author(s)
IU Sheikh, MT Banday, IA Baba, S Adil, Shaista S Nissa, Bushra Zaffer and KH Bulbul

abstract
The Silkworm pupae commonly known by different names in different places. Out of the world’s total production about 90% of the world production results from the cocoons of the domesticated mulberry Silkmoth (Bombyx mori), a Bombycidae moth. The spent pupae are produced in large quantities and are a major by-product of silk production. For 1 kg of raw silk, 8 kg of wet pupae (2 kg of dry pupae) are produced. After reeling silk from the cocoons the fresh spent silkworm pupae are normally thrawn nearby without proper disposal. These fresh silkworm pupae are highly degradable product which causes environmental pollution and off smell in the near vicinity areas. In silk producing areas, the disposal of huge quantity of pupae can cause serious environmental problems. Moreover, the costs of conventional protein sources such as soybean meal and fishmeal are very high and moreover their availability in the future will be limited. Therefore utilization of these valuable resources for feeding of livestock and poultry is a better way to reduce the environmental impact of silk industry. Silkworm pupae meal (SWPM) is a protein-rich feed ingredient of animal origin with a high nutritional value. On dry matter (DM) basis its crude protein content ranges from 50% to more than 80% (defatted meal). The lysine (6-7% of the protein) and methionine (2-3% of the protein) contents are particularly high. Silkworm pupae meal is relatively poor in minerals (3-10% DM) as compared to other animal by-products.