A NOTE ON THE NUTRITIONAL-EVALUATION OF WORM MEAL (EISENIA-FOETIDA) IN DIETS FOR RAINBOW-TROUT

Worm meal obtained from worms (Eisenia fetida) raised on waste materials was evaluated for Rainbow trout as a replacement for fish meal at dietary concentrations of 250, 500 and 1 000 g replaced per kg. During the study period none of the diets was detrimental to fish health. The dietary concentrations of 250 and 500 g/kg replacement gave higher growth rates than that of the control group (0 g/kg replacement), the former having consumed less food. The biological parameters of food conversion efficiency and protein efficiency ratio, for these replacement levels, also showed values better than the control diet. Liver somatic index and the chemical composition of fish fillets showed no significant differences between diets, except for a significant decrease in lipid content with increasing worm meal inclusion.