The Effect of Bambara groundnut diet on the proximate composition of the slime of Archachatina marginata.

Abstract

The research work was carried out for 60 days on the Effect of Bambara groundnut diet on the proximate composition of the slime of Archachatina marginata.   One hundred and eighty Archchatina marginata snails of approximately equal body weight were used for this study. The snails were randomly divided into 12 experimental groups of 15 snails each, assigned to 4 dietary treatments that were replicated 3 times giving a total of 45 snails per treatment. Results showed that Archachatina marginata snails fed 45% Bambara groundnut diet had significantly (P<0.05) higher Feed Intake than those fed lower BGN dietary levels. The final body weight (170.15g), and weight gain (15.01g) of snails fed 45% BGN levels were also significantly (P<0.05) higher than values obtained from 0%, 15%, and 30% BGN dietary protein levels. The result also revealed that dietary crude protein of (24.93%) at 45% BGN level resulted in higher slime crude protein (14.18%) level while the lowest slime crude protein levels were recorded at 0% BGN dietary levels. This showed that feeding can affect the proximate composition of snail slime. The inclusion of BGN dietary levels at 45% should be considered as the most appropriate since the important parameters that impacted the slime proximate composition of the experimental snails was recorded at this level. Archachatina marginata fed 45% BGN dietary level produced proportionately more slime.