Produção de farinha de minhoca através do cultivo das espécies Eisenia andrei (Bouché, 1972) e Perionyx excavatus (Perrier, 1872) em diferentes substratos.

Abstract

The use of a high quality and high yielding protein source has always been a concern of animal breeders, since conventional food does not provide enough protein to perform its activities. A protein-based supplementation widely used for these purposes is the insertion of worms into animal feed, with a protein value that can reach up to 70%. The objective of this work was to elaborate a flour originated from two species of earthworms, Eisenia andrei and Perionyx excavatus, through drying processes in air circulation oven and microwave oven (FMO). The work was conducted at the Laboratory of Fish and Aquaculture Studies (LAPEAq), at the Laboratory of Biochemistry and Food Biotechnology (LBBA) and at the Fish Unit, all located at the CES / UFCG, where the physical and chemical analyzes were carried out. The worms were placed on three different substrates to observe which crop / substrate the most adapted species, taking into account their reproduction and growth, after the period of cultivation of the species in each substrate at 30, 60 and 90 days of cultivation. The data were worked through the STATISTICA Program. The means, standard deviations of all samples were obtained. It was concluded that the flour produced with the species Eisenia andrei presented a protein value of 53% and with Perionyx excavatus a protein value of 59%. The production of earthworm flour for animal feed is feasible and low cost. It was observed that there was a greater reproduction of the earthworms using domestic organic waste (ROD), as well as the method of producing flour in an air circulating greenhouse better preserved the level of protein present in earthworms.