Assessing the performance of black soldier fly larvae on selected organic waste in Kampala

Abstract

The high cost of livestock feeds is greatly affecting the profitability of poultry and pig enterprises in Uganda. The black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) has been identified as an alternative cheap protein for these livestock.The aim of this study was therefore to assess the performance of BSFL on selected organic waste in Kampala. The specific objectives of this study were to determine the organic substrates which yield the best length and weights of BSFL, the quantity of fresh larvae generated by one (1) gram of BSF eggs and five (5) kilograms of the organic substrate and the combination of neonates and food substrate that can generate 1kg of BSFL. A total of eleven (11) experiments were carried out in three (3) replicates. Seven(7) different organic waste combinations were assessed using restaurant food waste, dead chicken, brewers, avocado seeds, sweet potatoes and cassava. The control was well formulated commercial poultry feed. The study reveals that a combination of dead chicken and brewers grain generated BSFL with the best length ±2.133cm, freshweight of ±3.870 grams and dry weight of ±1.531grams. This was followed by restaurant food and brewers’ grain with BSFL of length ±1.933 cm, fresh weight ±2.919 grams and dry weight ±1.186 grams. On average 1gram of eggs hatched and reared in 5 kilograms of organic waste generated±2.45kilograms of fresh BSFL in regard to all organic wastes and this quantity varied by the type of organic waste used. One gram of eggs hatched and reared in five-kilogram combination of dead chicken and brewers grain generated ±5kg of BSFL followed by restaurant food waste and brewers. The average of ±0.2 grams of neonates when reared in a one (1) kilogram combination of dead chicken and brewers waste generated ±1kg of fresh BSFL larvae. And a1.1-kilogram combination of restaurant food and brewers grain fed to 0.22 g of neonates generated ±1kg of fresh larvae. This study has identified a combination of high protein and carbohydrate (dead chicken and brewers’ grain) as the best diet for BSFL. We therefore recommend that farmers always source organic waste rich in protein and carbohydrate for BSFL farming.