Emmanuel E. Odiaka (Federal University of Technology, Akure)
Benedette Ejidike (Federal University of Technology, Akure)
Augustine Adeyemo (Federal University of Technology, Akure)
ABSTRACT
This study evaluates the dietary effect of raw Bambara groundnut meal on the growth performance of Archachatina marginata, the giant African land snail. A 60-day trial was conducted with four experimental diets formulated at 0%, 15%, 30%, and 45% Bambara groundnut inclusion levels. The experiment, structured in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD), measured parameters such as weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, and carcass quality. Results showed that snails fed a 45% Bambara groundnut diet exhibited significantly higher (P < 0.05) weight gain (15.01g) and shell length (9.93cm) compared to the control group and lower inclusion levels. The findings suggest that the 45% Bambara groundnut inclusion is the optimal level for improved growth and carcass yield in Archachatina marginata.
Keywords: Bambara groundnut, Archachatina marginata, growth performance, dietary inclusion, feed conversion ratio, weight gain, carcass yield.
