Growth performance and nutritional composition of field crickets (Gryllus bimaculatus De Geer) fed with diets containing dried cassava leaves
2025
Wongsorn, D. | Todklang, W. | Pitiwittayakul, N. | Sanmahayak, B.
Crickets are among the most popular insects used as food due to their high nutritional value and ease of culture. The rearing of field crickets on diets containing dried cassava leaves as a substitute for soybean meal at levels of 0%(0CL), 30%(30CL), 50%(50CL), 70%(70CL), and 100%(100CL) was studied, focusing on their growth performance and nutritional value. After 45 days of cricket rearing, it was found that replacing soybean meal with dried cassava leaves at 30% and 50% showed no statistically significant difference (p>0.05) in cricket weight (279.82 g/box and 260.42 g/box, respectively) compared to the control treatment (284.08 g/box). There were statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in individual body weight among the treatments. Crickets reared on the diet containing 100% dried cassava leaves (100CL) had the lowest individual body weights, measuring 0.688 g for males and 0.930 g for females. The number of eggs per female cricket had no statistically significant differences (p>0.05) across all treatments, ranging from 1,415.67 to 1,574.67 eggs. Additionally, field crickets fed diet containing dried cassava leaves had higher crude protein content (57.30-58.79% dm) than the control treatment (55.18% dm), with a statistically significant difference (p<0.05). However, the crude protein, crude fat, and crude fiber contents decreased with increasing levels of dried cassava leaves in the diet. In conclusion, dried cassava leaves can replace up to 50% of soybean meal without reducing the yield, fecundity, or nutritional value of field crickets.
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