Effect of dietaryCentrosema pubescensleaf meal on growth and reproductive traits ofArchachatina marginatasnails

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the effect on growth and reproductive performance of supplementing dried Centrosema pubescens leaf meal to Archachatina marginata snails. A total of 80 growing, medium-sized A. marginata snails were used. Twenty snails were randomly assigned to one of the four experimental diets as T 1 , T 2 , T 3 , and T 4 containing 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15% dietary inclusion levels of dried C. pubescens leaves, respectively. Each diet constituted a treatment and each treatment was replicated four times with five snails per replicate. Results showed that snails under T 4 had the highest (P < .05) final body weight, average weight gain, and daily weight gain (346.89, 47.60, and 0.85 g, respectively) with the best feed conversion to meat rate of 2.12. The weekly feed intake and average body weight gain revealed the superiority of dietary T 4 in supporting the growth of snails more efficiently than other dietary treatments (T 1 , T 2 , and T 3) used in this study. The number of eggs laid, percentage fertility, and hatchability were highest (P < .05) for snails fed dietary T 4 with the least (P < .05) embryo mortality of 2.22%. Archachatina marginata snails fed 15% dietary inclusion of dried C. pubescens leaves (T 4) were the best in growth and reproductive performance.

Rendimiento reproductivo de caracoles tendidos alimentados con forrajes y diferentes mezclas de concentrados

“…This corroborates other reports in rabbits, poultry that leaf meals enhance reproduction and fertility (Ewuola et al 2012). The result of this study is in agreement with Ejidike ( 2007) and Oyeagu et al (2018) that snails fed diets containing concentrate feed and herbs performed better than those that received only concentrate or herbs. The result of this study is in agreement with Ejidike et al (2002) that both growth and reproductive performance of African giant land snails (A. marginata) were better when their diets are supplemented with natural plant food materials than the snails that were placed on pure concentrate diets.…”

“…Thompson and Sheldon (2004) also reported that poor nutrition affects snail growth and causes a drop in the reproductive performance, this is evident in the result of laying snails fed roughage/natural plant material (UPWP) which had the least reproductive performance as compared to concentrate GNCD-LLLM fed snails. According to Amaefule and Onwudike (2000), Ani and Okeke (2003), Esonu et al (2003), Oyeagu et al (2015) and Oyeagu et al (2018), the most important factor influencing the performance of animals under captivity is the quality of diet offered to the animals. This study corroborates the claim of Nyameasem and Borketey-La (2014) that layer mash (a concentrate ration) supported reproduction in the snails better than Pawpaw fruit diet which gave the poorest result.…”

“…Ejidike and Afolayan (2010) pointed out that the availability of acceptable snail feed could contribute a lot in encouraging interest in snail farming, thereby mitigating the current acute animal protein shortage. However, the use of concentrate ration supplemented with plant materials in feeding snails will arouse the establishment of commercial farming of African giant land snails for constant supply to the market (Oyeagu et al, 2018). It is imperative to investigate non -conventional protein feedstuff such as leaf protein which is abundant and can be processed as feed all year long.…”

“…Reproductive organ weights of laying snails fed roughages and concentrate with different leaf protein (Pesos de órganos reproductivos de caracoles ponedores alimentados con forrajes y concentrados con diferentes proteínas de hojas).Similarly,Oyeagu et al (2018) reported that inclusion of C. pubescens in concentrate ration for snails increased the number of eggs laid, hatchability and fertility of eggs with a lesser mortality of the embryo.…”

Growth performance and reproductive qualities of breeder snails (Archachatina marginata) fed different sources of protein

“…The nutritional superiority of soybeans may have affected the fertility and hatchability rates with a lesser percentage of mortality of the embryo. Agreeing to Oyeagu et al [9], the most vital factor impelling the performance of animals in captivity, all other factors being constant, is the quality of diet offered to the animals.…”