Effect of folic acid supplementation on nutritional and feed conversion efficiency of mulberry silkworm (Bombyx mori Linnaeus 1758)

Abstract

The influence of folic acid on nutritional indices and nutritional efficiency parameters of the silkworm Bombyx mori Linnaeus 1758 were studied. The fifth instar silkworm larvae were fed with mulberry leaves fortified with two different concentrations (100 mg/ml and 150 mg/ml) of folic acid. The results were compared with that of a control larval batch fed with normal leaves sprayed with distilled water. The results indicated that nutritional indices such as ingesta, digesta, reference ratio, approximate digestibility and consumption index were significantly higher in the folic acid-treated silkworm batches. Similarly, nutritional efficiency parameters such as efficiency of ingested and digested food into larva, cocoon and shell were significantly higher in the treated batches. Moreover, the ingesta and digesta required to produce one gram of cocoon and shell were significantly lower in the treated batches. Oral administration of folic acid increased the assimilation and conversion efficiency of silkworms and also increased productivity parameters such as cocoon weight and shell weight.