CHEMICAL-COMPOSITION OF EARTHWORM (EISENI A-FETIDA AND LUMBRICUS-RUBELLUS) SILAGES

Earthworms (Eisenia fetida and Lumbricus rubellus) were ensiled with g round sorghum and molasses in the following proportions: 1) 60% earthw orms, 40% sorghum; 2) 60% earthworms, 40% sorghum, adjusting pH to 4.0 with HCl; 3) 60% earthworms, 20% sorghum, 20% molasses; 4) 60% earthw orms, 20% sorghum, 20% molasses, adjusting pH to 4,0 with HCl. These m ixtures were allowed to ferment for 15 days at 18 CC. pH, proximate ch emical analyses, digestible protein, true protein, ammonia nitrogen, a cetic, propionic and butyric acid, lactic acid and gross energy were a nalyzed in the ensiled mixtures. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and ortho gonal contrasts. No differences (P>0,0001)were found in the percentage of moisture, ether extract, crude fiber and crude protein (52,22. 2,9 6. 1,15. 22,00. 51,76. 3,48. 1,28. 20,17; 53,89. 3,23. 0,95. 20,63; 54 ,87. 2,99. 1,03. 21,14, for treatments 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively). N either there was any difference (P>0,0001) for true protein and gross energy (7,57. 4,37; 6,92. 4,41; 5,45. 4,37; 6,38. 4,30, for treatments 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively). Ash content (P<0,0001) and nitrogen fre e extract (p<0,02) were different between treatments with sorghum and treatments with sorghum and molasses (3.80, 70.09; 3.60, 71.47; 6.08, 69.11; 6.63, 68.21, for treatments 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively). Diges tible protein was also different (P<0,01) for treatment 1 (96.78) than 2 (94.34). pH values were lower (P<0,03) for treatment 2 (3.80) and 4 (3.76), where HCl was added than for 1 (4.06) and 3 (4.16). Ammonia n itrogen values were very low for all treatments. Lactic:acetic acid ra tio was large for all treatments (7.55, 14.83, 8.30, 7.63 for treatmen ts 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively). It is concluded that it is possible t o preserve the earthworms E. fetida and L. rubellus by ensiling, addin g a source of carbohydrates, such as sorghum or molasses. Not being ne cessary the addition of acids to have an adequate fermentation.