In recent times, advances have been made or recorded in various disciplines or areas of life using maggot. These advances are notable, laudable and are listed as follows;
i) AQUACULTURE–
Maggot meal as an alternative protein source: interests to study the use of house fly maggot meal (Magmeal) as substitute for fish meal in fish diet have increased in recent times (Ogunji et al., 2008). Magmeal which is of animal origin has been reported to possess a great potential (Adesulu and Mustapha, 2000; Fasakin et al., 2003; Ajani et al., 2004; Ogunji et al., 2006). It has been noted that silk worm pupae have been an important component of carp diet in
Japan and china (Ogunji et al., 2008). Newton et al., (1977) used dried ground soldier fly larvae as a dietary supplement for young pigs with success. Ajani et al., (2004) and Fashina bombata and Balogun (1997) reported that magmeal can replace up to 100% of fish meal in the diet of Nile tilapia (O. niloticus).The authors concluded that the biological value of magmeal was equivalent to that of whole fish meal and that larvae contained no anti nutritional or toxic factors sometime found in alternative protein sources of vegetable origin. Magmeal can effectively be used as an alternative protein source in tilapia fingerling production and can replace fishmeal at a level of 100% in tilapia,50% in carp and 100% in African catfish (Fasakin et al.,2003, Ogunji et al., 2007). Maggot meal has high potential in poultry nutrition particularly being an animal protein source in broilers (Adeniji 2007). Adeniji (2007) reported that maggot meal can be a good replacement for groundnut cake (GNC) in the diet of broiler. Nzamujo (1999) reported that mass production of maggot has solution to the high cost of livestock production.
ii) MEDICINE
iii) FOOD INDUSTRY
Maggot is used in the food industry for the production of sugar. With the help of food scientists from the pet food industry, a method has been developed to juice maggots by removing the skin and leaving just the amino-protein. The grub juice from maggot is found to be a very good attractant to fish. These juice can be used in different ways such as belie or pellet soak, hook bait dip, ground bait additive etc,.
iv) BIOTECHNOLOGY
Maggot and its bio-products have been used for the production of biodiesel and other products. Larva-driven vermicomposting may be a promising biotechnology featured with remarkable advantages of waste reduction.
AGRO-BASED FERTILIZER INDUSTRY
The spent substrates of maggot are used as fertilizer to fertilize directly plants in the field (e.g. ring application in mango, banana, pawpaw plantation). In farm yard manure, the spent substrates are incorporated into the compost production.
Related Posts: AGRICULTURE, AQUACULTURE
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