AMINO ACID PROFILE OF EARTHWORM AND EARTHWORM MEAL (Lumbricus rubellus) FOR ANIMAL FEEDSTUFF
Abstract: Earthworm meal
(Lumbricus rubellus) has become one of natural material that could be used
asfeed additive. Powdering method of earthworm was done by using formic acid
addition. The study wascarried out (1) to evaluate the essential amino acid
profile of earthworm and earthworm meal, (2) tocalculate the value of essential
amino acid index (EAAI) of both materials. A modified EAAI equationwas
developed from the essential amino acid profile of earthworm and earthworm
meal. The resultshowed that essential amino acid of earthworm was dominated by
histidine (0.63% of dry matter basis),meanwhile the earthworm meal was
dominated by isoleucine (1.98% of dry matter basis). The nonessential amino
acid of earthworm and earthworm meal was dominated by glutamic acid (1.52%
and3.60% of dry matter basis respectively). The value of essential amino acid
index obtained fromearthworm meal was higher (58.67%) than those from earthworm
(21.23%). It is concluded thatpowdering method of earthworm by using formic
acid addition had higher amino acid balance thanearthworm.
Author: L. Istiqomah, A.
Sofyan, E. Damayanti, H. Julendra
Journal Code: jppeternakangg090013
