Orozco Almanza M S, Ortega Cerrilla M E, Pérez-Gil Romo F
Instituto Nacional de la Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, México, D.F.
Arch Latinoam Nutr. 1988 Dec;38(4):946-55.
The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the nutritive value of earthworms as protein feed in rabbit rations. Earthworm meal was obtained from Eisenia foetida and Lumbricus rubellus. Its proximate chemical composition, amino acid composition and protein digestibility in vitro were determined. In addition, growing rabbits were fed a diet containing 30% of the total protein as earthworm meal, diet which was compared with a control diet containing soybean meal as protein feed. Both diets were isocaloric and isonitrogenous. Feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion and apparent digestibility were measured. Results showed high protein (50.86%) and fat (10.16%) contents, and low fiber percentage (2.67%). Amino acids content including the essential, and in vitro protein digestibility percentage were similar to fish and meat meals and higher than soybean meal. There were no differences in feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion. Apparent digestibility was 5.09% higher (P less than 0.05) with the diet containing earthworm meal than with the control diet. It was concluded that it is possible to substitute 30% of the protein in the diet of growing rabbits, with earthworm meal, without any adverse physiological effects. Similar results to those achieved when conventional protein supplements are used for rabbit rations, were obtained.
本研究的目的是评估蚯蚓作为兔日粮中蛋白质饲料的营养价值。蚯蚓粉取自赤子爱胜蚓和红色正蚓。测定了其近似化学成分、氨基酸组成和体外蛋白质消化率。此外，给生长兔饲喂一种日粮，其中总蛋白质的30%为蚯蚓粉，该日粮与以豆粕作为蛋白质饲料的对照日粮进行比较。两种日粮的热量和氮含量均相同。测定了采食量、体重增加、饲料转化率和表观消化率。结果显示，蚯蚓粉蛋白质含量高（50.86%）、脂肪含量高（10.16%），纤维百分比低（2.67%）。包括必需氨基酸在内的氨基酸含量以及体外蛋白质消化率与鱼粉和肉粉相似，且高于豆粕。采食量、体重增加和饲料转化率没有差异。含蚯蚓粉的日粮表观消化率比对照日粮高5.09%（P<0.05）。得出的结论是，用蚯蚓粉替代生长兔日粮中30%的蛋白质是可行的，且不会产生任何不良生理影响。获得了与使用传统蛋白质补充剂作为兔日粮时相似的结果。
