How to raise earthworms with cow dung? Detailed explanation of breeding techniques and methods
Earthworm is the general name for animals of the class Oligochaeta in the phylum Annelida. In 1837, biologist Darwin called it the most valuable animal on Earth. In traditional Chinese medicine it is called Dilong (Kaibian Dilong, Guang Dilong). The Compendium of Materia Medica describes it as having the effects of dredging meridians and activating collaterals, promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, and preventing and treating cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Now let us take a look at the techniques for raising earthworms with cow dung!
Advantages of raising earthworms with cow dung
Using fermented cow dung to raise earthworms on idle land in local rural areas solves the problem of manure disposal. When cow dung is used to raise earthworms, the earthworm castings can improve soil quality and grow crops, and crop straw can also be used to raise livestock. In this way, a closed-loop, green and environmentally friendly industrial chain is formed. Throughout the whole process, energy is utilized layer by layer with very little loss, while residents' income is increased, the surrounding environment is gradually improved, idle resources are fully utilized, and the unity of economic and ecological benefits is achieved. In addition to natural fermentation through piling of cow dung, this new type of earthworm breeding method can also use cow dung fermented with microbial EM bacteria as the main bedding and feed for earthworm breeding, which can more effectively solve the cow dung pollution problem of cattle farms and leave the farms without any foul odor. The earthworms produced can be sold to flower and bird markets and fishing tackle shops in surrounding provinces and cities. Generally speaking, raising earthworms with cow dung can bring an average income of 20,000 to more than 30,000 yuan per mu.
Prospects of raising earthworms with cow dung
Many specialized cattle farmers have a considerable number of dairy cows and beef cattle, producing large amounts of cow dung every year. In the past, most cow dung was sold to nearby farmers for use as compost, fetching only twenty or thirty yuan per ton. Because harmless treatment could not be achieved, cow dung piled everywhere caused a headache-inducing environmental problem. By adopting the technique of raising earthworms with cow dung, earthworm farms can not only handle cow dung but also bring substantial economic benefits. Generally speaking, one mu of land can produce about 1 ton of earthworms per year, with a net profit of around 10,000 yuan per ton, while the dozens of tons of earthworm castings produced each year can also sell for about 200 to 400 yuan per ton (prices vary greatly from place to place), which alone can earn several thousand yuan. Raising earthworms with cow dung not only brings substantial returns but also achieves "zero emissions" in the production process of raising dairy cows and beef cattle, and also forms an ecological chain in which crop straw feeds cattle, cow dung raises earthworms to produce green ecological fertilizer, and earthworm castings promote crop production.
Benefits of raising earthworms with cow dung
Earthworms have a wide range of uses, and dried earthworms have extremely high medicinal value. Using cow dung to raise "Taiping No. 2" large red earthworms, the growth period is 2 to 3 months, and about 2,000 kg of fresh earthworms can be produced per mu. The market price of dried earthworms (medicinal name Dilong) reaches 80 to 170 yuan/kg, fresh earthworms are 15 to 30 yuan per kg, and earthworm castings are 200 to 400 yuan per ton, so the income per mu can exceed 30,000 yuan. Fresh earthworms are mainly used for fishing supplies, animal extracts, agricultural and sideline product processing, animal raw medicinal materials, fishery equipment, and other aspects. Earthworms are in short supply, and there is never worry about sales. Even the castings of earthworms can be turned into money. The castings excreted by earthworms contain a large number of beneficial microbial flora and two kinds of antagonistic microorganisms. In addition to decomposing various nutrients in the soil, they can also improve the characteristics of soil structure and completely solve the problem of soil compaction. The current market price of this kind of manure fertilizer is 200 to 400 yuan per ton.
Risks of raising earthworms with cow dung
1. Environment: Although the prospects for earthworm breeding are very broad, successful breeding is not an easy matter. This is because earthworms have very high environmental requirements. If the temperature is below 5°C or above 32°C, earthworms will enter a dormant state, and if the temperature is below 0°C or above 40°C, earthworms cannot survive. In addition, earthworms also have a relatively large food intake.
2. Technology: In earthworm breeding, in addition to regular feeding and controlling temperature and humidity well, the prevention and control of diseases and pests is also very important. Leeches, frogs, mole crickets, ants, and rats are all their natural enemies. Raising earthworms has relatively high technical requirements. Do not believe certain advertisements and blindly make large-scale investments without carefully learning earthworm breeding techniques. You can try it first and accumulate experience.
3. Market: Before raising earthworms with cow dung, you must find stable, large-volume sales channels before you can carry out large-scale breeding.
4. Variety: Although buying earthworm seedlings once can allow them to reproduce on their own and be raised for many batches, this method easily causes variety degeneration of the earthworms, resulting in phenomena such as slowed growth, increased mortality, and decreased quality.
Techniques for raising earthworms with cow dung
1. Feed formula: 50% cow dung and 50% paper pulp sludge, or 100% cow dung, or 100% of a mixture of all poultry and livestock manures, or 20% each of cow dung, pig manure, and chicken manure plus 40% rice straw scraps. Chicken manure must first be used to raise maggots or left to sit for more than 1 year before it can be used to raise earthworms; otherwise, all the earthworms will escape or die.
2. Feed fermentation: First spread a layer of dry material 10 to 15 cm thick using rice straw and stalks, then spread 4 to 6 cm of manure material on the dry material, repeating for 3 to 5 layers. Spray water with a watering can after each layer until the water seeps through. If garbage is used, pile one layer of garbage and one layer of manure. Length and width are not limited, and cover tightly with plastic film. In seasons with higher temperatures, turn it once every 7 days thereafter. Generally, turning 3 to 5 times completes the feed fermentation work.
3. Feed preparation: After the feed is fermented, test the pH value. Earthworm feed generally requires a suitable pH value of 6 to 7.5, but the pH value of many animal and plant wastes is often higher or lower than this range. When the pH exceeds 9, acetic acid, table salt, or citric acid can be used as a buffer.
4. Breeding density: For raising earthworms with cow dung, the number of breeder earthworms should be controlled within 10,000 per sq m. The production worm population is 3 kg per sq m (20,000 to 31,000 worms). In the early stage, young earthworms are 30,000 per sq m, and later this drops to 20,000.
5. Timely supplementary feeding: Usually after about 20 days, the earthworms can turn all the pig manure into earthworm castings, at which point supplementary feeding is needed. When supplementing feed, new material can be covered over the original feed. Determine the amount added according to the earthworms' food intake. The feed should be spread evenly, and rice straw should be added as well, with frequent watering to maintain moisture.
6. Reasonable watering: In the process of raising earthworms, in order to ensure normal growth of the earthworms, especially in summer, water at least once a day. The water must not be polluted, and the water flow should not be too strong. It must be watered thoroughly so that the upper and lower layers of material connect. It is best to water in the early morning or evening when the temperature is lower.