Food preference and nutrient composition of African cricket Brachytrupes membranaceus L. (Dury) in Cross River State, Nigeria

Abstract

Food preference of Brachytrupes membranaceus and proximate analysis of the nymphal and adult stages of B. membranaceus was carried out in the Arboretum and laboratory of the University of Calabar. The nymphs of B. membranaceus were sourced from the wild. Materials used as feeds included Anarcadium occidentale leaf (AOL), Arachis hypogea leaves and nuts (AHL, AHN), Telfairia occidentalis leaves (TOL), Ipomoea batatas leaves and tubers (IBL, IBT), also mixtures of all the vegetables, broiler mash, and control. An insectarium made up of 20 block compartments covering an area of 15×15 m with a distance of 1 m block from each treatment was built in the University’s Arboretum. The treatments were arranged in a randomised complete block design with four replications. The nymphal stage of B. membranaceus was later introduced to the insectarium and fed with different rations. Data were collected several days to full maturity and weight gain at three weekly intervals till maturity. The results showed that B. membranaceus fed with vegetables and tubers recorded higher weight similar to those fed with broiler mash and mixtures. Proximate analysis of B. membranaceus shows protein source (53.4 g), dry matter content, average ash content (6.0 g), percentage lipid or fat (15.7 g), average crude fibre (6.3 g), average carbohydrate (15.20 g), macro and microelements. The result also showed the following amino acids; lysine (40.0), histidine (21.5), arginine (48.5), aspartic acid (73), threonine (18) serine (35), glutamic acid (150), proline (19.0), glycine (45.5), alanine (30.5), cystine (15.7), valine (37.8), methionine (20.5), isoleucine (45.8), leucine (55.9), tyrosine (24.6), and phenylalanine (38.5). Farming of B. membranaceus should be encouraged by poor resource farmers in Nigeria due to availability of their feed, its high protein contents and the presence of essential amino acid which is lacking in most in most Nigerian diets.