Indigenous practices in poultry farming using maggots in western Burkina Faso

The exploitation of insects such as saprophagous fly larvae for poultry nutrition is getting prominence in many African countries. In the framework of a participatory research, a survey was carried out in Burkina Faso to assess the present use of fly larvae and other feed inputs in traditional poultry farming, to identify traditional methods associated with fly larvae production and to gather information on the organic wastes that could be used locally by farmers to produce fly larvae. A questionaire was randomly administered to 360 poultry farmers in 12 villages and 2 regions (Boucle du Mouhoun and Hauts-Bassins) in Burkina Faso. Nearly 15% of the respondents mentioned that they also use fly larvae at least occasionally. Fly larvae are either produced by exposing substrates to naturally occurring flies, in which case larvae are obtained after three to 14 days, depending on the species, or directly collected in organic wastes. Housefly ( Musca domestica L.) was the most commonly used fly species but black soldier fly ( Hermetia illucens (L.)) was also cited by some farmers. Over 30 organic wastes of animal or plant origin were cited by farmers as substrates that can attract adult flies and allow the development of their larvae. Farmers who have already produced fly larvae cited 25 potential substrates that can be used either alone or mixed with attractants. Information was gathered on the production techniques and their constraints, among which the lack of availability of suitable substrates. The study highlighted the potential of maggots as protein feed in traditional poultry farming but also the need to develop sustainable, efficient and safe production methods. The survey revealed the need to determine the most productive substrates for maggot rearing and safe substrates for poultry health. There are also indigenous practices that can be improved to increase maggot production.