Performa produksi ulat tepung (Tenebrio molitor L.) dengan dan tanpa penambahan cahaya lampu dengan selang penggantian pakan yang berbeda

Abstract

People believe if lamp was added it will boost mealworm growth, despite mealworm is a nocturnal animal. This reasearch aimed to compare mealworm performances with and without lamp addition in different feed changing interval. This research was done from 2nd of June up to 9'h August 2005, at Non Ruminant and Prospective Animal Division, Animal Production and Technology Departement, Faculty of Animal Science, Bogor Agricultural University. This experiment used 1800 larva which is fed mixed of onggok (75%) and chicken commercial feed (25%). Lights was given for 24 hours with two five watt bulb lights and placed in the middle of experimental boxes. Completely Randomized Design in 3x2 factorial was used as experimental design. The first factor was lights addition: added and not added, and the second was different feed changing interval: every 10,20 or 30 days. Each experiment has three replications so it will have 18 experimental units. The observed variables were feed consumption, body weight and length gain, feed convertion and mortality. The obtained data were analized by Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and tested by Duncan Multiple Range Test. The result showed that without lamp addition had a significant effect (P<0,05) in the body weight gain. Changing feed every 20 days had a significant effect (P<0,05) in body weight gain and changing feed every 30 days had a significant effect too (P<0,05) in feed conversion based on length gain. The result also showed that there is no interaction between those factor. Keywords: mealworm, lights, feed changing interval