Identification of manure biodegradation species
 
The main aim lies in evaluating the possibilities of using the diptera larvae that is naturally prolific in cattle excrement as active digestion elements, thus reducing the volume of this type of waste. It is aimed, during the first phase of the Project, to carry out an exhaustive sampling of the different species of diptera susceptible to being employed in the controlled biodegradation of manure. This includes:
 
    o    Carrying out intensive sampling of manure obtained from all           the types of pig farms present in the Los Serranos region and           in other cattle farming areas within the Valencia Region.           That is say:
        o    Fattening farms.
        o    Production farms (female animals).
        o    Complete cycle farms

    o    The tending of baited manure traps in areas removed from           the cattle farms in order to collect species that are not present           in the farms themselves as a result of factors related to the           dynamics of each farm, but which nevertheless may be           susceptible to being employed in controlled mass breeding.

    o    Carrying out selective sampling of manure in Slovakia and           Finland and comparing the Mediterranean entomofauna with           that central and northern Europe.

    o    The identification of diptera species capable of developing           themselves exclusively in the liquid fraction of manure, as           well as in the semi-solid and solid factions.

    o    The general characterisation of the biological cycle and the           basic requirements for their breeding in laboratories.

 
At the end of the Project, the characteristics that enable the identification of the different species susceptible to be employed in the biodegradation process are to be established.