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Growth and survival of reared Cambodian field crickets (Teleogryllus testaceus) fed weeds, agricultural and food industry by-products

In: Journal of Insects as Food and Feed
Authors:
P. Miech Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, P.O. Box 7011, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), 75007 Uppsala, Sweden.
Center for Livestock and Agriculture Development, CelAgrid, P.O. Box 2423, Phnom Penh 3, Cambodia.

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Å. Berggren Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 7044, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), 75007 Uppsala, Sweden.

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J.E. Lindberg Department of Animal Nutrition and Management, P.O. Box 7024, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), 75007 Uppsala, Sweden.

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T. Chhay Center for Livestock and Agriculture Development, CelAgrid, P.O. Box 2423, Phnom Penh 3, Cambodia.

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B. Khieu Center for Livestock and Agriculture Development, CelAgrid, P.O. Box 2423, Phnom Penh 3, Cambodia.

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A. Jansson Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, P.O. Box 7011, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), 75007 Uppsala, Sweden.

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This study evaluated survival and growth of Cambodian field crickets (Teleogryllus testaceus) during captivity when fed a set of local weed species, agricultural and food industry by-products. Wild individuals were caught at two locations in Cambodia, kept in pens and fed commercial chicken feed until the second generation off-spring hatched. First larval stage nymphs from this generation were collected and used in a 70-day feeding trial with one control treatment (chicken feed) and 12 experimental treatments (rice bran, cassava plant tops, water spinach, spent grain, residue from mungbean sprout production, andAlternanthera sessilis,Amaranthus spinosus,Commelina benghalensis,Cleome rutidosperma,Cleome viscosa,Boerhavia diffusa andSynedrela nodiflora). The crickets were kept in plastic cages and feed intake, weight and survival of crickets were recorded weekly. Overall survival did not differ between chicken feed and the experimental treatments with the exception of crickets fedB. diffusa, which had lower survival. From day 35 to day 49, survival onA. sessilis was also lower (P<0.05) than on chicken feed. There was no difference in weight between crickets fed chicken feed, cassava tops andC. rutidosperma. However, crickets fedA. sessilis,A. spinosus andB. diffusa weighed less than those fed chicken feed already at day 21. The feed conversion rate ranged from 1.6 to 3.9 and was ≤1.9 in crickets fed chicken feed, cassava plant tops andC. rutidosperma. Thus this study shows that it is possible, using simple means, to rear Cambodian field crickets. Cassava plant tops andC. rutidosperma both have great potential as cricket feed and the other weeds, with the exception ofA. sessilis,A. spinosus andB. diffusa, agricultural and food industry by-products tested, also showed potential.

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