Sustainable Use of Macrotermes spp. to Improve Traditional Poultry Farming through an Efficient Trapping System in Burkina Faso.

Aïchatou Nadia Christelle Dao,Salimata Pousga,Jacques Philippe Nacoulma,Fernand Sankara,Irénée Somda,Marc Kenis,Kalifa Coulibaly

doi:10.3390/insects13010062

Aïchatou Nadia Christelle Dao, Salimata Pousga + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13010062

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Journal: Insects	Publication Date: Jan 5, 2022
Citations: 3	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Nazi Boni University, Cabi

Abstract

Simple SummaryIn West Africa, termites are commonly used as protein feed for poultry by smallholder farmers who trap them by placing containers filled with organic matters on termite tracks. The objective of this study conducted in Burkina Faso was to test and improve the technique to increase the availability of termites for traditional poultry farmers. The study focused on termites of the genus Macrotermes and found that the quantity of termites trapped varied with the containers’ types, substrates placed in the container, habitats, harvesting times, duration of trap deposition, and season. These results allow to provide information to farmers on how to optimize the trapping of Macrotermes species and increase the quantity of termites available as protein source for their poultry.This study aimed to promote the use of termites as feed in traditional poultry farming by developing sustainable and inexpensive termite trapping techniques. Various tests were carried out in Burkina Faso to improve the traditional technique of trapping termites of the genus Macrotermes using a reversed container filled with organic matters. We studied the effect of containers’ types, substrates, habitats, harvesting times, duration of trap deposition, and season on the quantity of termites trapped. Calabashes and terra cotta pots trapped more termites than iron boxes, but calabashes were quickly destroyed by termites. The quantity of termites harvested increased proportionally with the volume of the pot and was higher in a cultivated habitat than in a forest, despite the higher number of termite mounds in the forest. The quantity of termites harvested was lowest in the cold-dry season and highest during the rainy season, however, sizeable amounts of termites were collected throughout the year. Among six substrates and mixtures of substrates tested, maize cobs trapped the highest number of termites and cow dung the lowest. The best time of harvest varied among seasons and, if substrates are abundant, it is more efficient to empty the containers on a daily basis.

Highlights

Termites play an important role in tropical ecosystems
The study of the effect of the containers showed that terra cotta pots and calabashes are more effective than iron boxes for trapping Macrotermes spp., despite the fact that iron boxes are commonly used for that purpose in Burkina Faso [8]
In terms of durability, the terra cotta pots appear to be the best container for Macrotermes spp. trapping because, after a few days of use, the calabash is fully destroyed by termites

Summary

Introduction

Termites play an important role in tropical ecosystems. They are major agents in the preliminary stages of the decomposition of plant litter, in savannas and arid forests of Africa [1]. Termites are rich in protein and are commonly used as human food and animal feed. They are the second most consumed insect order after Orthoptera and are among the most nutritious insects [2]. Rural poultry farmers can offset the high cost of animal protein (e.g., fish meal) and plant protein (e.g., cottonseed cake and soybean meal) used in animal feed, in particular poultry and fish. In West African countries such as Togo, Ghana, Benin and Burkina Faso, termites are traditionally used to feed poultry in smallholder farms [7,8,10,11,12]

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