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Effects of Natural and Compounded Rations on the Growth Performance of African Giant Land Snail (Archachatina Marginata)Abstract: A study was conducted to compare growth and feed utilization of Archachatina marginata fed fluted pumpkin leaves (Telifaria occidentalis), 20% crude protein diets, cocoyam (Xanthosoma maffafa) leaves, or 25% crude protein diets (diets I, II, III and IV respectively) for 120 days. The performance of the Archachatina marginata was assessed on the basis of weight gain, shell length, shell aperture, shell width and feed utilization. The Archachatina marginata fed on the diets showed progressive increase in body weight with no significant difference (p>0.05) among the mean body weight at the end of 120 days. Increase in shell length, shell aperture and shell width were recorded in all the treatments. Each of these parameters (shell length, shell aperture, shell width) showed no significant differences (p>0.05) among the treatments. There was no significant difference (P>0.5) among the daily weight gain, protein efficiency ratio (PER), and food conversion ratio (FCR) of the snail on the treatments.
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