An ecological breeding farm and method for sustainable harvesting of mature silkworms

Abstract

The present application relates to a kind of sustainable harvest of ecological breeding farm of tussah silkworm mature silkworm and its breeding method, breeding farm includes outer frame, cover is set on ground, inside form multiple breeding areas, according to tussah silkworm age division into one age area, two age area, three age area, four age area and five age area;Protective curtain is installed in the top and around of outer frame;Drive mechanism is driven with protective curtain transmission cooperation to drive its extension and shrink;Arranged in each breeding area in breeding row, water supply pool and water supply pump;Breeding row includes breeding table that is mutually connected in series and / or parallel, breeding table has pool and cover plate that is covered on pool, pool has water inlet and water outlet in it, cover plate is arranged with for inserting branch and leaf cutting hole.This breeding farm area is high in degree of integration, can carry out subarea adaptability breeding to tussah silkworm of multiple age, realize the purpose of centralized management, centralized harvesting, centralized protection, realize large-scale, high efficiency, sustainable tussah silkworm breeding.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of outdoor tussah silkworm rearing technology, specifically to an ecological farm and rearing method for sustainably harvesting mature tussah silkworms. Background Technology

[0002] Oak is a general term for plants in the genus *Quercus*, including several species such as *Quercus mongolica*, *Quercus mongolica*, and *Quercus liaodongensis*. As a deciduous tree, oak is widely distributed in many regions of my country (from Heilongjiang in the north to Hunan in the south), commonly found on hillsides or in hilly areas, and is mostly used for raising tussah silkworms. However, currently, the main method of tussah silkworm farming in my country is based on large-scale, contiguous oak orchards, such as Kuandian in Liaoning and Nanzhao in Henan. At the same time, most tussah silkworm farming is done in oak orchards or on hillsides, primarily using large-scale artificially planted oak orchards, resulting in the ineffective utilization of most oak resources, especially the large areas and forests of wild oak in some mountainous regions. Furthermore, the current practice of outdoor tussah silkworm farming makes it susceptible to weather conditions, leaf quality, and pests and diseases, often leading to varying degrees of yield reduction and significant economic losses for silkworm farmers.

[0003] Currently, technological innovations in tussah silkworm rearing mainly focus on indoor co-rearing of young silkworms, outdoor release of mature silkworms, and small-scale indoor full-age silkworm rearing. Methods for co-rearing young silkworms include: indoor branch-based rearing, indoor planting of oak or willow trees, and indoor feed rearing. Once the silkworms have grown, they are released into oak orchards, willow orchards, or hillsides for free-range rearing. The disadvantages of indoor co-rearing of young silkworms and outdoor release of mature silkworms are mainly: first, during release, tussah silkworms are highly susceptible to damage from high temperatures, strong winds, heavy rains, birds, and pests, leading to reduced yields; second, the methods and procedures are complex, and the transfer process is time-consuming and labor-intensive, increasing labor costs; and third, the harsh rearing environment discourages young people from engaging in tussah silkworm rearing outdoors. Small-scale indoor full-age silkworm rearing methods include: using oak branches and leaves in relatively enclosed containers for silkworm rearing and using oak or willow trees in greenhouses for silkworm rearing. The main drawbacks of small-scale indoor silkworm rearing of all ages are as follows: First, tussah silkworms have strong phototaxis, upward movement, and escape characteristics, making indoor rearing more difficult; second, indoor silkworm rearing has high construction costs and small-scale breeding, ultimately leading to low economic benefits; and third, the harvesting, preservation, and storage of tussah leaves are relatively difficult when raising silkworms indoors.

[0004] Tussah silkworms can live in temperatures ranging from 8 to 30℃. Higher temperatures result in shorter instar periods, and vice versa. However, prolonged exposure to extreme high or low temperatures is unsuitable. The optimal temperature for survival is 20-25℃, within which enzyme activity is strongest, metabolism is highest, growth and development are fastest, and the silkworms are most robust. Tussah silkworm growth is greatly affected by environmental temperature, leading to concentrated rearing in late spring / early summer and late summer / early autumn. Silkworms raised in late spring / early summer and late summer / early autumn are respectively spring and autumn silkworms. Generally, only two harvests can be raised after late April and the hottest days of summer, based on the growth cycle of oak branches and leaves. Outdoor rearing of tussah silkworms is difficult in high temperatures, as they are easily affected by high temperatures and strong ultraviolet radiation, leading to significant yield reductions and making continuous rearing impossible.

[0005] Mature tussah silkworms refer to the silkworms at the final stage of their last instar, when they gradually stop feeding, their bodies shrink and become slightly transparent. At this point, they have emptied their excrement and are ready to spin their cocoons. Mature tussah silkworms are bright in color and attractive in appearance. After cooking, they have a distinctive flavor and are very popular with consumers. However, the mature tussah silkworm stage is short-lived, and timely harvesting is difficult under free-range conditions. Furthermore, the fixed season for tussah silkworm farming results in a very short market period for fresh mature tussah silkworms, making it difficult for consumers to frequently purchase them. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to provide an ecological farm for the sustainable harvesting of mature tussah silkworms, in order to solve the problems of slow harvesting caused by the outdoor free-range method of tussah silkworm rearing in the prior art, as well as the reduction in production caused by weather and environmental factors; the purpose of this invention is also to provide a breeding method using this ecological farm.

[0007] To address the aforementioned problems, the ecological farming system for sustainably harvesting mature tussah silkworms, as described in this invention, employs the following technical solution:

[0008] An ecological farm that sustainably harvests mature tussah silkworms includes an outer frame that is covered on the ground, and an interior that forms multiple breeding areas, which are divided into first-instar, second-instar, third-instar, fourth-instar, and fifth-instar areas according to the instar age of the tussah silkworms.

[0009] Protective curtains are installed movably on the roof and sides of the outer frame;

[0010] The drive mechanism works in conjunction with the protective curtain's transmission to extend and retract it;

[0011] The aquaculture farms are arranged in rows within each aquaculture area;

[0012] Water supply ponds are used to supply water to each aquaculture unit;

[0013] A water supply pump is connected between the water supply tank and the aquaculture row;

[0014] The breeding row consists of several breeding platforms connected in series and / or in parallel. Each breeding platform has a pool and a cover plate over the pool. The pool has an inlet and an outlet. The cover plate is provided with cutting holes for inserting branches and leaves.

[0015] Furthermore, an insertion tube is inserted into the insertion hole, with the lower end of the insertion tube extending below the liquid surface of the pool. The inlet of the insertion tube is near the bottom of the pool, and the outlet is near the top of the pool.

[0016] Furthermore, the breeding platform has a collection trough on the outside of the cover plate, and the top surface of the cover plate has a convex structure that is high in the middle and low around the edges.

[0017] Furthermore, the outer frame is covered with a bird-proof net.

[0018] The aquaculture method involved in this invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0019] Based on the growth cycle of oak branches and leaves, the cultivation process includes the following steps:

[0020] (1) Disinfect and sterilize the first-year area in advance, transfer the silkworms that hatched indoors to the branches and leaves of the first-year area, and insert the branches and leaves into the breeding platform of the first-year area.

[0021] (2) After the first-instar tussah silkworms enter the dormant period, disinfect and sterilize the second-instar area in advance, insert the branches and leaves on the breeding platform of the second-instar area, and transfer the first-instar tussah silkworms to the branches and leaves of the second-instar area.

[0022] (3) After the second instar tussah silkworms enter the dormant period, disinfect and sterilize the third instar area in advance, insert the branches and leaves on the breeding platform of the third instar area, and transfer the second instar tussah silkworms to the branches and leaves of the third instar area.

[0023] (4) After the third instar tussah silkworms enter the dormant period, disinfect and sterilize the fourth instar area in advance, insert the branches and leaves on the breeding platform of the fourth instar area, and transfer the third instar tussah silkworms to the branches and leaves of the fourth instar area.

[0024] (5) After the fourth instar tussah silkworms enter the dormant period, disinfect and sterilize the fifth instar area in advance, insert the branches and leaves on the breeding platform of the fifth instar area, and transfer the fourth instar tussah silkworms to the branches and leaves of the fifth instar area.

[0025] (6) Collect the fifth-instar tussah silkworms after they stop eating;

[0026] According to the hatching interval of the silkworm eggs, the continuous breeding process of steps (1) to (6) is repeated again during any one of the steps (1) to (6); the breeding platform in each breeding area is equipped with a circulating water supply; the protective curtains are selectively opened and closed according to the intensity of sunlight and weather changes on the day to provide shade, rain protection and wind protection for the tussah silkworms in each breeding area.

[0027] Furthermore, in each breeding area, branches and leaves are inserted into the holes of each breeding platform at intervals, with one branch inserted at a time. When transferring silkworms of different ages, the branches and leaves with silkworms from the previous step are inserted into the intervening holes between two branches and leaves in the breeding platform in the next step, so that the silkworms can be transferred by actively foraging for food.

[0028] Furthermore, in any of the steps (1) to (6), silkworm excrement is collected from the breeding platforms in each breeding area.

[0029] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: Compared with the prior art, the outdoor ecological breeding method for tussah silkworms involved in this invention greatly facilitates outdoor tussah silkworm rearing, expands the area for tussah silkworm rearing, and makes great use of local wild oak resources. It can avoid the losses caused by wind, rain, low temperature, insects, birds, and animals that are easily damaged when tussah silkworms are released in the wild through centralized and efficient management. It can also provide tussah silkworms with fresh oak leaves and an outdoor environment, which can improve the rate and quality of mature silkworms, facilitate management, effectively reduce costs, and improve efficiency.

[0030] Meanwhile, this breeding method, by simulating and creating the optimal environment for the growth and development of tussah silkworms to the greatest extent, aims to maximize the economic benefits of tussah silkworms. It simplifies outdoor tussah silkworm breeding procedures, reduces labor during relocation, thereby lowering labor costs, improves the breeding environment, and attracts more young people to the tussah silkworm breeding industry. It also shortens the tussah silkworm breeding cycle, increases economic value, facilitates the collection of silkworm excrement, and avoids the excrement being affected by external factors such as bacteria and soil, greatly increasing the economic benefits of tussah silkworm breeding.

[0031] Furthermore, during the rearing process at each age stage, the light intensity and temperature control within the rearing farm are adaptively adjusted according to external factors such as weather and sunlight. This extends the growing season for tussah silkworms, and by allowing multiple batches of silkworm eggs to hatch simultaneously, the farm can raise multiple batches of silkworms at the same time, thus achieving the goal of continuously supplying the market with fresh, mature tussah silkworms from June to October. This greatly improves the economic benefits of tussah silkworm rearing.

[0032] Meanwhile, the farm has a high degree of regional integration, which enables regional adaptive breeding of tussah silkworms at different ages, effectively achieving the goals of centralized management, centralized harvesting, and centralized protection, and enabling large-scale, high-efficiency, and sustainable tussah silkworm breeding. Attached Figure Description

[0033] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the accompanying drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly described below:

[0034] Figure 1A schematic diagram illustrating a specific embodiment of the ecological farm for the sustainable harvesting of mature tussah silkworms according to the present invention;

[0035] Figure 2 for Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the structure of a medium-sized aquaculture row;

[0036] Figure 3 for Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the central water supply tank;

[0037] Figure 4 for Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the structure of the aquaculture platform;

[0038] Figure 5 for Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the middle water tank;

[0039] Figure 6 for Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the structure of the middle cover plate.

[0040] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached drawings: 1-Outer frame 1; 2-Protective curtain 2; 3-Bird net 3; 4-Aquaculture row 4; 5-Water supply pool 5; 6-Inlet main pipe 6; 7-Outlet main pipe 7; 8-Water supply pump 8; 9-Water level valve 9; 10-Aquaculture platform 10; 11-Water pool 11; 12-Cover plate 12; 13-Insertion pipe 13; 14-Collection trough 14; 15-Inlet 15; 16-Outlet 16; 17-One-way valve for water flow. Detailed Implementation

[0041] To make the technical objectives, technical solutions, and beneficial effects of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the present invention will be further described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only for explaining the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention; that is, the described embodiments are merely some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. The components of the embodiments of the present invention described and shown in the accompanying drawings can generally be arranged and designed in various different configurations.

[0042] A specific embodiment of the ecological farm for the sustainable harvesting of mature tussah silkworms involved in this invention is shown in the figure. The ecological farm for the sustainable harvesting of mature tussah silkworms includes an outer frame 1, which is set on the ground and forms multiple breeding areas inside. It is divided into first-instar, second-instar, third-instar, fourth-instar, and fifth-instar areas according to the instar of the tussah silkworms. Specifically, the outer frame 1 is a simple steel structure frame with a height of 4.5 meters. A brick wall with a height of 0.5 meters is built around the frame. Bird netting 3 is laid on the outer facade of the steel structure frame to prevent birds and animals from entering the farm area.

[0043] A protective curtain 2 is installed on the outer frame 1, movably mounted on the roof and sides of the outer frame 1. This protective curtain 2 uses a low-light-transmittance, rainproof structure to provide sunshade, rain protection, and wind protection. Specifically, the roof of the outer frame 1 is divided into several rectangular grids, each 3 meters wide and 8 meters long. Auxiliary beams are welded to the inner sides of the roof frame according to the grid positions. Guide rails for retracting the sunshade curtain are installed on the auxiliary beams. The guide rails are required to be 3 meters apart and 8 meters long. Steel pipes are welded to the pulley blocks of the two guide rails. Nine protective curtains 2, each 8m long and 3m wide, are fixed at equal intervals on nine steel pipes. Guide pulleys and traction ropes are installed at both ends of the protective curtain 2 in the unfolding direction. The traction ropes form a drive mechanism that works with the protective curtain 2 to drive its extension and retraction. The traction ropes are installed on a steel pipe at the unfolding end of the protective curtain 2. The unfolding and retraction of the protective curtain 2 are controlled by pulling the traction ropes on both sides. In the same way, protective curtains 2, each 2m wide and 4m high, are installed on the inner side of the surrounding frame beams. The ground in the field is a hardened surface.

[0044] Each area of ​​the outer frame 1 is equipped with aquaculture sheds 4, and correspondingly, water supply tanks 5 are provided to supply water to each aquaculture shed 4, as well as water supply pumps 8 for pumping water into the aquaculture sheds 4. In actual use, water in the water supply tank 5 is drawn in by the water supply pump 8 and enters the aquaculture shed 4 through the main inlet pipe 6, and then returns to the water supply tank 5 through the main outlet pipe 7 of the aquaculture shed 4, realizing water circulation. In addition, the aquaculture sheds 4 form a large aquaculture platform. A water supply tank 5 is set around the aquaculture platform. The water supply tank 5 is equipped with a water supply pump 8, which is connected to the main inlet pipe 6. Another water pipe is connected to the water supply tank 5, and a water level valve 9 is installed on the water pipe. In addition, a one-way valve 17 is connected to the end of the main inlet pipe 6 to prevent water backflow when the water pump stops working. During operation, when the water supply pump 8 starts, water enters the aquaculture row 4 through the inlet main pipe 6, and then flows from the aquaculture row 4 into the water supply pool 5 through the outlet main pipe 7. When the water in the aquaculture row 4 evaporates and is consumed too quickly, causing the total water volume in the water supply pool 5 to decrease to a certain level, the water containment valve is activated to replenish the water supply pool 5. When the water in the water supply pool 5 is sufficient, the water level valve 9 closes to stop replenishing the water.

[0045] The breeding row 4 in each of the above-mentioned breeding areas includes several breeding platforms 10 connected in series or in parallel. Each breeding platform 10 has a water tank 11 and a cover plate 12 covering the water tank 11. The water tank 11 has an inlet 15 and an outlet 16. The cover plate 12 is provided with cutting holes for inserting branches and leaves.

[0046] In a preferred embodiment, a tube 13 is inserted into the insertion hole, with the lower end of the tube 13 extending below the liquid surface of the water tank 11. The inlet 15 of the tube 13 is close to the bottom of the water tank 11, and the outlet 16 is close to the top of the water tank 11.

[0047] The upper end of the pool 11 is provided with a cover plate 12. One side of the pool 11 is provided with a water inlet 15 and the other side is provided with a water outlet 16. Specifically, a ring of retaining platform is formed by a downward indentation at the inner edge of the top of the pool 11. The retaining platform is 2cm wide and 3cm deep. The corresponding cover plate 12 is inserted into the top opening and seated on the retaining platform. The retaining platform has a rectangular cross section, and the corresponding cover plate 12 also has a rectangular cross section. The thickness of the inserted part of the cover plate 12 is also designed to be 3cm. At the same time, the outer dimensions of its inserted part are consistent with the outer edge of the retaining platform, ensuring that the position of the cover plate 12 is stable and fixed after insertion, and ensuring that the silkworms and silkworm excrement will not fall into the gap between the retaining platform and the cover plate 12.

[0048] The cover plate 12 has several insertion holes, and an insertion tube 13 is provided in the insertion holes. The bottom end of the insertion tube 13 hangs down and extends below the liquid surface of the pool 11. The insertion tube 13 is used to insert oak branches into the pool 11, which can both guide the insertion of the branches and support and fix the branches.

[0049] In a preferred embodiment, the upper end of the insertion tube 13 protrudes upwards from the upper surface of the cover plate 12, which effectively prevents silkworm excrement from entering the insertion hole and falling into the container to contaminate the water. Furthermore, the upper end of the insertion tube 13 protrudes upwards by 2 cm, and the lower end protrudes downwards by 10 cm. Of course, in other embodiments, the upper protrusion of the insertion tube 13 can be designed to be 5 cm, and the lower protrusion can be designed to be 20 cm. The protrusion dimensions at both locations are not limited, and those skilled in the art can design them arbitrarily according to the actual height and size of the pool 11.

[0050] In addition, to prevent external fly ash, or silkworm excrement, from falling into the insertion tube 13, a cap is detachably sealed at the upper end of the insertion tube 13. The cap can be removed when inserting the branch.

[0051] The spacing between each of the aforementioned insertion tubes 13 is 10cm. This ensures both the density of the oak branches and leaves inserted into the insertion tubes 13 and the dispersion of the tussah silkworm's growth point, thus maximizing the simulation and creation of the optimal environment for the growth and development of the tussah silkworm.

[0052] Meanwhile, the outlet 16 is located near the side wall of the pool 11 at the same height as the liquid surface, and the inlet 15 is located at the bottom of the side wall of the pool 11. Furthermore, the inlet 15 and outlet 16 are distributed along the diagonal direction of the pool 11 on opposite side walls, so that the water flows from bottom to top to the vicinity of the lower end of the insertion tube 13, effectively increasing the water flow path and avoiding local water flow being too small to affect the amount of fresh water absorbed by the branches. The lower cut end of the oak branch is immersed below the liquid surface. By controlling the water pressure, the flow rate of the inlet and outlet water is made the same, preventing water from overflowing from the cover plate 12 in the pool 11. At the same time, the freshness and moisture content of the oak branches and leaves are maintained by utilizing plant transpiration.

[0053] In a preferred embodiment, to further increase the contact area of ​​the oak branches with running water, several water-permeable holes are provided on the wall of the insertion tube 13. The diameter of the water-permeable hole is one-fifth of the diameter of the insertion tube 13, thereby facilitating the entry of running water into the insertion tube 13.

[0054] After inserting the branch into the insertion tube 13, the top of the insertion tube 13 can be sealed with yellow mud to fix the branch in place. This effectively prevents the silkworms from crawling into the water in the container during the breeding period and also makes it easier to collect silkworm excrement.

[0055] In a preferred embodiment, to facilitate the collection of silkworm excrement, a collection trough 14 is provided on the outer side of the cover plate 12 on the pool 11. The top surface of the cover plate 12 has a convex top structure that is higher in the middle and lower around the edges. Specifically, in this embodiment, the top surface of the cover plate 12 has a four-slope, five-ridge structure, with each insertion hole distributed on the slope. Through this structural design, the silkworm excrement can fall onto the top surface of the cover plate 12 and then roll freely down the slope to the vicinity of the outer ring of the cover plate 12, making it convenient to collect. Moreover, it effectively avoids the problem of silkworm excrement not entering the insertion holes of the cover plate 12 during collection.

[0056] More preferably, a collection trough 14 is arranged around the cover plate 12 on the upper surface of the pool 11, and the inner edge of the collection trough 14 is below the edge height of the cover plate 12. After the silkworm excrement rolls off the cover plate 12, it falls directly into the collection trough 14, which facilitates the collection of the silkworm excrement with a vacuum cleaner later, and also prevents the silkworm excrement from contaminating the branches and leaves.

[0057] The use of 11 parallel outdoor ponds for all stages of tussah silkworm rearing to form a large-scale, fixed breeding site outside of tussah plantations offers the following advantages: First, it facilitates tussah silkworm rearing under outdoor conditions outside of tussah plantations, expanding the area suitable for tussah silkworm rearing; second, it satisfies the strong phototaxis, upward movement, and extroversion characteristics of tussah silkworms; third, it effectively prevents tussah silkworms from being harmed by wind, rain, low temperatures, insects, birds, and animals when released into the wild; fourth, it provides tussah silkworms with a long-lasting supply of fresh tussah leaves; fifth, it improves the cocooning rate and quality of tussah silkworms; and sixth, it facilitates management, reduces costs, and increases efficiency.

[0058] Specific embodiments of the ecological farming method for sustainably harvesting mature tussah silkworms involved in this invention are described below.

[0059] First, the breeding platform needs to be disinfected and sterilized before and after use. The sterilization method can be immersion and spraying with 84 disinfectant to disinfect and sterilize the breeding site, ensuring that the bird netting 3 of the breeding site is intact, the drainage system of the breeding site is unobstructed, the water flow of the breeding platform is good, and the water quality for cutting is good.

[0060] In addition, based on the size of the breeding site and the number of breeding platforms, and according to the amount of oak leaves required for each age of tussah silkworm and the length of the age, the breeding areas for each age of tussah silkworm are divided to ensure that the breeding areas for each age of tussah silkworm are relatively independent and do not affect each other. The specific division method and area size are reasonably allocated according to the number of tussah silkworms in the current batch, and are not specifically limited. Those skilled in the art can selectively adjust and increase or decrease the number of breeding rows and the number and size of breeding platforms in the breeding rows.

[0061] In addition, this application adopts outdoor cutting propagation. After the silkworm eggs hatch, the silkworms are guided to climb onto the branches or leaves of oak trees with tender leaves. The oak branches are then inserted into the cutting tubes 13 of the first-instar silkworm rearing platform, ensuring that the branches are submerged in clean water. When taking cuttings from the oak trees, the cut surface of the branch forms an acute angle with the tip of the branch. This ensures sufficient water absorption area at the cutting tip, guaranteeing the water required for transpiration.

[0062] Based on the growth cycle of oak branches and leaves, to ensure uninterrupted and continuous cultivation from April to November, the main steps include:

[0063] (1) After the tussah silkworm eggs hatch, the first-instar area is disinfected and sterilized in advance. Tube branches with tender leaves are used to guide the silkworms to climb onto the branches or leaves of the tussah trees. Then, the tussah branches are inserted into the cutting tube 13 of the first-instar tussah silkworm breeding platform. At the same time, it is ensured that the tussah branches are inserted into the cutting tube 13 and soaked in clean water.

[0064] (2) First-instar tussah silkworms generally enter the dormancy period after feeding for five days. The dormancy period lasts for 8-12 hours. After 90% of the first-instar tussah silkworms have woken up, the second-instar area should be disinfected and sterilized in advance. Sufficient oak branches and leaves should be inserted on the rearing platform in the second-instar area. The fresh oak branches and leaves should be used to guide the molting tussah silkworms to climb onto the new branches and leaves. Then, they should be placed on the rearing platform in the second-instar area. The first-instar tussah silkworms that have not yet woken up should be moved to the second-instar area by pruning and transplanting.

[0065] (3) Second-instar tussah silkworms generally enter the dormancy period after feeding for four days. The dormancy period lasts for 8-12 hours. After 90% of the second-instar tussah silkworms have woken up, the third-instar area should be disinfected and sterilized in advance. Sufficient oak branches and leaves should be inserted on the rearing platform in the third-instar area. Fresh oak branches and leaves should be used to guide the molting tussah silkworms to climb onto the new branches and leaves. Then, they should be placed on the rearing platform in the third-instar area. Second-instar tussah silkworms that have not yet woken up should be moved to the third-instar area by pruning and transplanting.

[0066] (4) Third-instar tussah silkworms generally enter the dormancy period after feeding for four days. The dormancy period lasts for 10-14 hours. After 90% of the third-instar tussah silkworms have woken up, the fourth-instar area should be disinfected and sterilized in advance. Sufficient oak branches and leaves should be inserted on the breeding platform in the fourth-instar area. Fresh oak branches and leaves should be used to guide the molting tussah silkworms to climb onto the new branches and leaves. Then, they should be placed on the breeding platform in the fourth-instar area. The third-instar tussah silkworms that have not yet woken up should be moved to the fourth-instar area by pruning and transplanting.

[0067] (5) Fourth-instar tussah silkworms generally enter the dormancy period after feeding for 6 days. The dormancy period lasts for 10-14 hours. After 90% of the fourth-instar tussah silkworms have woken up, the fifth-instar area should be disinfected and sterilized in advance. Sufficient oak branches and leaves should be inserted on the rearing platform in the fifth-instar area. Fresh oak branches and leaves should be used to guide the molting tussah silkworms to climb onto the new branches and leaves. Then, they should be placed on the rearing platform in the fifth-instar area. Fourth-instar tussah silkworms that have not yet woken up should be moved to the fifth-instar area by pruning and transplanting.

[0068] (6) Fifth instar tussah silkworms usually stop eating after 7-9 days. Their bodies shrink and become slightly transparent, indicating that they have become mature silkworms. Organize personnel to harvest them in time. The harvesting standards are: one is to use a focused flashlight to shine on the tussah silkworms whose bodies have shrunk and become slightly transparent to see if the silkworm excrement in their bodies has been completely discharged; the other is to observe whether the tussah silkworms are spinning silk. If they are found to be spinning silk and making cocoons, they should be harvested in time.

[0069] According to the hatching interval of the silkworm eggs, the continuous breeding process of steps (1) to (6) is repeated again during any one of the steps. Specifically, based on the fact that the fifth instar silkworms become mature silkworms after feeding for 9 days, according to the time node, the second batch of first instar silkworms hatches 9 days after the first batch hatches, and so on, according to the temperature and quality of oak tree branches and leaves this year, until the last batch of first instar silkworms this year hatches. Of course, if the breeding area is small, the silkworms can be raised in batches in sequence, and then the next batch of silkworms can be raised in step (1) during any one of the steps (1) to (6), and then the breeding process of steps (1) to (6) can be carried out. According to the above method of rotating breeding areas for each instar of silkworms, the last batch of mature silkworms this year is harvested.

[0070] It is important to note that first-, second-, and third-instar tussah silkworms need to be fed twice a day, morning and evening. Fourth- and fifth-instar tussah silkworms need to be fed three times a day, morning, noon, and evening. When feeding at night, it is advisable to insert more cuttings of branches and leaves to ensure the silkworms can feed at night. When young silkworms consume less leaves, use a vacuum cleaner to clean the silkworm excrement collection trough 14 twice a day, morning and evening. When older silkworms consume more leaves, use a vacuum cleaner to clean the silkworm excrement collection trough 14 three times a day, morning, noon, and evening.

[0071] The breeding platforms in each breeding area are equipped with a circulating water supply system. By controlling the water pressure, the inflow and outflow of water in each breeding platform are kept consistent to prevent water from overflowing from the cover. At the same time, the water flows from bottom to top in the pool, which ensures that the cuttings can fully absorb water and replenish the water required for their transpiration.

[0072] The protective curtains are selectively opened and closed according to the daily sunlight intensity and weather changes to provide shade, rain protection, and wind protection for the silkworms in each breeding area. On hot, sunny days, the protective curtains on the roof are opened, with the appropriate curtains opened according to the intensity and direction of the sunlight. A misting system is then used to cool the area, preventing the silkworms from being scorched by strong sunlight while also satisfying their phototaxis and ensuring proper ventilation.

[0073] When encountering strong winds, cold waves, or heavy rain, open the windproof, rainproof, and sunshade curtains around the perimeter and on the roof to prevent the silkworms from developing diseases due to strong winds, cold waves, or heavy rain, which could lead to reduced production.

[0074] Disinfect and sterilize the breeding site according to actual needs to prevent the occurrence of various diseases and pests in tussah silkworms.

[0075] In a preferred embodiment, in this application, branches and leaves are inserted alternately into the insertion holes of each breeding platform. When transferring silkworms of different ages, the branches and leaves with silkworms from the previous step are inserted into the insertion holes between two branches and leaves in the breeding platform in the next step. That is, fresh oak branches and leaves are inserted into the insertion tube next to them where no oak branches and leaves are inserted. When the silkworms climb onto the new branches and leaves, the oak branches that have finished eating the leaves are removed. The transfer of the silkworms is achieved by the silkworms actively foraging for food.

[0076] In addition, use a vacuum cleaner to collect silkworm excrement from the rearing platforms to maintain the hygiene and cleanliness of the rearing area formed by the series and parallel rearing platforms. Once the silkworms on the rearing platforms reach the fifth instar, increase the amount of oak leaves they are fed to help them reach maturity as quickly as possible.

[0077] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only for illustration and not for limiting the technical solutions of the present invention. Any equivalent substitutions, modifications or partial substitutions that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention should be covered within the scope of protection of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. An ecological farm for the sustainable harvesting of mature tussah silkworms, characterized in that, include The outer frame is set on the ground, and the interior forms multiple breeding areas, which are divided into first-instar, second-instar, third-instar, fourth-instar and fifth-instar areas according to the age of the tussah silkworms. Protective curtains are installed movably on the roof and sides of the outer frame; The drive mechanism works in conjunction with the protective curtain's transmission to extend and retract it; The aquaculture farms are arranged in rows within each aquaculture area; Water supply ponds are used to supply water to each aquaculture unit; A water supply pump is connected between the water supply tank and the aquaculture row; The aquaculture row includes several aquaculture platforms connected in series and / or in parallel. Each aquaculture platform has a water tank and a cover plate covering the water tank. The water tank has an inlet and an outlet. The cover plate is provided with cutting holes, and a cutting tube is inserted into the cutting holes. The lower end of the cutting tube extends below the water surface of the water tank. The inlet of the cutting tube is near the bottom of the water tank, and the outlet of the cutting tube is near the top of the water tank. The upper end of the cutting tube protrudes upward from the upper surface of the cover plate. The cutting tube is used to insert oak branches and leaves into the water tank. The outlet is located near the side wall of the pool at the same height as the liquid surface, and the inlet is located at the bottom of the side wall of the pool. The inlet and outlet are distributed along the diagonal direction of the pool on opposite side walls, so that the water flows from bottom to top to the lower end of the tube, effectively increasing the water flow path and avoiding local small water flow affecting the amount of fresh water absorbed by the oak branches and leaves. A collection trough is arranged around the cover plate on the upper surface of the pool. The inner edge of the collection trough is below the edge height of the cover plate. The top surface of the cover plate is a convex top structure with a high center and low edges. Each insertion hole is distributed on the slope of the convex top structure. After falling onto the top surface of the cover plate, the silkworm excrement can roll freely down the slope and fall directly into the collection trough.

2. The ecological farm for the sustainable harvesting of mature tussah silkworms according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer frame is covered with a bird-proof net.

3. A method for raising silkworms in an ecological farm using the sustainable harvesting of mature tussah silkworms as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Based on the growth cycle of oak branches and leaves, the cultivation process includes the following steps: (1) Disinfect and sterilize the first-year area in advance, transfer the silkworms that hatched indoors to the branches and leaves of the first-year area, and insert the branches and leaves into the breeding platform of the first-year area. (2) After the first-instar tussah silkworms enter the dormant period, disinfect and sterilize the second-instar area in advance, insert the branches and leaves on the breeding platform of the second-instar area, and transfer the first-instar tussah silkworms to the branches and leaves of the second-instar area. (3) After the second instar tussah silkworms enter the dormant period, disinfect and sterilize the third instar area in advance, insert the branches and leaves on the breeding platform of the third instar area, and transfer the second instar tussah silkworms to the branches and leaves of the third instar area. (4) After the third instar tussah silkworms enter the dormant period, disinfect and sterilize the fourth instar area in advance, insert the branches and leaves on the breeding platform of the fourth instar area, and transfer the third instar tussah silkworms to the branches and leaves of the fourth instar area. (5) After the fourth instar tussah silkworms enter the dormant period, disinfect and sterilize the fifth instar area in advance, insert the branches and leaves on the breeding platform of the fifth instar area, and transfer the fourth instar tussah silkworms to the branches and leaves of the fifth instar area. (6) Collect the fifth-instar tussah silkworms after they stop eating; According to the hatching interval of the silkworm eggs, the continuous breeding process of steps (1) to (6) is repeated again during any one of the steps (1) to (6); circulating water supply is implemented in the breeding platform of each breeding area; the protective curtain is selectively opened and closed according to the sunlight intensity and weather changes of the day to provide shade, rain protection and wind protection for the tussah silkworms in each breeding area; in each breeding area, branches and leaves are inserted into each cutting hole of each breeding platform in an alternating manner; when transferring tussah silkworms of different ages, the branches and leaves with tussah silkworms in the previous step are inserted into the alternating cutting holes between two branches and leaves in the breeding platform in the next step, and the tussah silkworms are transferred by actively foraging for food.

4. The aquaculture method according to claim 3, characterized in that, In any of the steps (1) to (6), collect the silkworm excrement on the breeding platforms in each breeding area.

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