Dietary supplementation with silkworm pupae prevents growth retardation in broilers under heat stress conditions.

ABSTRACT: Global warming poses a major challenge to livestock production, particularly in broiler chickens. They are highly sensitive to heat stress due to their elevated metabolic activity associated with rapid growth and high productivity. Pupae of the silkworm (Bombyx mori) are known for their immunostimulatory properties. In this study, we investigated the effects on broiler performance of dietary supplementation with defatted silkworm pupae (DSP) under elevated ambient temperatures (neutral, days 0-21; increased temperature, days 21-43). DSP was included in the feed at concentrations of 0.01 % and 0.1 %. Growth performance and mortality were assessed, alongside hepatic transcriptomic analysis using RT-qPCR and RNA sequencing to explore underlying molecular mechanisms. The results showed that br

SUBMITTER: Akanuma S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12752527 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature