Response of sundried mango seed kernel meal on growth performance of East African land snail (Achatina fulica)Response of sundried mango seed kernel meal on growth performance of East African land snail (Achatina fulica)

Abstract

Fifty-six (56) days feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the response of feeding sundried mango seed kernel on the growth performance of Achatina fulica snails. The mango seeds kernel used as test ingredient was collected, cracked, sundried for two weeks and after which it was milled to obtain mango seed kernel meal. The mango seed kernel meal was used to formulate four experimental diets that meet the nutrient requirements of snails included at 0%, 5%, 10% and 15% respectively; designated Diet 1, Diet 2, Diet 3 and Diet 4. Diet 1 served as the control. One hundred and twenty (120) Achatina fulica snails of similar sizes were assigned to 4 dietary treatments and replicated 3 times in a completely randomized design (CRD) experiment. Each dietary treatment consisted of thirty (30) snails per treatment with ten (10) snails per replicate. Proximate composition of the mango seed kernel meal and the experimental diets were conducted to determine the nutrient contents of the mango seed kernel meal and that of the experimental diet. Data were collected on growth performance parameters. The data collected were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA).Results showed that significant reduction (P<0.05)were observed on the feed intake in Diet 3 and Diet 4; while weight gain increased in Diet 2, 3, 4. The feed conversion ratio reduced in Diet 2, Diet 3 and Diet 4.Furthermore, significant increases (P<0.05) were also observed on the final shell length [8.81cm (Diet 1) – 9.90cm (Diet 3)], shell length increase [0.80cm (Diet 1) – 1.81cm (Diet 3)], final shell aperture circumference [6.35cm (Diet 1) – 7.98cm (Diet 3)], shell aperture circumference increase [1.31cm (Diet 1) – 2.97cm (Diet 3)] and shell thickness [0.84cm (Diet 1) – 1.57cm (Diet 4)] compared to the control. Results showed that mango seed kernel meal could be included in the diets of Achatina fulica snail up to 15%without adverse effects on the performance.