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Biodegradation of Animal Waste by Lumbricus terrestris

Dairy Science Department, University of Georgia, Athens 30601

ABSTRACT

The possibility of recycling animal waste through the common earthworm, Lumbricus terrestris was studied. Earthworms were raised in beds and fed only raw feces and water with lime added as a buffer. The conversion of kilograms of fecal dry matter to kilograms of live earthworms was 2:1. The excretion (castings) of the earthworm was a loose, friable humus type of soil containing 3.0% nitrogen. Earthworm meal dry matter analyzed 58% protein and 2.8% fat and proved to be very-palatable when fed to domestic cats. Worm dirt was equal to greenhouse potting soil for the production of flowering plants. An added advantage is that the worm dirt weighs only about 50% as much as normal potting soil.

¹ Present address: Cooperative Extension Service, Canton, Georgia.