Replies to post #118437 on Kraig Biocraft Laboratories Inc (KBLB)

[Zenaku]

you forget that the local sourced mulberry is not their only food source only a supplement. So they are planning for many more silkworms 70% more

maybe more because he says "as much as 30%" which could be a high point.

The Company expects to see an improvement in materials performance and a reduction in production costs by as much as 30% through the use of locally sourced mulberry.

- 14 acres x 4,000 trees/acre = 56,000 trees.

- 56,000 trees x 2 kg/tree = 112,000 kg of mulberry per harvest

- 112,000 kg mulberry / 1,500 kg needed per 8 kg silk = 74.67 kg x 8 kg of silk = 597.33 kg of silk per harvest.

--added 70% more food
373,333 kg mulberry/ 1,500 kg needed per 8 kg silk = 248.89 * 8 kg
of silk = 1991.11 kg of silk per harvest.

- 3-5 harvests a year, so 3 x 597.33 kg = 1792 kg and 5 x 597.33 kg = 2986.67 kg

- 3-5 harvests a year, so 3 x 1991.11 kg = 5973.33 kg and 5 x 1991.11 kg = 9955.55 kg

bottom line 6.5 tons to 11 metric tons of silk annually

[es1]

Thanks for the info. I appreciate the detective work.
I think it really depends on how Kim sets up his farm
The math is off a bit on their statements.
By their own numbers the tree population is closer to 5000 trees per acre
10 Sq ft per tree and 47000 Sq ft per acre
4700 trees per acre.
But high yield mulberry farming can hold many more trees. As many as 12000 trees per acre

"Investigations have shown that in Zhejiang and Jiangsu Provinces, when the number of branches and shoots is below 75 000/ha, the annual leaf yield is about 15 tonnes; between 90 000 and 150 000, the yield is 22.5-37.5 tonnes; but above 150 000, the yield will decrease. The ideal number is between 100 000 and 120 000.
High-yield mulberry plantations have a good colonial structure starting with a planting density of 12 000-15 000 plants/ha, the number of crowns at 37 500-45 000; the number of branches and shoots at 105 000-120 000 and the total length of the branches at 150 000-180 000 m per ha (the average length of a branch or shoot is about 1.4 m). Some high-yield plantations have a density at 22 500-30 000 trees/ha with four branches and shoots per tree, for a total of branches/shoots.
Apart from their numbers, the length and diameter of branches and shoots are also directly related to leaf yield."

Bottom line is it is a good move for Kim to establish this farm.
I think he isn't too worried about high yield mulberry farming as much as just added food for production.
Your numbers are probably just about right for us but I don't think it limits our silk production unless Kim has decided to go with a fresh diet only (which I doubt).