Production and growth parameters of edible crickets: experiences from a farm in a high altitude, cooler region of Kenya

Abstract

The need for mass-production of crickets is increasing with continued awareness. Cricket farming has been introduced with considerable success among small-holder farmers in the warmer, low altitude Lake Victoria regions of Kenya. Efforts are however on-going to introduce the farming in cooler, higher altitude areas in the interest of expanding the enterprise and increase mass production. A pilot farm was established at a farm located 1,519 meters above sea level with a temperature range of 17-22 °C. Initial egg stock was incubated at the farm under room conditions in the month of November to December. Different agricultural side streams and farm weeds were tested as probable cricket feed. Hatch rate, duration of hatching, preferred food types, mortality, weight gain and nutrient content at different ages were assessed. The hatch rate averaged 60%, mortality for hatchlings (pinheads) was below 2% while a steady weight gain was observed over a 12 weeks growth period with highest maximum weight being 2.03 grams per cricket. All agricultural side streams were accepted by the crickets and the wandering Jew weed was among the preferred feed and a source of significant nutrient for the crickets. Protein content ranged from 36-60% while fat content was 12-25%. Cricket production can therefore be promoted in the higher altitude, cooler areas in order to promote industrial exploitation of the crickets in combating food and nutrition insecurity.

A Literature Review of the Use of Weeds and Agricultural and Food Industry By-Products to Feed Farmed Crickets (Insecta; Orthoptera; Gryllidae)

“…Feed particles that are too large and lack uniformity have been shown to reduce feed intake and negatively impact growth parameters (Patton, 1967;Fuah et al, 2015). A behavioral preference was observed for soft-textured cassava leaves over tougher papaya leaves (Fuah et al, 2015), and for softer leaves and fruit peels rather than drier grains (Kinyuru and Kipkoech, 2018). The source and microbial contamination of feed is also potentially a major factor in growth and survival, as roadside collection of forage may introduce parasites or contamination, causing reduced survival (Miech et al, 2016).…”

Can farm weeds improve the growth and microbiological quality of crickets (Gryllus bimaculatus)?

“…In this perspective, the potential of edible insects to address food and nutrition security is on the increase (van Huis, 2013). Kipkoech, 2018). A greater attention has been put on a handful of insects which can be easily 55 domesticated and reared with significantly shorter life cycles.…”

“…Some of these insects belong to 56 the Gryllidae (cricket) family (Halloran et al, 2016). For example, the house cricket (Acheta 57 domesticus) and the field cricket (Gryllus bimaculatus) can be reared and harvested after 60 to 58 75 days under natural conditions (Caparros Megido et al, 2015; Kinyuru and Kipkoech, 2018). 59 Cricket farming has been successfully implemented in Thailand (Halloran et al, 2016) and Kenya 60 (Kinyuru and Kipkoech, 2018), while gaining interest in Cambodia, Lao People's Democratic 61 Republic, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Halloran et al, 2018).…”

“…For example, the house cricket (Acheta 57 domesticus) and the field cricket (Gryllus bimaculatus) can be reared and harvested after 60 to 58 75 days under natural conditions (Caparros Megido et al, 2015; Kinyuru and Kipkoech, 2018). 59 Cricket farming has been successfully implemented in Thailand (Halloran et al, 2016) and Kenya 60 (Kinyuru and Kipkoech, 2018), while gaining interest in Cambodia, Lao People's Democratic 61 Republic, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Halloran et al, 2018). Although cricket 62 farming has shown its potential for large-scale production, the relatively high cost of the local commercial feeds, such as commercial chicken feeds, is still a challenge to farmers (Caparros worth noting that insect feeds and farming environments are important factors that eventually 71 will influence the insects' microbial composition (Dillon and Dillon, 2004;EFSA, 2015).…”

“…In Kenya, a country that heavily relies on agriculture, farm weeds are common in farmlands, as 75 well as in some natural environments. Following the study by Kinyuru and Kipkoech (2018) replica of what many small-scale farmers rearing crickets in Kenya are currently practicing. In 88 order to obtain the pinheads for the rearing trial, the eggs were collected from the stock colony 89 of G. bimaculatus using moist cotton balls which were replaced after every 2 days.…”