Hermetia illucens come arricchimento ambientale: uno strumento per migliorare il benessere della gallina ovaiola

During the last years, several studies have investigated the effects of providing Hermetia illucens (HI) in poultry feed. However, the knowledge gaps regarding Hermetia illucens live larvae as environmental enrichment and their effects on birds still remain. Therefore, the present thesis aimed to discuss the effects of the administration of Hermetia illucens live larvae as environmental enrichment in laying hens, focusing the attention on bird behaviour and welfare. The experimental trial was conducted with two breeds, the Bionda Piemontese (BP) and the Bianca di Saluzzo (BS). A total of 90 308-day old adult laying hens of BP were randomly housed in 6 pens (each one containing 15 laying hens). Similarly, 90 308-day old adult laying hens of BS were randomly allocated to 6 pens (each one housing 15 hens). For each breed, each pen was assigned to two dietary treatments (3 replicate pens/treatment) as follows: i) control diet (C, commercial feed for adult laying hens), and ii), HI: C + 6% of the expected daily feed intake [DFI] (120g/bird) HI live larvae. Throughout the trial, video recordings of the birds were collected to assess their behaviour using the Behavioral Observation Research Interactive Software (BORIS). Furthermore, the evaluation of faecal corticosterone and hen plumage was performed at the beginning, middle and end of the experimental trial. The results herein obtained allowed us to conclude that the administration of HI live larvae as environmental enrichment is capable of positively influencing the welfare of laying hens, in terms of improved plumage status and behaviour, as well as unaltered faecal corticosterone.