Growth Response of African Giant Land Snails (Archachatina marginata) to Varying Dietary Levels of Moringa Oleifera Leaf Meal

The effects of varying dietary levels of Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOLM) on growth performance of Archachatina marginata snails was investigated using 180 A. marginata snailets weighing between 20.05-21.45g (P>0.05). The snails were randomly divided into six treatments (30 snailets each) and three replicates per treatment (10 snailets each) in a completely randomized design (CRD). The treatments were assigned to one of six caloric (2.78 - 3.13 Mcal/kg ME) and nitrogenous (23.82 - 24.05 % crude protein, CP) diets containing 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25% MOLM, respectively. Feed and water were supplied ad libitum to the snails throughout the 10 weeks experimental period. The response parameters evaluated were body weight (BWT), body weight gain (BWG), feed intake (FI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), daily protein intake (DPI), protein efficiency ratio (PER), shell length (SL) and width (SW), carcass yield (CY) and cost of feed per kg weight gain (CPWG). Results showed that dietary inclusion of Moringa oleifera leaf meal had significant (P<0.05) effects on FI, BWT, BWG, SL and SW, FCR, PI, PER and CPWG. Body weight, BWG and PER were significantly (P<0.05) increased as the level of MOLM in the diets increased from 0 to 20 %, beyond which there was significant (P<0.05) reduction in growth performance. There was significant (P<0.05) reduction in CPWG with increases in MOLM inclusion level. There was significant (P<0.05) reduction in live weight, weight of edible portion and dressing percentage as the level of MOLM in the diets increased beyond 20%. It was concluded that up to 20% MOLM can be included in the diet of growing snails without any adverse effect on growth performance and carcass yield of the snails. Keywords: Moringa oleifera leaf meal, Archachatina marginata, diet, growth performance, carcass yield.