08/05/2018 – 22/05/2018

The 2nd International Conference Insects to Feed the World5B(IFW 2018)
Wuhan (China P.R.), 15/05/2018 – 18/05/2018

6th Mediterranean Poultry Summit (MPS 2018)
Turin (Italy), 18/06/2018 – 20/06/2018

LVII National Congress Società Italiana Patologia Aviare (SIPA)
Forlì (Italy), 28/03/2019 – 29/03/2019

22nd European Symposium on Poultry Nutrition (ESPN 2019)
Gdansk (Poland), 10/06/2019 – 13/06/2019

XVII European Symposium on the Quality of Eggs and Egg Products and XXIV European Symposium on the Quality of Poultry Meat (Egg & Meat 2019)
Cesme (Turkey), 23/06/2019 – 26/06/2019

XXIII Congress of the European Society of Veterinary and Comparative Nutrition (ESVCN 2019)
Turin (Italy), 18/09/2019 – 20/09/2019

Workshop - Impact of mycotoxins on food producing species: recent advances and future perspectives
Grugliasco (Italy), 25/10/2019

Attended Lectures

- Norms on animal testing and management of animal facilities,  Prof. ssa Flavia Girolami

- Management of Data of Veterinary interest, Prof. Mario Giacobini

- Image acquisition, manipulation and final figure preparation, Prof. Paolo Accornero

- Scientific writing, Prof. Carlo Nebbia

- Evaluation of research and third mission, Prof. Luca Bonfanti

- Ricerche bibliografiche, Prof. Paolo Gardois/Nicoletta Colombi

- English for Scientific Academic Purposes for PhD students (13rd may 2019 – 18th june 2019)