TITLE:
Effects of Organic Substrates on Development and Survival of Blattela germanica for Food and Feed in Kenya
AUTHORS:
Victor Muhumbwa Ngaira, Reuben Oyoo Mosi, Caroline Celine Wambui, Francis Obuoro Wayua, Ann Mumbi Wachira
KEYWORDS:
Cockroach, Feed Intake, Growth Rate
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Animal Sciences,
Vol.12 No.3,
July
20,
2022
ABSTRACT: Entomophagy has gained popularity as a novel
approach to addressing food and nutrition insecurity, particularly in
sub-tropical and tropical countries. Cockroaches, for example, have the potential
to alleviate nutritional deficiencies, as well as the erratic supply of protein
in feeds. They can also be reared on locally available organic substrates. This
study investigated growth performance and survival of german cockroach (Blattella germanica) reared on locally
available organic matter substrates as treatments; spent brewers’ grain (Treatment A), Treatment B consisting of (40%: wheat bran: 40% spent
brewers’ grain: 20% Caridina nilotica),
wheat bran (Treatment C), and C. nilotica (Treatment D) and in a completely randomised design (CRD). Each treatment was
replicated four times, while in each replicate 20 - 30 nymphs were reared for forty-two days. Feed
intake for all the treatments was not significantly
different. There was a significant
difference (P 0.05) in mature weight, average daily weight gain, live weight, and
survival during rearing period. Cockroach
performed well on treatment B and recorded highest mature weight, overall
performance index, survival was 90.25 mg, 197.35, 96%. The least perfomance was reported in Treatment C;
1.78, 83, 143.17 and 72.5 for average growth rate, survival,
overall perfomance and mature weight respectively. B. Based on these findings,
a single feed as used in this study was inferior to the composite (Treatment B)
in all parameters of growth performance and survival. The composite diet (Treatment
B) could be suitable substrate for mass production of B. germanica for feed and food.