African giant millipede (Archispirostreptus gigas) as non-conventional ingredient source in fish nutrition

Abstract

Arthropods importance can be assessed for beneficial use especially in reducing dependence on scarce animal protein source especially fishmeal in aquaculture nutrition. Biochemical composition of African giant millipede (Archispirostreptus gigas) was conducted according to standard methods for proximate, phytochemical, mineral content, fatty acid and amino acid profile. Nutritional content analysis of millipede revealed crude protein of 63.24±0.05%, ether extracts 11.70±0.09% and metabolisable energy (kcal/kg) 3711.22±6.75. Phytochemical composition for phytate, saponin and chitin was high in millipede. Micro mineral content (mg/kg) indicated presence of manganese 36.00, iron 219.50, copper 9.30, zinc 20.60 while macro mineral (%) showed phosphorus 0.036, calcium 0.022, magnesium 0.204, potassium 0.810 and sodium 0.072 to be present in appreciable quantity. The fatty acid profile indicated palmitic and oleic acid to be high with least presence of butyric acid. The essential amino acid revealed high lysine 6.18 (g/100g) content and least tryptophan 0.68 (g/100g); while the non-essential amino acid glutamic acid 11.05 (g/100g) was high and cystine 1.21 (g/100g) least in millipede. The composition of millipede meal revealed potential use in fish nutrition.

Keywords

• phytochemical
• mineral content
• fatty acid
• amino acid
• african giant millipede