Effects of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) maggots oil on breeding hens, chicks' quality, and representative epigenetic gene expression.

Dietary oils are energy sources for the growth and reproduction of poultry. Soybean oil (SO) is widely used but competes with the human food supply. In this study, black soldier fly maggot oil (BSFMO) was used as a sustainable alternative to SO for improving breeder hen productivity, chick quality, and immunity. A total of 360 39-week-old Black Yao Chicken 2A breeding hens with an average body weight of 2567 ± 66 g and an egg-laying rate of 70% were randomly allocated to three dietary treatments (n = 120 per group): 2% SO, 2% SO-BSFMO blend (SMO), and 2% BSFMO. After a 5-week feeding trial, 200 eggs per group were incubated, and 120 hatched chicks per group were randomly chosen and reared for 6 weeks. Compared with the SO group, BSFMO significantly increased laying rate, egg weight, egg size, yolk weight, yolk color, and feed conversion efficiency (P < 0.05). The concentrations of follicle‑stimulating hormone, estradiol, triglyceride, and high‑density lipoprotein cholesterol in plasma were increased, while low‑density lipoprotein cholesterol was decreased (P < 0.05). BSFMO also enhanced plasma immunoglobulin A, G, M; interleukin‑2; total antioxidant capacity; superoxide dismutase; and glutathione peroxidase and decreased malondialdehyde (P < 0.05). Chicks from the BSFMO group showed higher quality, growth performance, immune status, hepatic mRNA expression of insulin‑like growth factors (IGF1, IGF2), and epigenetic regulatory genes (DNMT1, DNMT3A) (P < 0.05). In conclusion, maternal feeding with BSFMO improved the productivity and immunity of breeder hens, chick quality, and representative epigenetic gene mRNA expressions of offspring. As an alternative lipid source to soybean oil in animal nutrition, BSFMO can be used in poultry farming for safe and sustainable poultry production and can reduce food competition.