The Use of Manure from Cattle Fed Different Level of Concentrate for Musa domestica Larvae Production and Its Utilisation as Chicken Feed

Abstract

Utilizing cattle manure for house fly larvae production before composted may provide additional income for cattle farmer since larvae can be used as chicken feed. Larvae production, however, is highly dependent upon the quality of cattle manure. Two consecutive experiments have been conducted with the purpose  to investigate : 1) the use of manure from cattle fed two levels of concentrate with or without combination of other growth media for house fly larvae production, and 2) the effect of feeding different levels of house fly larvae on egg production of native chicken. In the 1^st experiment, as many as 12 Ongole heifers weighing 236 ± 17 kg were grouped into two groups of six heifers to receive either 1 or 2% BW of concentrate containing 15 CP. Manure from each heifer was then used as growth media for house fly larvae with or without combination either with chicken manure or discarded fish cut. Larvae production was recorded and thereafter used as chicken feed in the 2^nd experiment in increasing level of larvae proportion in the diet, i.e. 0,  5, 10, 15 and 20% of the total feed offered to five groups of 20 native chicken. The basal feed was commercial complete feed for layer given after larvae was completely consumed. Egg production and weight were recorded. Result showed that larvae production was in the range 10.23-18.01g per kg manure and manure from Ongole cattle fed both  1 or 2% BW were not improved (P>0.05) when combined with discarded fish cut and significantly reduced (P<0.01) when combined with chicken manure. Egg production and weight did not differ (P>0.05) with the inclusion of larvae in the diet up to 15%, but reduced at 20%. It can be concluded that manure of concentrate-fed Ongole cattle can be used as growth media for house fly larvae without a need to be combined with other growth media and the larvae produced is prospective to replace as much as 15% of commercial feed for layers.