Effect of Feeding Earthworm Meal As an Alternative Protein Source Replacing Fish Meal on The Performance of White Pekin Ducks

An experiment was conducted to study the impact of replacing fish meal with earthworm meal (EWM) on performance of White Pekin meat type ducks. 120 no. of day old white pekin ducks (40-52g) were randomly distributed to 3 equal groups (4 deep litter pens per group, 10 ducklings per pen). These were reared following standard management practices for a duration of 8 weeks. The EWM utilized in this investigation had been prepared from Eisenia foetida. The earthworms were grown using cow dung as biomass and mixture of duck litter. The matured earthworms were euthanized by dipping in warm water (50-60°C) and dried in hot air oven (50-60°C for 72 h), ground to powder and mixed in diet. Ducklings have been assigned to one of three treatments i.e. 1) Control without EWM; 2) Diet with 1 % EWM replacing fish meal;3) Diet with 2 % EWM replacing fish meal. The EWM contained 55.76 % protein. Body weight gain and FCR improved significantly (P<0.05) due to inclusion of EWM at 1 and 2% by replacing fish meal in the diets of white pekin ducks at 6^th and 8^th week of age. The feed intake increased significantly (P<0.05) at both levels of inclusion of EWM during 6^th and 8^th week of age. The feed cost to produce kg body weight gain was significantly (P<0.05) reduced due to inclusion of EWM in the diet at both levels at 6^th and 8^th week of age. It is concluded that 2 % EWM could be included in diet of white pekin ducks replacing fish meal of the control diet for better FCR, improved body weight gain, and reduction in price of feed for kg body weight gain.