Background and Aim: The meat supply of local poultry for human consumption is greater than that of fast-growing poultry in Niger. However, meeting the protein needs of these local chickens is a major challenge due to the availability of protein sources and their cost. Nowadays, insect larvae such as houseflies are used and even recommended as animal feed; hence, the need to evaluate the effect of housefly (Musca domestica) larvae on the growth performance of local chickens. This study investigated the feeding effects of housefly larvae on the growth performance and carcass characteristics of local Nigerien chickens and determined the rate of fish meal substitution, in fresh or dry larvae form, whichever would be preferable. Materials and Methods: A total of 165 3-week-old local unsexed chickens of the salmon variety, weighing 120.3 ± 15.43 g, were used to evaluate the effect of housefly (M. domestica) larvae on their growth performance and carcass yield (CY). The experiment consisted of five treatments with three replicates, that is, 15 batches of 11 animals each. Five iso-protein-caloric diets were developed with 25%, and then 50% fish meal substitution with fresh and dried housefly larvae. The chicks were reared together during the first 3 weeks for their adaptation, during which they were fed an imported starter commercial feed, ad libitum. After that, they were weighed weekly for 12 weeks. Next, the body weights (BWs) were taken weekly for all chicks, feed daily intake and mortality were recorded daily, and average daily gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR), and viability rate were calculated. In the end, four chickens (two males and two females) per batch were slaughtered for the CY evaluation, breast meat, drumstick and tight (legs), and wings. Statistical analyses were performed using a linear mixed model for repeated data. Results: The weight, FCR, and carcass traits were unaffected by either the rate or larvae state. Conversely, the growth rate was improved, and feed consumption was increased. Notably, the chickens consumed more feed but grew faster with fresh larvae and at a higher substitution rate. Conclusion: This study reported that 50% fresh or dried housefly larvae substituted into the fish meal in growing local chicken's diets had no effect on their BW, FCR, and carcass traits but increased the growth rate and feed consumption.

The amount of waste produced by the population creates general health problems in terms of public health and hygiene. In recent years the common housefly (Musca domestica L. 1758; Dipteran: Muscidae) has been widely used in the treatment of organic wastes. This study aims to assess the effect of egg loading of the common housefly on maggot development and waste reduction. Housefly larvae were reared at four egg loads (1.25, 2.5, 5, 10 mg) under three different diets (wheat bran, millet bran, cow dung). Two-factor ANOVA (α = 0.05) was used to test the effect of two fixed factors (egg load and substrate) on larval biomass, the survival rate from egg hatching until the last larval instar, number of larvae and substrate reduction rate. The comparison of means based on Duncan’s test was performed to compare the means of the different variables measured. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to determine the relationship between the measured variables (larval biomass, the survival rate from egg hatching until the last larval instar, number of larvae, and substrate reduction rate) on the discrimination of the egg load factor. The results showed that under the same nutritional conditions, the yield of housefly larvae, the number of larvae and the reduction of substrates increased with increasing egg load. Indeed, at each of three substrates, the rearing egg load of 10 mg resulted in the maximum larval yield, maximum number of larvae, and maximum substrate reduction rate. At this optimum load, wheat bran generated greater biomass, greater number of larvae and greater reduction of substrate compared to millet bran and cow dung. The egg load as a whole had no effect on the survival rate from egg hatching until the last larval instar, unlike substrate type. The high egg load for the survival rate (from egg hatching until the last larval instar) for millet bran was 1.25 while there was no difference for the other two substrates. These results can help to make the waste treatment process efficient with the subsequent production of a large larval biomass that can serve as added value in animal feed. The egg load of 10 mg and the wheat bran were superior respectively to the other egg load and substrates type for all parameters tested excepted for the survival rate (from egg hatching until the last larval instar). Ours study indicated that larval biomass, larval number, egg viability and substrate rate reduction of Musca domestica are affected by the egg load, substrate type and their interaction.

Poultry farming, because of its many potentialities (i.e. short duration of reproduction and production cycle, rapid return on investment), occupies a place of choice in development strategies and the fight against poverty in most African countries. In Niger, West Africa, poultry are fed specific protein-providing feed ingredients (such as fishmeal); however, these ingredients are very expensive and unsustainable. Larvae represent a potential alternative source of protein for poultry. Here, we investigated different substrates to optimise housefly (Musca domestica L. 1758) maggot production and nutritional composition. Eight dry substrates were tested. The highest larval biomass (larval biomass produced by 10 mg of house fly egg placed on 50 g dry substrate) and mean weight (individual house fly larvae 5 days after the incorporation of eggs on the substrate) were observed on millet and wheat bran (3,446.67±134.16 mg and 24.00±1.01 mg, respectively). However, larvae produced on Brewer’s spent grains had the highest protein and lipid content (53.79±1.04% and 24.13±5.20%, respectively). Ash content was highest for larvae produced on cow dung and a mixture of 50% wheat bran and 50% cow dung (15.01±0.32% and 15.41±0.09%, respectively). Maggots produced on rumen contents had the highest water content (80.89±0.22%). The profile of produced larvae included palmitic acid (30.99±0.48% on grain), palmitoleic acid (30.26±2.84% on cow dung), oleic acid (27.93±0.31% on rice hulls), and linoleic acid (26.41±0.18% on millet bran + rumen contents). For all substrates, Maggots contained more unsaturated fatty acids (57.59-66.52%) than saturated fatty acids (26.54-46.34%). This study, offers to farmers a wide variety of substrates that could be used to produce maggots, providing a sustainable source of protein that has not been previously available in Niger. We recommend the farmers to use the cow dung to produce maggots without cost.

: In the Sahel, malaria transmission is highly dependent on rainfall, and control efforts are conducted during the rainy season. However, because of climate changes, the objectives of this study were to better define the period of transmission in the different ecoclimatic regions and the burden of the disease in young adults, which is poorly investigated. The data from districts in the different ecological zones of Niger were compared. During this study, 26% of all consultations were malaria related, of which 59% were malaria confirmed. This represented 12,000 to 19,000 cases and 12.9 to 25.6 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants. An increase of incidence was seen over the study period but a decline in case fatality rate was also observed. Depending on region, children under 14 years of age (half of the population) accounted for 43–80% of cases, which in contrast, underlines a significant malaria burden in young adults, especially in arid regions where transmission is lower. The majority of cases occurred from August to October but appeared later in arid zones. The number of cases positively correlated with the cumulative rainfall over the previous five weeks. However, 17–26% of cases were identified during the dry season. This study highlights a high transmission rate that extends throughout the dry season, with ∼50% of cases registered representing patients >14 years of age, and 25% of cases >25 years. Young adults should thus be considered an at-risk group and should be included in strategies for control.