Mealworm breeding solution
Safe and efficient reproduction of Tenebrio and Alphitobius with revolutionary SmartBreed egg-laying solution
SmartBreed has developed a highly efficient concept for the reproduction of Tenebrio molitor and Alphitobius diaperinus. The parent animals (beetles) can be kept in a small space and young larvae can be harvested continuously – fully automated and highly industrialised.
Advantages of the SmartBreed egg-laying solution
- Can be used in all crate-based solutions
- Increased efficiency, thanks to reduced eating losses of the eggs
- Higher egg yield with a low parent stock
- Young larval fraction of the same age
- Quantity of young larvae can be precisely determined
- Parent animals can be fed easily at any time
- Genetic mixture of all young larvae
- Targeted exchange of parent stock per box/tray optimised for laying performance and healthy age mix possible
After mating, the female beetle lays several eggs a day with a laying spike through an upper perforated plate onto a plate below. The eggs stick to the second tray underneath and remain there until the young larvae hatch. The hatched young larvae fall into a box underneath, which prevents the eggs from being eaten by the beetles or the hatched young larvae. The result is a very pure fraction of young larvae of the same age, which enables an exact dosage of larvae for fattening.
The SmartBreed egg-laying solution increases efficiency, reduces eating losses and thus enables a higher egg yield with a low parent stock in contrast to conventional reproduction solutions.
Space-saving SmartBreed mast solution
The mealworm rearing silo is a space-saving and efficient solution for fattening (rearing) that is characterised by low operating costs (OPEX) compared to tray solutions.
Advantages of the SmartBreed mast solution
- Robust mill technology
- Lower OPEX
- Cooling through evaporation
- Silo can be extended modularly from 4m to 20m in height
The rearing silo runs in a batch process: All larvae in the silo are the same age and are therefore harvested at the same time. The silo has a number of pressure protection elements that reduce the weight of the substrate and the resulting shear forces when it is moved. This means that the pressure conditions for the larvae in a 1 metre deep substrate are identical to those in a 7 cm deep substrate.
The bottom of the silo is opened at regular intervals so that the substrate can flow out. This is transported back up through a bucket elevator, where it is moistened and then fed back into the silo. The removal of substrate also leads to loosening in the silo, as it now trickles downwards.
The breeding silo is actively ventilated, which guarantees optimum breeding conditions. To do this, air is introduced under each pressure protection element on one side and extracted on the opposite side. The temperature can be optimally regulated by the evaporation of water from the moist substrate.
