ABSTRACT

 This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of different animal dung media on growth performance and serum biochemistry of earthworm (hyperiodrilus euryaulos) cultured in different animal dung media. A completely randomized design (CRD) was used and the experiment lasted for ten weeks. The different animal dung’s used were; Rabbit, Poultry, Pig and Goat which was incorporated into garden soil and sterilized using heat, to eliminate bias. The earthworms were introduced into this different animal dung’s at the weight of 0.5-1.Og and 1kg of diet was formulated using maize offal, wheat offal and PKC in a proportion of 0.35kg, 0.30kg and 0.35kg respectively, and the feed was sprinkled on each of the soil excreta. These animal dung’s were designated as Ti.Tz, T3 and T4, respectively. Data were collected at the end ofthe experiment for growth performance and serum biochemistry parameters. Analysis of variance test (ANOVA) was carried out on the data collected using SPSS Statistical Software Package. From the result of the growth performance there was no significant (p>0.05) difference between average (mean) length harvested and the average (mean) length cultured. The average diameter in T2 was lower whereas other treatments were significantly (p<0.05) similar. The increase in length was highest in T2 followed by Ti, T4 and T3 respectively. The increase in diameter was in descending order as T3, T4 and Tj were significantly similar. The total weight harvested was highest in Tj followed by T4 and T2 having no significant difference between them and least in T3. From the serum biochemistry result, it shows that the total protein (2.54), creatinine (7.55), urea (58.30) and cholesterol (106.15) were highest in T2 with blood glucose concentration less than T3 and T4. It implies that earthworms can do well in T2 and T4 media in integrated farming (livestock production and vermiculture) especially T2 (Catalan, 1980) should be preferred for choice of animal dung for vermiculture for animal feeding because the choice of culture material bedding affect growth and chemical composition (Ulep, 1982).