How to raise silkworms to achieve high yield?

With the increase in market demand for silk , improving the level of mulberry planting and silkworm breeding has become a top priority in the production of the mulberry silk industry. In addition, planting mulberry trees and raising silkworms can realize the comprehensive utilization of agricultural resources and reduce resource waste. Moreover, mulberry planting and silkworm breeding belong to ecological and environmental protection industries. So how to raise silkworms to achieve high yields? Let’s take a look below.

1. Feeding method

Silkworms at ages 4-5 are in the adult stage, and the suitable growth temperature is 25 degrees. Silkworms have weak resistance to carbon dioxide and high temperature and humidity, produce a lot of excrement, and eat a large amount of mulberry leaves. They can be raised outdoors on sheds or indoors on the ground.

2. Move the silkworms to the ground

Clean the silkworm room, disinfect it with 1% bleaching powder, and after it dries, sprinkle a layer of lime powder on the ground. After feeding the silkworms a meal of leaves, move them to the ground for feeding.

3. Reasonable feeding

The fourth instar silkworm is in the transition period from the growth of the silkworm body to the growth of the silk gland. If there is malnutrition, it will affect the yield and quality. The mulberry leaves are required to be fresh and of good quality. 7-15 leaves under the top bud are selected for feeding to achieve the purpose of full feeding of good mulberry leaves. The amount of mulberry leaves used for 5-year-old silkworms accounts for about 85% of the total mulberry leaves used. This period is a critical period for the rational use of mulberry leaves and improving the efficiency of mulberry leaves. The feeding method of tight at both ends and loose in the middle is adopted: on the 1st to 2nd day or the 5th to 7th day of the 5th age, the amount of leaves given should be strictly controlled until the silkworms have just finished eating the mulberry leaves by the next time. On the 3rd to 6th days, the silkworms should be fully fed with good mulberry leaves. Each time the leaves are fed, the silkworms should be moved and the seats expanded to keep the silkworm heads even.

4. Keep the silkworm bed clean

During the adult silkworm period, use fresh lime powder to disinfect the silkworm bodies and silkworm seats every morning. On rainy days when the humidity is high, sprinkle lime powder twice a day to keep the silkworms ventilated and dry.

5. Collecting cocoons from the upper cluster

After 6-7 days, the fifth-instar silkworms stop eating mulberry leaves and excrete a large amount of soft green feces. Their chests are transparent, their bodies are slightly soft and waxy yellow, and their heads swing from side to side. At this time, choose 3-4 square clusters and place them horizontally and overlap alternately. Sprinkle the mature silkworms evenly on the clusters, and hang up the clusters after the silkworms have settled down. During the clustering period, good ventilation should be maintained, and the humidity in the cluster should be maintained at 85% and the temperature at 24 degrees. Generally, the cocoons can be harvested and sold 6 days after spring silkworms and 4-5 days after summer and autumn silkworms.

That’s it