Thesis Abstract

Thesis Overview

An experiment was conducted to study the effects of different proteinsources at varying levels on the performance and the carcass characteristics ofthe African giants land snail (Archachatina marginata). Soyabean meal andgroundnut cake were used as test proteins. Four diets were formulated from eachof the two proteins such that each was included at 16%, 18%, 20% and 22% ofthe diets. A 2 x 4 factorial arrangement in CRD was used with eight treatments.Each treatment was replicated thrice with four snails per replicate. The trial

lasted for 90 days.

The protein source main effects were significant (P<0.05) inaverage daily feed intake, percentage shell weight and percentage edible weightof the snails fed the experimental diets. The protein levels main effect were alsosignificant (P<0.05) in protein efficiency ratio, percentage shell weight,percentage edible weight and percentage visceral weight. The interactionsbetween protein sources and protein levels were also significant (P<0.05) inprotein efficiency ratio, percentage shell weight, percentage edible weight andpercentage visceral weight of the snails fed the treatment diets. Mortality was notrecorded during the experiment. The growth performance show that soybeanbased diets were better than groundnut cake based diets and that soyabean should be included at 22% for an optimum growth of snails
ABSTRACTAn experiment was conducted to study the effects of different proteinsources at varying levels on the performance and the carcass characteristics ofthe African giants land snail (Archachatina marginata). Soyabean meal andgroundnut cake were used as test proteins. Four diets were formulated from eachof the two proteins such that each was included at 16%, 18%, 20% and 22% ofthe diets. A 2 x 4 factorial arrangement in CRD was used with eight treatments.Each treatment was replicated thrice with four snails per replicate. The trial

lasted for 90 days.

The protein source main effects were significant (P<0.05) inaverage daily feed intake, percentage shell weight and percentage edible weightof the snails fed the experimental diets. The protein levels main effect were alsosignificant (P<0.05) in protein efficiency ratio, percentage shell weight,percentage edible weight and percentage visceral weight. The interactionsbetween protein sources and protein levels were also significant (P<0.05) inprotein efficiency ratio, percentage shell weight, percentage edible weight andpercentage visceral weight of the snails fed the treatment diets. Mortality was notrecorded during the experiment. The growth performance show that soybeanbased diets were better than groundnut cake based diets and that soyabean should be included at 22% for an optimum growth of snails