EVALUATION OF SOME SELECTED LEAVES FOR FEEDING AFRICAN GIANT LAND SNAIL (Achatina achatina L.)

Résumé

Feeding trial was conducted on One hundred and twenty (120) to evaluate the utilization of four different leaves used for feeding of African Giant Land Snail (Achatina achatina). Grower snails were used in a Completely Randomised Design with 4 treatments replicated 3 times with 10 snails per replicate. The treatments were Spinach olaracea Leaves, Ipomoea asarifolia leaves, Cucurbita pepo leaves and Commiphora africana leaves. Weight gain, Shell length, Shell breadth, Aperture breadth, and Feed intake were measured weekly. The result obtained showed significant difference (p<0.005) among the treatment means in final weight, weight gain, shell length, shell breadth, aperture breadth and feed intake. Feed conversion ratio was highest (p<0.005) for snails fed with Spinach olaracea, followed by Ipomoea Asarifolia, then Cucurbita pepo and Commiphora africana leaves. Therefore, the final Weight gain, Shell length, Shell width, Aperture width and Feed intake of the experimental Snail fed the selected edible leaves was represented in this descending order: Ipomoea asarifolia > Spinach olaracea > Cucurbita pepo > Commiphora africana leaves. The result of this study indicated that Ipomoea asarifolia, spinach olaracea Cucurbita pepo and Commiphora africana leaves can serve as feed for African Giant Land Snail (Achatina achatina).