Impact of sundried mango seed kernel meal on the haemolymph of giant African snail (Archachatina marginata)

Abstract

Proximate analysis of mango seed kernel shows that it is high in carbohydrate and contains other essential minerals. Thus, this experiment was conducted to assess the impact of mango seed kernel mea on l the haemolymph of giant African land snail (Archachatina marginata). One hundred and twenty (120) Archachatina marginata grower snails of similar sizes were randomly assigned to four treatments designated T1, T2 , T3 and T4 and replicated three times in a completely randomized design (CRD).Each dietary treatment consisted of thirty (30) snails per treatment with ten (10) snails per replicate. The mango seed kernel meal used as test ingredient were collected, cracked and the kernel sundried for two weeks after which it was milled into a fine powder. Four experimental diets were formulated to meet the nutrient requirements of snails included at 0% mango seed kernel meal (T1 ), 5% mango seed kernel meal (T2 ), 10% mango seed kernel meal (T3) and 15% mango seed kernel meal (T4 ), respectively. T1 served as the control. The snails were fed once a day during the evening hours and adequately managed during this period. The feeding trial lasted for eight weeks. Proximate composition of the mango seed kernel meal and that of the experimental diets were conducted to determine the nutrient contents of the mango seed kernel meal and the experimental diets respectively. The proximate composition and the mineral content of the haemolymph of Archachatina marginata were also analyzed. The analysis of the proximate composition of mango seed kernel meal indicated that it is high in carbohydrate (58.6%), 13.72% moisture, 4.00% ash, 5.64% crude fiber, 15.94%fat, and 2.1% crude protein; which implies that it can be used as a carbohydrate source. The inclusion of mango seed kernel meal in the diets ofArchachatina marginata significantly (P<0.05) increased the protein (2.80% in T1 to 4.90% in T4 ) and carbohydrate content (2.08% in T to 5.6% in T2 ); and reduced the moisture (93.39% in T1 to 88.40% in T4 ) and fat contents (0.80% in T1 to 0.15% in T2 ) of the haemolymph. The mineral analysis of snail haemolymph showed that it had varying effects on the mineral composition of the haemolymph with no deleterious effects up to 15% inclusion in the diets.