Performance of Growing African Giant Snails (Archachatina marginata) Fed Forage Mixtures and Maize-based Concentrate Supplemented with Monkey Cola (Cola rostrata) Seed Meal

Abstract

Aim:  An experiment was conducted to assess the performance of growing snails fed maize-based concentrate and maize supplemented with Cola rostrata seed meal in addition to forage mixtures.  Methodology: A total of eighty eight (88) growing snails with weight ranging from 94.45g - 94.73g  were randomly allotted to four treatment groups (T1, T2,  T3 and T4), replicated two times with eleven (11) snails per replicate in a completely randomized design (CRD).The snails on T1 were fed maize-based concentrate only, T2 were fed with maize concentrate supplemented with 40% cola rostrata seed meal, T3 were fed with forage mixture and maize-based concentrate while, T4 consisted of snails fed forage mixtures and maize concentrate supplemented with 40% Cola rostrata seed meal. The feeding trial lasted for fifty six (56) days. Results: The results showed that the mean final body weight and total weight gain were higher for T4. More so, feed conversion ratio (FCR) of T4 was equally as good as that of the control (T1). Conclusion: Diets comprising, maize-based concentrate with 40% Cola rostrata seed meal supplementation and leguminous forage mixtures gave better growth performance when compared with other treatment diets and therefore for optimum growth performance of Archachatina marginata it was recommended.