On March 28, in the greenhouse standardized silkworm room of the Silkworm Artificial Feed Breeding Demonstration Base of Guangxi Yingchun Silk Co., Ltd., staff were harvesting the first batch of white silkworm cocoons this year, marking the start of the artificial feed sericulture project in Xiangzhou County. This is another step forward based on last year’s success.
“This is the cocoon we use to raise silkworms with artificial feed. Feeding silkworms saves a lot of time and energy. In the past, we had to feed mulberry leaves several times a day. Now we use Feeding is done only once for 1 to 3-year-olds, twice for 4-year-olds, and three times for 5-year-olds. It is not affected by climate and weather and can be raised all year round. The yield of each cocoon like this is about 80 kilograms. We raise 1.5 silkworms each time, and the expected output is 120 kilograms. The cocoons raised on the feed are white and strong.” Technician Qin Muzhen said happily.
Artificial feed sericulture is a new model that replaces traditional mulberry leaf breeding and realizes batch artificial breeding. It is not subject to seasonal restrictions, saves labor, and reduces the number of feedings. It has the advantages of less silkworm disease and reduced silkworm diseases. The first batch of artificial feed silkworms raised in this year’s artificial feed sericulture project in Xiangzhou County collected ants on February 23 and began to form clusters and cocoons on March 20; the variety is Guisi No. 5, which is a special variety for artificial feed. Since entering the breeding stage in late February this year, the entire growth process of silkworms has been in good condition.
With the successful trial of the artificial feed sericulture project, the transformation and upgrading of the traditional sericulture industry will be promoted, so that sericulture will no longer be restricted by season and scale. It can be cultivated year-round to help farmers stabilize and increase income. </p
