Growth Performance of Achatina achatina Fed with Leaf Powder Enriched in Oyster Shell Powder

Background: Snail farming is becoming increasingly popular in sub-Saharan Africa. But the real success of snail farming depends on the right feed formulas. With the aim of contributing to the formulation of diets for giant African snails, a study was carried out on the growth performance and meat yield of Achatina achatina subjected to different diets based on leaves powder. Methods: Fifteen batches of 30 two-month-old snails seedlings were fed for 6 months on diets made by enriched the leaves (papaya, taro, moringa and pigeon pea) powder at different rates (0%, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%) with oyster shell powder. The growth performance and meat yields of these snails were determined and compared with those of a control batch of snails fed fresh papaya, taro, moringa and pigeon pea leaves. Result: Snails fed with leaf powder enriched with 20% oyster shell showed the greatest gains in weight (97.33±4.2 g) and shell length (3.3±0.8 cm). Although these animals had the highest proportions of shell (40±3.2%), they provided the greatest quantities of soft tissue (60.3±3.2 g) and edible flesh (33.5±2.9 g). The diet consisting solely of fresh leaves induced the smallest gains in weight (21.6 ±5.1 g) and shell length (1.08±0.9 cm). Snails fed this diet had the highest percentage of soft tissue (78.02±6.53%). However, they provided the lowest amounts of soft tissue (19.34±2.8 g) and fresh edible meat (9.66±1.4 g).