PROTEIN AND ENERGY REQUIREMENTS OF AFRICAN GIANT LAND SNAIL
ABSTRACT
A 16-week study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary protein
and energy levels on the growth performance of African giant land snail (Achatina
achatina). Two hundred and forty eight weeks old African giant land snails were
used for the study. The snails were randomly divided into 16 groups of 15 snails
each. The groups were randomly assigned to 16 diets in a 4 x 4 factorial
arrangement involving four levels ((18%, 20%, 22%, and 24%) of protein and four
energy levels (2.6, 2.8, 3.0 and 3.2Mcal/kg ME). Each treatment was replicated 3
times with 5 snails per replicate. Results showed that while body weight gain, feed
intake, protein efficiency ratio and carcass yield were significantly (P < 0.05)
increased at the 24%CP and 3.2Mcal/Kg ME levels, FCR and cost of feed per kg
weight gain were decreased(P < 0.05). There were significant (P < 0.05)
interactions between protein and energy levels on final body weight, average daily
weight gain, average daily feed intake, feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency
ratio, shell length, shell width, feed cost per kg weight gain and carcass yield. Feed
intake was significantly (P < 0.05) decreased at the 3.0 Mcal/kg ME and 18%CP
levels, and at the 3.2 Mcal/kg ME and 18% CP levels; FCR values were
decreased(P < 0.05) at the 3.0 Mcal/kg ME and 24 %CP levels, and at the 3.2
Mcal/kg ME and 24% CP levels; PER was enhanced (P < 0.05) at the 24 %CP
level and at the 2.80 Mcal/kg, 3.0 Mcal/kg and 3.2 Mcal/kg energy levels; shell
length was enhanced (P < 0.05) at the 3.0 Mcal/kg ME and 22% CP levels, and at
