How Are Earthworms Raised? A Detailed Explanation of Scientific Breeding Techniques
The earthworm is an annelid that likes to live in moist, dark soil. Recently, earthworm farming has also become an emerging industry. Earthworms have certain medicinal value and edible value, can also improve soil, and have high utilization value. Below, the editor gives everyone a popular science introduction on earthworm farming techniques.
Scientific Earthworm Breeding Techniques
To be prudent, before formal breeding, the feed should be identified and test-fed. Put a small number of earthworms on the feed bed. If the earthworms are unwilling to enter the feed, it means the feed is not fully decomposed and needs to continue fermenting. Production practice has proven that the method of flat-ground composting for breeding can reproduce earthworms in large quantities. Each feed bed can be inoculated with 1000-2000 earthworms. After about 3 months, when the earthworms have reproduced in large numbers, promptly carry out separate-pond breeding. Generally, add feed once a month to ensure the earthworms have enough feed, so that they can reproduce and grow rapidly.
During the growth and development of earthworms, temperature has a relatively important effect on them. A temperature below 5°C or above 30°C is not conducive to earthworm reproduction and growth. When the temperature drops to 7°C, a large number of earthworms will escape. If it is below 0°C, they may freeze to death.
The growth temperature of earthworms is between 5-30°C, and the most suitable temperature is 20°C. Earthworms are aerobic in their movements and breathe through their skin, so the feed in the breeding bed must be rich in oxygen. Ventilation and air exchange are necessary, and the feed must be loosened to ensure sufficient oxygen. Only then can earthworms grow well; otherwise, their growth and development will be hindered, their body color will become dark and dull, and their movements will be slow.
The growth and reproduction of earthworms are closely related to the pH value of the feed. The general suitable range is between pH 6.0-8.0, and the most suitable is pH 7.0. Beyond this range, earthworms will show dehydration, drying, shrinking, black-purple body color, dull senses, and escape outward. Production practice has proven that washing the feed with water before feeding can adjust the pH value. Washing the feed with water will lose some water-soluble nutrients, but it can remove harmful gases and wash away salts and harmful substances. However, for well-fermented feed, there is no need to adjust the pH value.
Earthworms like to eat sweet feed and feed rich in protein and sugar. They especially like rotten melons, fruits, and vegetable leaves, and they also like sweet-and-sour feed. Earthworm feed must be watered frequently to keep it moist. Feed that is too dry or too wet will affect the growth and development of earthworms.
Water is the material basis of earthworms' physiological activities and an important factor in regulating body temperature. Earthworms can obtain water and nutrients from feed.
The water content in the body of an earthworm is about 85%. In life, a certain amount of water is necessary for growth and development.
After the feed has been swallowed by earthworms for about 1 month, promptly supplement with new feed rich in nutrients. Feeding supplementation is generally done after cleaning the feces. Earthworms feed from top to bottom, and fecal pellets are excreted on the surface and accumulate over time, which is unfavorable to the growth and reproduction of earthworms and should be removed promptly. While scraping off earthworm feces, supplement new feed on the breeding bed.
When most of the earthworms in the bed have reached a body weight of 400-500 mg, and the density per square meter reaches 15,000-20,000, a portion of adult earthworms can be harvested. There are many methods for harvesting earthworms. On the surface of the breeding bed, use a multi-tooth rake to loosen the surface bed material. After the earthworms drill downward, scrape off the surface earthworm feces, repeatedly loosen the bed material and scrape off the earthworm feces, and finally the earthworms concentrate at the bottom layer, achieving the purpose of harvesting adult earthworms.
Earthworm Introduction Techniques
When buying earthworm seeds, try to avoid long-distance transportation. Choose a farm with a relatively short route to buy seeds. In summer, transport in the early morning and evening to avoid causing too much stress to the earthworms.
Adopt a small-area trial-feeding method. Choose a breeding bed of a few square meters and first test-feed them, observing whether there are abnormal reactions. Abnormal reactions include violent rolling, escaping, clustering on the surface of the bed, and not entering the breeding bed. If abnormalities appear, first test whether the acidity and alkalinity of the cow dung are suitable and whether the cow dung has been sprayed with disinfectants. The suitable pH value for earthworm life is 6~18. If there are no abnormalities, all the earthworm seeds can be put in.
The natural enemies of earthworms often seriously affect earthworm rearing. There are many kinds, which can be divided into two major categories: predatory and parasitic. Among predatory natural enemies, the most harmful to domestic earthworms are rodents (such as field mice, house mice, etc.), which all very much like to eat earthworms; they are good at digging holes and often prey on large numbers of earthworms and earthworm cocoons in breeding beds or baskets, and even snatch earthworm feed, causing great harm to earthworms.
How Should Earthworms Be Collected?
1. Water-flooding capture method. Earthworms are afraid of accumulating water. You can use the flooding method to make earthworms come out of their holes and capture them. You can also capture them in paddy fields during spring plowing.
2. Pile-material trapping method. Place already fermented and fully decomposed feed in the place where you want to trap earthworms (such as field edges, vegetable gardens). The pile height is 30-40 cm and the width is 40-50 cm, with no limit on length. Generally, after piling for 3-5 d, earthworms will gather. If 50% soil is added and mixed for fermentation as feed, the trapping effect is even better.
3. Digging method. Use a turning rake to dig the soil and catch earthworms. The method is simple, but the effect is relatively poor. This method is suitable for small-scale breeding.
4. Chemical capture method. Sprinkle 7 L/sq m of 15% potassium permanganate solution, or 13.7 L/sq m of 0.55 formaldehyde solution, on the place where earthworms are to be collected. The earthworms will quickly crawl up to the ground, making collection very convenient.
The Breeding Value of Earthworms
1. As a Chinese medicinal material: The Chinese medicinal material earthworm is commonly known as Dilong. It is cold in nature and salty in taste, and has the effects of clearing heat, calming the liver, stopping asthma, and dredging collaterals. It mainly treats high fever and mania, convulsions and twitching, wind-heat headache, red eyes, hemiplegia, etc. The extract has a good effect of stopping cough and calming asthma, and its ash mixed with rose oil can treat baldness.
2. Biological fertilizer: Earthworm feces are a very good biological fertilizer, rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, humus, organic matter, and trace elements needed by crops such as magnesium, boron, nickel, and manganese. It is a cheap and efficient fertilizer for fruits, flowers, vegetables, and nurseries.
3. Aquatic bait: Earthworms are rich in protein, fat, and carbohydrates. The crude protein content is as high as 72%, and they contain amino acids, vitamins, and trace elements needed by the human body. They can not only be used as animal feed and for producing medicines and cosmetics, but can also be eaten by people.
The editor has popularized so much about earthworm breeding techniques for everyone. I believe everyone has gained a certain understanding of earthworm farming. The utilization value of earthworms is very broad. They can not only be used to make feed for some animals, but also have certain edible value and are rich in nutrients.