The evaluation of earthworm meal as a protein source in diets for broilers.

Abstract

This study was undertaken to evaluate the earthworm meal as protein source by monitoring the growth of broiler chickens in a feeding trial. Earthworms were reared outdoors on cow manure. The harvested worms were sun dried and ground to produce a meal that was used as protein source in feeding trials. Three different diets were compared over a period of 56 days. Growth, food consumption, efficiency of food conversion and production efficiency factor were determined. It is con­cluded that earthworm meal has the potential to be utilized as a protein source in diets for broilers. Special density production systems would have to he developed to make the concept economically viable. Therefore these preliminary findings must be interpreted with due care.