A Guide to Successful Maggot Farming – 9 Steps

Maggot farming is highly profitable and sustainable. Margot farming has become popular because of the high level of protein they produce in human and animal dietary.

Maggots evolve from flies. They are fly larvae, usually from the common housefly. When flies lay eggs,  the eggs hatch into maggots before they metamorphoses into flies. Maggots are also called grubs and  can grow between 4 to 12 mm in length depending on their stage of growth. Some maggot range from  

an off-white color to a light brown, though some can be yellow or reddish color. Most livestock farmers  like fish and poultry now purchase a large number of maggots either dry or fresh and add them to their  livestock feed or feed them directly to the animals. Maggot is a major source of protein and other  natural nutrients that animals need to perform their daily activities. 

Maggot farming currently not too competitive like sago worm because most people are not aware that  its possible to farm Maggots and make money from it, talk more about making millions. The truth is that  it is possible if you do it correctly. 

Maggots or larva metamorphose from flies. The fly of this larva are from black soldier fly. The Black  soldier fly (BSF) is a harmless fly and does not transmit disease unlike the house fly. 

The high cost of animal feed is a major challenge for farmers. Research has shown that maggot meal of black soldier fly can be an excellent replacement for fishmeal or soybeans meal which are the main  ingredient in animal feed. Maggot meal can be blended with other feed ingredient and use to feed fish,  poultry birds, pigs, guinea fowl and other animals. 

Apart from its good taste, maggots are very nutritious and rich in proteins, a vital element in every  animal feed. Proteins are important because they are a critical component in developing muscles in  these animals which eventually become the meat that humans eat. 

Maggot farming has become a rising aspect of farming because of its immerse benefit to livestock and  crop farmers all over the world. Most livestock farmers like fish and poultry now purchase a large  number of maggots either dry or fresh and add them to their livestock feed or feed them directly to the  animals. Maggot is a major source of protein and other natural nutrients that animals need to perform  their daily activities. There are few businesses producing maggot meal in Africa; the most popular one is  Agriprotein in South Africa.  

Maggot farming currently is not too competitive like sago worm because most people are not aware  that its possible to farm Maggots and make money from it, talk more about making millions. The truth is  that it is possible if you do it correctly. 

Maggot is high and rich in Protein, Lysine, Calcium, Potassium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Copper, Zinc,  Fatty Acid, Amino Acids and iron nutrients. 

3. Benefits of maggots. 

1. Serves as feed: Maggot is an alternative to feed fish. It is use to feed various poultry animals like  chicken, turkey and duck. etc. Maggot also serves as an excellent replacement for fishmeal in feed  production. 

2. Useful for waste management: It is a potential solution to waste management on the farm because  the waste is the raw material to produce maggots. 

3. For fertilization: Maggot provide fertilizer for crop production.

9 Steps involved in starting a Maggot farming. 

1. Find a suitable location
2. Construct a suitable housing for it for your maggot farming
3. Source for necessary raw materials
4. Understand the laying of eggs of maggot farming
5. Understand the hatching of egg processes of maggot farming
6. Have a good feeding strategy for your maggot farming business
7. Harvest your maggots
8. Have a storage plan for your maggot farming business
9. Develop a marketing plan for your maggot farming business.

Finding a suitable location for maggot farming

A suitable location should be selected for maggots farming. Select a  location with vegetation like trees and leaves so that they can help to absorb the odor from the pen.  Check for termites and other predators that can feed on your maggot and install necessary protective  measures. 

Construction of suitable housing for maggot farming

Construct housing to suit your space and scale of production.  You can construct a small open house with a roof. The floor of the pen house should be floored with  concrete. You can start by using plastic drums as substrate drum and collecting drum. construct  drainage around the pen house to prevent termites, lizard and rats from accessing your pen and causing  damage. 

Sourcing for raw materials:

Poultry dropping is the most popular raw material for maggot production.  You can get poultry dropping from poultry farmers within your location for a small fee. Introduce the  dropping and fly attractant into the substrate tank after collection. Rotten fruits and food is also a good  alternative to poultry dropping, and they are excellent attractions. 

Laying of eggs:

Adult female flies lay up to 2500 eggs under controlled condition. They lay their eggs on  the substrate (Poultry Dropping). 

Hatching of the eggs:

The eggs hatch after 8 to 12 hours. The larval stage lasts about 5 days while the  pupal stage for 4 to 5 days. The housefly has 6 days cycle under controlled conditions. Then, Water the  substrate daily to increase production. Maggot is ready for harvest within 4-5days. 

Feeding the maggots

The adult fly feeds mainly on decaying organic matter. Maggots feed for 4-5 days and then  migrate to pupate in a dry place. The flies mate and lay eggs between feeding periods. 450 grams of  fresh manure can feed 1500 maggots. 

Harvesting:

Harvesting maggots can be done in 3 various ways, which will be discussed below: 

-The self-collect method: This method is where the larva is trapped by collecting tanks when the larva is  trying to escape. 

-The flotation method: This is where the manure is mixed with water and the larvae and pupae float out  to be collected with a sieve. 

-The screening method: This is where the manure is spread in a thin layer on a sieve (3 mm) placed over  a basin under sunlight: the larvae try to escape the light by passing through the screen and fall into the  basin. 

Storage

Harvested maggots can be stored by washing and parboiling the maggots to remove and kill  pathogens. Drying them using either the sun or the oven. After drying, put them in airtight containers  and store in a dry place. 

Marketing:

Introducing the maggot to farmers in your location and using the power of social media to  network with other farmers. Selling dried maggot meal will provide the opportunity for you to brand  your product with packages and increase sales.

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