SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION OF HOUSEFLY LARVAE (Musca domestica) AS A POTENTIAL NON-CONVENTIONAL PROTEIN SOURCE IN FISH FEED
2nd Biennial Conference
Authors
Abstract
The common housefly, Musca domestica, is a considerable component of nutrient recycling in the environment. Housefly maggots were cultured on various organic wastes through fresh poultry dropping, pig manure, kitchen waste, and poultry offal using developed culture units. A total of 2kg of each substrate were mixed with 0.10kg of fly attractant (blood and rotten egg) and placed randomly in triplicates in culture units. The culture units were opened and exposed for eight (8) hours to attract houseflies to naturally lay those eggs (oviposition). The substrates were then covered with the lid screened with net and also with black polythene sheet to provide darkness. The suitability of developed culture units and the effects of type of substrate of culture and length of culture on wet yield of maggots were assessed. There was significant difference in wet yield between the substrates, the values being 58.5, 38.5, 12.47, and 61.3 g/kg for fresh poultry dropping, pig manure, kitchen waste, and poultry offal, respectively. Further studies to enable commercial availability of maggot meal with subsequently extensive use in fish nutrition by small scale farmers are recommended.
Keywords
Housefly maggot, substrates, length of culture, sustainability, wet yield
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