Effect of Oral Administration of Synthetic Vitamin ‘C’ on Food Utilization in Cross Breed Race of Silkworm Bombyx mori L.

Abstract

The effect of Synthetic Vitamin ‘C’ on food intake and utilization were studied in Cross Breed race of Silkworm Bombyx mori (Linnaeus) from hatching to pupation, when fed with ad libitum Mulberry leaves Morus alba treated with different concentration of synthetic Vitamin C at 260±20 c with a relative humidity 80±10%. The food utilization parameters like food intake, faeces defecation, assimilation, food converted, oxidation, feeding rate, assimilation rate, conversion rate, metabolic rate, assimilation efficiency, conversion efficiency (K1 and K2) were studied. It has been observed that the 0.5% vitamin C treated group plays a significant role with an increase in growth and better food intake which averages 6159.3 mg/mg/day compared to control group i. e. 3529.4 mg/mg/day and also other three Vitamin C treated groups i.e. 1.0%, 1.5% and 2.0% concentrations.