Performance evaluation of grower snails fed varying levels of groundnut cake

Abstract

This experiment was conducted to determine the effects of groundnut cake (GNC) fed to grower snails as the main protein source at varying levels, of inclusion 23%, 25%, and, 27%. This experiment was carried out at the Federal College of Education Teaching and Research Farm, Asaba, Delta state of Nigeria. The snails were four (4) months old each and the experiment lasted for 12 weeks, forty-eight (48) grower snails were randomly divided into three (3) groups of sixteen snails each per treatment, which were replicated four (4) times. The parameters considered were growth performance, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, carcass, and shell characteristics. Data collected were analyzed by use of one-way analysis of variance and significant means were separated using Duncan’s multiple ranged test at a 5% level of probability (SAS, 2011). The study showed that snails fed 27% of GNC supported higher body weight, live weight, and dressing percentage. However, no significant (P<0.05) differences were recorded in the final shell circumference, shell circumference gain, final shell length, and shell length gain. A formulated ration containing as much as 27% GNC will go a long way in ensuring the all-year availability of feed for commercial snail production.