The chemical composition of the earthworm (Eisenia foetida), worm casts and worm body fluids was investigated and compared with common foods and animal feeds. Common nutrient analysis showed that Eisenia foetida meal has a high protein content in the range of 54.6 to 71.0% dry matter. Protein content and amino acid composition were close to that of fish meal and hen egg, and higher than that of cow milk powder and soybean meal. Casts of E. foetida had a protein content of 7.9% dry matter, which is similar to that of corn meal, and hence worm casts could be used for partial replacement of corn meal or wheat bran in animal diets. Worm body fluids contained 9.4% protein and 78.79 free amino acid per litre and were found to be rich in vitamins and minerals, particularly iron (Fe). Our nutrient analyses suggest that earthworm (Eisenia foetida) could be an excellent source of protein to supplement animal feed and human food.
Ecology of Food and Nutrition
Volume 36, 1997 - Issue 2-4: Minilivestock
![Sample our Social Sciences journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/110822/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Social-Sciences.jpg"})
Reprints and Corporate Permissions
Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?
To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:
Academic Permissions
Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?
Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:
If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.
Related Research Data
Nutrient composition of earthworms.
Source:
JSTOR
Supplementation of various meals to fish meal diet for chum salmon fry
Source:
Elsevier BV
Earthworms as a sourceof food and drugs
Source:
Springer Netherlands
Complete nutrient composition of commercially raised invertebrates used as food for insectivores
Source:
Wiley
Benefits of being a generalist carnivore when threatened by climate change: the comparative dietary ecology of two sympatric semelparous marsupials, including a new endangered species (Antechinus arktos)
Source:
CSIRO Publishing
The nutritional value of earthworms for chickens
Source:
Informa UK Limited
Heavy metal uptake and tissue distribution in earthworms
Source:
Springer Netherlands
A note on the nutritional evaluation of worm meal ( Eisenia fetida ) in diets for rainbow trout
Source:
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Biodegradation of animal waste by Lumbricus terrestris.
Source:
American Dairy Science Association
Nutritional Value of Earthworms and Grasshoppers as Poultry Feed
Source:
Japan Poultry Science Association
Biology of Earthworms
Source:
Springer US
Protein Content of Earthworms
Source:
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Linking provided by
