ECONOMIC AND PRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF EARTH WORMS Eudrilus eugeniae ON DIFFERENT DIETARY SOURCES.

Eudrilus eugeniae is a foreign species that is well adapted to captivity system adopted in Brazil. The objective was evaluate the productive and economic performance of earthworms in different substrates in two 100 days. In aim 1, the control substrate composed by cattle manure and forage grass (CMG) was supplemented with minerals (MM), soybean meal (SB) and ground corn (GC). The substrate containing GC was higher than in average weight (AW) of 127% and average weight gain (AWG) of 332% when compared to CMG substrate, superior in 193% AW and 252% AWG when compared to MM and 251% AW and 403% AWG when compared to the substrate with SB. In aim 2, were used different amounts of GC in substrate. The production of the substrate that contained 5% GC was superior in 9%, 12% and 20% with regard to those that had a composition of 10%, 15% and 20% of GC, respectively. As for the difference between the costs and the benefits of each of the substrates, the 5% GC substrate showed a positive return of BRL$ 35.32 for each BRL$1.00 invested and an economic performance that was 205% superior to MM, the second best option among substrates. 5% GC performed better and more efficient and economically viable production of worms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]