KMITL

Permanent URI for this communityhttps://dspace.kmitl.ac.th/handle/123456789/1

Browse

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4

Some of the metrics are blocked by your
consent settings
Refining the Moderate Inclusion Range of Dried Asian Watermeal (Wolffia globosa) in the Diets of Two-Spotted Crickets (Gryllus bimaculatus): Integrating Segmented Regression and Nutritional Self-Selection
(2026-04-01)
Mitchaothai, Jamlong
;
Lertpatarakomol, Rachakris
;
Lukkananukool, Achara
;
Trairatapiwan, Tassanee
;
Kaewsiri, Natnaree
The integration of rapidly renewable biomass into insect production systems has been proposed as a strategy to improve resource-use efficiency in insect production. This study evaluated the graded inclusion levels of dried watermeal (Wolffia globosa) in diets of two-spotted crickets (Gryllus bimaculatus) and assessed voluntary nutrient regulation under free-choice feeding. Four fixed-inclusion diets (0%, 25%, 35%, and 45% watermeal) and one self-selection treatment were tested over 28 days. Growth performance, feed conversion ratio (FCR), survival rate (Surv), production index (PI), and whole-body composition were determined. Repeated-measures analysis using linear mixed-effects models indicated that treatment, week, and their interaction were statistically significant (p ≤ 0.024). However, partial R<sup>2</sup> analysis showed that the independent contributions of treatment and week were negligible, whereas the treatment × week interaction explained measurable variance, indicating that dietary effects were primarily expressed through time-dependent responses. Segmented regression identified a breakpoint at 35% watermeal inclusion (95% CI: 24.93–45.07), indicating that PI was the highest within a moderate supplementation range under the present fixed-diet conditions rather than at a precise single optimum. Inclusion levels beyond this threshold reduced performance. Under free-choice conditions, crickets progressively increased watermeal intake with age and maintained stable nitrogen-free extract (NFE):crude protein (CP) and gross energy (GE):CP intake ratios, selecting an average of 25–35% watermeal over the experimental period. This supplementation range improved feed efficiency and protein deposition while limiting lipid accumulation, suggesting improved energy–protein balance and nutrient partitioning. The self-selection result is interpreted as evidence of behavioral intake regulation under choice conditions and not as direct validation of the segmented-regression breakpoint. Collectively, these findings provide complementary statistical and behavioral evidence supporting a biologically relevant moderate inclusion range (approximately 30–35%) of dried watermeal.
Some of the metrics are blocked by your
consent settings
Effect and Optimal Level of Dietary Dried Watermeal (Wolffia globosa) Supplementation on the Production Performance of Two-Spotted Crickets (Gryllus bimaculatus)
(2025-07-01)
Mitchaothai, Jamlong
;
Grabowski, Nils T.
;
Lertpatarakomol, Rachakris
;
Trairatapiwan, Tassanee
;
Lukkananukool, Achara
Watermeal (Wolffia globosa) is an emerging sustainable feed ingredient, valued for its rapid growth, high protein content, and rich nutrient profile, offering great potential to improve the efficiency and sustainability of edible cricket production systems through efficient resource use and reduced environmental impact. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of replacing commercial cricket feed with dried watermeal and to determine the optimal substitution level for the production performance of two-spotted crickets (Gryllus bimaculatus). Seven dietary treatments were tested, namely 0% (control; T1), 10% (T2), 25% (T3), 50% (T4), 75% (T5), 90% (T6), and 100% (T7). Crickets were reared for four weeks in an open system with 6 replicates per treatment, with each containing 120 nymphs. Body weight, feed intake, and survival rate were recorded weekly, and a production index was calculated at the end of the trial. Results showed average growth rates ranging from 7.40 to 28.20 mg/day, feed conversion ratios (FCR) between 1.03 and 1.68, survival rates of 29.28% to 69.73%, and production index values from 24.00 to 128.30. A significant decline in production efficiency (p < 0.05) was observed at substitution levels of 75% and above, with the 100% watermeal group showing the lowest production efficiency (p < 0.05), likely due to nutrient imbalances and indigestible compounds. Segmented regression analysis identified 36.7% as the optimal level of watermeal supplementation. In terms of body composition, crickets fed diets containing up to 50% watermeal (10%, 25%, and 50%) showed crude protein, crude fat, crude fiber, and ash contents comparable to those fed the commercial diet. This finding suggests that dried watermeal can replace up to 50% of the commercial cricket feed without negatively affecting growth performance, survival, or nutritional quality, with 36.7% identified as the optimal replacement level for maximizing production efficiency.
Some of the metrics are blocked by your
consent settings
Bacterial Contamination and Antimicrobial Resistance in Two-Spotted (Gryllus bimaculatus) and House (Acheta domesticus) Cricket Rearing and Harvesting Processes
(2024-07-01)
Mitchaothai, Jamlong
;
Grabowski, Nils T.
;
Lertpatarakomol, Rachakris
;
Trairatapiwan, Tassanee
;
Lukkananukool, Achara
Food safety for cricket production is a crucial factor in producing edible crickets with safety for consumers and sustainability for two-spotted (Gryllus bimaculatus) as well as house (Acheta domesticus) cricket production. This study was conducted by simultaneously rearing two cricket species, comprising two-spotted crickets (G. bimaculatus) and house crickets (A. domesticus). A total of 16 rearing crates were used for the present study, which were allocated into 8 rearing crates for each studied cricket species, including paper egg cartons. Cricket eggs were incubated in the rearing crates. Once the crickets hatched, tap water and powdered feed were provided ad libitum throughout the experiment. At the end of this study (35 and 42 days for the two-spotted and house crickets, respectively), all crickets were harvested, rinsed in tap water, and boiled in water for 5 min. During the rearing and harvesting processes, samples were collected from various potential contamination points for bacteria, including E. coli and Salmonella spp. There were samples of the initial input (feed, drinking water, and staff hands), rearing environment (water pipe, crate wall, living cartons, frass, and cricket surface), and harvesting crickets (harvested, washed, and boiled crickets), with a 2-week sampling interval, except for the last round of sampling for the two-spotted crickets. Subsequently, all samples were submitted to isolate and identify contaminated bacteria. The samples from the last round of sampling for both kinds of crickets were submitted to quantify the level of contamination for E. coli and Salmonella spp., including antimicrobial resistance by the disk diffusion method for the positive isolate. The results showed that bacterial contamination was found in the rearing of both cricket species, primarily involving Klebsiella spp. and Enterobacter spp., mainly found in prepared drinking water and the water pipes of drinking water supply equipment, which are potential sources of contamination with cricket frass. E. coli was found in 4.8% and 4.3% of the two-spotted and house crickets, respectively, while no presence of Salmonella spp. was detected in any submitted samples. The quantification of E. coli and Salmonella spp. indicated E. coli contamination near the water pipe and the frass of two-spotted crickets, but Salmonella spp. was undetectable in both two-spotted and house crickets. The antimicrobial resistance of isolated E. coli mainly involved penicillin G, amoxicillin, ampicillin, erythromycin, lincomycin, and tiamulin. Thus, good farm management with proper sanitation practices (such as cleaning and keeping the environment dry), as well as boiling crickets during the harvesting process, may help ensure the safety of edible cricket production.
Some of the metrics are blocked by your
consent settings
Production Performance and Nutrient Conversion Efficiency of Field Cricket (Gryllus bimaculatus) in Mass-Rearing Conditions
(2022-09-01)
Mitchaothai, Jamlong
;
Grabowski, Nils T.
;
Lertpatarakomol, Rachakris
;
Trairatapiwan, Tassanee
;
Chhay, Ty
Currently, there is an increased interest in mass producing edible insects, e.g., field crickets (Gryllus bimaculatus), due to their market value and sustainable development. The current study aimed to measure the production performance of field crickets and to quantify the major nutrient deposition rate using a new approach for a nutrient conversion efficiency calculation for the field crickets under mass-rearing conditions. The field crickets were reared under mass-rearing conditions in the rearing crates and fed with a commercial cricket feed. Measurements for daily feed offered, final body weight, and dead cricket quantity were carried out during the feeding trial period. There were three production rounds with the same procedure for farmed cricket management. The samples of diet, adult crickets, and dead crickets were collected and then analyzed for chemical analysis of macronutrients. The production performance and nutrient conversion efficiency were calculated and then compared with applicable earlier reports for both field and house (Acheta domesticus) crickets. The production performance for the studied field crickets under mass-rearing conditions had final a body weight, an average daily gain (ADG), a feed conversion ratio (FCR), and a survival rate of 0.95 g, 23.20 mg/day, 2.94 and 88.51%, respectively. The field crickets had nutrient conversion efficiency for dry matter (DM), ash, crude protein (CP), crude fat (EE), crude fiber (CF), and nitrogen-free extract (NFE) of 13.26, 8.03, 28.95, 88.94, 34.87, and 1.85, respectively, with an adjusted nutrient conversion efficiency of 14.85, 8.99, 32.37, 99.17, 38.95, and 2.10, respectively. Thus, the production of field crickets could be performed under mass-rearing conditions, and the nutrient conversion efficiency for both adjusted and non-adjusted values could be measured.

KMITL

Browse

Filters

Settings

Sort By

Results per page

Search Results