Results of previous studies by researchers have shown
that maggot meal can compare favorably
with fish meal and soybean in terms of protein contents other nutrient
composition and energy. Adesulu and Mustapha (2000) reported that maggot meal
is advantageous to fish following the under listed results obtained from study;
i)
Maggots contain
the same number of amino acids found in fish meal and soybean and these amino
acids include the ten essential ones for animals. Magnesium, potassium and iron
were also higher than they are in fish meal and soybean.
ii)
Processing of
maggot is a major factor in their importance as food for the fish. Sun-dried
maggot gave the best overall result in the study, while those supplied fresh to
the fish gave the poorest result. Fish
meal as expected was found superior to the soybean meal.
iii)
The superiority
of maggot meal over other protein source in fish diet must be due to the
tender, easily digested nature of maggot. Fish bone and their hard parts are
milled together making the digestibility a bit difficult.
iv)
The plants on the
other hand are normally more difficult to digest than animals. On this basis,
maggots are better than both fish meal and soybean meal.
v)
Sun-dried maggots
are exposed to bacteria and other germs both of which add to the nutrient value
of the maggot.
Other advantages of maggot as
protein source in diet includes easy of cultivation, possibility of a
continuous production which is not limited by seasons of the year (Adesulu and
Mustapha 2000).