Recycling spent larval food of Corcyra cephalonica Stainton as a broiler feed ingredient

In commercial insectaries, large-scale production of rice moth, Corcyra cephalonica Stainton in pearl millet grain medium leads to an extensive accumulation of spent C cephalonica larval medium (CLM). Experiments were conducted to determine whether inclusion of CLM for corn in the standard broiler diet (SBD) could ensure normal growth and development of broilers. Chemical analysis revealed that CLM diets met the nutritional requirements as of SBD. CLM diet contained no aflatoxin as well. Biological experiments were conducted to study the suitability of CLM diet in different combinations with SBD at 100% + 0%, 75% + 25%, 50% + 50%, 25% + 75% and 0% + 100% w/w without any nutritional change, and after nutritional modification with corn starch. CLM replacement was based on the corn content of the basal diet. Birds preferred SBD 100% and SBD 75% + CLM 25% nutritionally unchanged diets, and showed higher growth rate and weight gain. These parameters were significantly lower in other diet combinations. Modified isoenergetic CLM based diets in all the combinations, however, contributed higher feed intake and resulted in more weight gain as of SBD. Furthermore, none of treatments in both experiments yielded bird mortalities. The experimental CLM diets except SBD 75% + CLM 25% in both experiments were cost effective and contributed lower diet cost/kg weight gain. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.