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Cricket Farming for Animal Protein as Profitable Business for Small Farmers in Indonesia



Author(s)

Asnath Maria Fuah, Hotnida Caroline Herawati Siregar and Yuni Cahya Endrawati

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DOI:10.17265/2161-6256/2015.04.008

Department of Animal Production and Technology, Faculty of Animal Science, Bogor Agricultural University, Agatis Street, Bogor 16680, Indonesia

Cricket is widely recognized in Indonesia especially in Java island, and commonly kept by village farmers for food and feed. In general, crickets has very short life cycle (60-70 d), with three weeks of laying period and egg production within the range of 200-1,500 eggs/female. The female has capability for multiple mating with several males and therefore produces more fertile eggs. Serial studies including experiments on laboratory and field observation of local crickets had been conducted to evaluate the farming practices and reproductive performance of three local species (Gryllus spp., Gryllus mitratus and Gryllus testaceus) which were given local feeds—Manihot esculenta and Carica papaya leaves. The experiment was conducted in randomized block design with feed as the treatments and species as the block. Cliring crickets (G. mitratus) fed with M. esculenta leaves revealed the highest total egg production (1,478.22 eggs), with daily egg production of 32.85 eggs/d, the longest laying period (45 d), the lowest feed intake (0.28 g/head) and feed conversion (0.93 mg/egg), compared to Cendawang crickets (G. testaceus) and Gryllus spp.. The revenue and cost (R/C) ratio was 1.4, indicating that small scale cricket enterprise could offer significant profit and could be chosen as an alternative activities for earning regular income.

Gryllus, local feed, performance, economic potential.