Faculty of Animal husbandry and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan.
Department of Entomology, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan.
Trop Anim Health Prod. 2024 Mar 5;56(2):95. doi: 10.1007/s11250-024-03935-x.
As the global demand for animal protein continues to increase, the need for sustainable and resource-efficient alternatives for animal feed becomes increasingly paramount. Insects have gained significant attention as promising candidates to support the sustainable development of the feed industry, and their utilization in animal feed has seen substantial growth in recent years. Therefore, this study was conducted to optimize the superworm (Zophobas morio) larvae rearing stocking density on the biomass production, survival, and nutrient composition. Two-weeks-old Z. morio larvae were maintained at 25 ± 2 C and 70% relative humidity, and at densities of 0.5, 0.75, 1 and 1.25 cm space per larva, respectively. The insects reared with a density of 1.25 cm per larvae had higher feed intake (FI) and weight gain (WG) (P < 0.05). However, better feed conversion efficiency (FCE) was recorded with a density of 0.75 cm per larvae (P < 0.05). The survival significantly increased with increasing the density per larvae (P < 0.05). High survival of Z. morio larvae was recorded at density of 1 and 1.25 cm per larvae. The dry matter and fat contents of Z. morio larvae were higher at density of 0.5 cm per larvae (P < 0.05). However, the protein content was higher at density of 1 and 1.25 cm per larvae (P < 0.05). Moreover, the ash content was higher at 0.5, 0.75, and 1.25 cm per larvae (P < 0.05). This study highlights that Z. morio larvae rearing stocking density has a profound influence on growth performance, survival and its nutrient composition.
随着全球动物蛋白需求持续增长，对于动物饲料的可持续和资源高效替代品的需求变得越来越重要。昆虫作为支持饲料行业可持续发展的有前途的候选者引起了广泛关注，近年来它们在动物饲料中的应用有了显著增长。因此，本研究旨在优化超级虫（Zophobas morio）幼虫养殖密度对生物量生产、存活率和营养成分的影响。两周龄的 Z. morio 幼虫在 25±2°C 和 70%相对湿度下，分别以每幼虫 0.5、0.75、1 和 1.25 厘米的空间密度饲养。每幼虫饲养密度为 1.25 厘米的昆虫具有更高的饲料摄入量（FI）和体重增加（WG）（P<0.05）。然而，每幼虫饲养密度为 0.75 厘米时记录到更好的饲料转化率（FCE）（P<0.05）。随着幼虫饲养密度的增加，存活率显著提高（P<0.05）。每幼虫 1 和 1.25 厘米的饲养密度记录到较高的 Z. morio 幼虫存活率。每幼虫 0.5 厘米的饲养密度下，Z. morio 幼虫的干物质和脂肪含量较高（P<0.05）。然而，每幼虫 1 和 1.25 厘米的饲养密度下蛋白质含量较高（P<0.05）。此外，每幼虫 0.5、0.75 和 1.25 厘米的饲养密度下灰分含量较高（P<0.05）。本研究强调，Z. morio 幼虫养殖密度对生长性能、存活率及其营养成分有深远影响。
