Alternative Source of Protein “Silkworm Pupae” (Bombyx Mori) In Coldwater Aquaculture

Abstract

The main constraint presently is the availability of sufficient/ required quantity of cost effective quality feed. At present one of the main fish feed ingredient (fishmeal) is procured from outside the state due to which the cost of production is very high. In order to make available sufficient quantity of cost effective feed and cater to the demand of various rearing units for feed in the State, it is high time to replace fishmeal with alternate source of protein. Kashmir valley produces good quantities of feed materials derived from crops and other sources. These include a wide variety of oil-seed cakes and meals, pulses, and mill by-products of seeds and grains. Also available are appreciable quantities of by-products from the meat, fish, fruit processing industries and particularly silkworm pupae. Keeping in view the nutritional value of silkworm pupae and its profuse availability in the state, cost effective feed could be formulated and feeding trails in coldwater aquaculture could be conducted. Lot of research has been done on the replacement of fishmeal throughout the world.