Malaysia Veterinary Forum (Archive)

yitchee · Joined: 06 Jan 2006 Posts: 30 Location: serdang

hi, i have some idea of usimg earth worm as animal feed replacing the saya bean as protein source...
can any one contribute some idea? :P

Dr. TanDY · Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 5:11 pm Post subject:

Earthworm is expensive too. The farming of worms (verminculture) is quite a lucrative business because many valuable bioactive compounds can be extracted from the worm - particular an enzyme called lumbrokinase that can treat thrombosis (heart disease). A scientific review paper on earthworm economic value is available:

Cooper EL, Ru B, Weng N.
Adv Exp Med Biol. 2004;546:359-89.
Earthworms: sources of antimicrobial and anticancer molecules.
PMID: 15584386 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Therefore in my opinion, perhaps earthworm might not be a good alternative to soya bean. :wink:

Dr Free · Joined: 20 Jan 2006 Posts: 33 Location: ASEAN

Usually corn and soya bean is being used because it is the cheapest and easiest source of energy and protein. However currently there is a trend of using diversify by products. This is because the world begins to face shortage in these product. The shortage is mainly because China begins to commercialise it's livestock industry.

Products like casava, palm kernel, wheat, rice husk, DGGS and others. DGGS is a byproduct of corn from making ethanol, whisky and other alcohol related industry. Even though all these material are cheap and affordable, the nutritive value is abit lacking. The wheat for example contain very high xylanase and glucanase. It is very hard for the stomach ezyme of animal to hydrolase/digest it.

Currently there is an excitement to use enzyme to treat the feed first before giving to animal. Most of it,it is recommended post pelleting treatment as ezyme are not heat stable. Ezyme like phytase, amilase, protease, xylanase, cellulase, glucanase and even lipase are often being used. With the treatment of ezyme, the by product can be a viable replacement of corn and soy bean.

Nevertheless this area is still quite new and new research are poring in everyday. If anyone is interested to replace soy bean and corn, try to read about usage of ezyme.