Effects of Feed Types on Growth Performance of African Giant Land Snails Archachatina Marginata in Abak Local Government Area

Abstract

This study examined the response of the African giant land snails to concentrates, ripe pawpaw and sweet potatoes with regards to weight gains and feed conversion efficiency. A total of 100 snails were randomly allotted to five treatments of 20 snails each (each treatment has two replicates of 10 snails). Experimental randomized control group design was adopted for the study. The treatments are top grower mash; ripe pawpaw; sweet potatoes; ripe pawpaw and sweet potatoes (control); and combined top grower mash, ripe pawpaw and sweet potatoes. The snails were fed with these diets for 24 weeks. Results showed that snails fed with combination of top grower mash, ripe pawpaw and sweet potatoes recorded the highest mean body weight (30.5280) followed by snails fed top grower mash, while those fed ripe pawpaw had the least mean body weight (30.1315). It can be concluded that combined top grower mash, ripe pawpaw and sweet potatoes contribute better to the growth performance of African giant land snails than other feed types and recommended that snail farmers should feed their snails with combination of feed stuffs for increase in productivity of snail farming.