Protein fortification improved silkworm productivity

Nutrition is one of the most important factors that contribute to the growth, development and subsequent cocoons production of silkworm, Bombyx mori L. However, little is known about the use of bee pollen, drone brood and protinex as a fortifying agent. Mulberry leaves fortified with different proteins were fed to silkworm larvae once in 4^th and 5^th instar. The economical parameters of silkworm were significantly increased with optimized concentrations of different proteins. Lowest disease incidence (2%), maximum larval weight (43.43g), cocoon weight (2.26g), shell weight (0.516g), pupal weight (1.74g) and shell ratio (22.86%) were recorded at (2%) bee pollen concentration followed by protinex (10%), bee pollen (5%) + protinex (5%) and drone brood (6%).