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Whole-shoot mulberry feeding

Whole-shoot feeding, also called shoot-rearing, is a labour-efficient late-age silkworm rearing practice in which entire mulberry shoots are cut and laid on rack-type shelves rather than stripping individual leaves. It is the standard feeding method for commercial bivoltine rearing in India.

Principle

When mulberry is harvested as whole shoots and laid on shelves, the attached leaves retain freshness for longer, the worms feed continuously between top and bottom of the shoot, and bed-cleaning operations are simplified. Manual leaf stripping — the traditional alternative — is labour-intensive and bruises the leaf, leading to faster wilting.

Implementation

Mulberry gardens for whole-shoot feeding are usually trained as paired-row or pit-system plantings (see Mulberry Cultivation Sericulture) so that shoots can be cut at ground level at 60-70 day intervals. Shoots are transported to the rearing shed (Silkworm Rearing Shed) and arranged horizontally on rack shelves; worms migrate up the shoot as the lower leaves are consumed. The method is applied during the late-age (fourth and fifth instar) stages, after the chawki phase in a Chawki Rearing Centre. Internationally, China and Japan use the same shoot-rearing approach in their commercial sericulture.

Adoption context

Whole-shoot feeding was developed and popularised in India by CSRTI Mysore. It became a key component of the bivoltine rearing package because the labour savings and improved leaf utilisation support the higher productivity of bivoltine hybrids such as CSR2 x CSR4 (see Bivoltine Silkworm). The method roughly halves labour for leaf preparation and feeding compared with traditional leaf feeding, which is especially valuable as rural wage rates rise.

Limitations

Whole-shoot feeding requires sufficient rearing-shelf area and head room, and the mulberry garden must be managed as a shoot-harvest system from the outset. Shoot-feeding can also encourage build-up of uneaten stem material on rearing beds; regular bed-cleaning and disinfection are needed to prevent disease.

See also: Mulberry Cultivation Sericulture, Bivoltine Silkworm, Silkworm Rearing Shed, Chawki Rearing Centre, Chandrika Mountage.

References

  1. Mulberry cultivation and utilization in India. FAO.
  2. Late Age Silkworm Rearing. eGyanKosh, IGNOU.
  3. Rearing of Mulberry Silkworm. CSRTI Mysore / SILKS Ramanagara.