Influence of Diet and Dietary Crude Protein Content on the Reproductive Performance of the Snail Archachatina marginata (Swainson, 1821)
Nygblé Angèle Epse Piba Sika
Laboratory of Animal Biology and Cytology, UFR Natural Sciences, Nangui Abrogoua University of Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
Kouassi Jerome N'dri *
Laboratory of Animal Biology and Cytology, UFR Natural Sciences, Nangui Abrogoua University of Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
N'dri Saint Clair Amani
Department of Animal Biology, UFR Biological Sciences, Péléféro Gon Coulibaly Universiy of Korogho, Côte d’Ivoire.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The pressure to collect snails due to the high demand for their meat has encouraged snail farming. However, snail farming faces a number of problems, including the formulation of a feed that meets the nutritional requirements of snails. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of plant-based diets and three concentrated diets, and then to determine the protein level to be incorporated into a concentrated feed capable of positively influencing the reproductive performance of the Archachatina marginata snail. The study was conducted on 225 Arch. marginata juveniles fed two plant-based diets (R1 and R2) and 3 concentrated meal diets (R3, R4 and R5) with different protein contents (10.5%, 14% and 17.5%) for two years in experimental rearing. The R1 diet consists of Lactuca sativa, Carica papaya, Brassica oleracea, Cecropia peltata, Laportea aestuans and Phaulopsis falcisepala. The R2 diet was obtained by adding Leucena leucocephala leaves to R1. The first eggs were laid at 12 months on the R1 and R2 green forage diets and at 10 months on the R3 concentrate diet. Snails fed concentrated diets R4 and R5 laid their eggs at 9 months. The number of eggs laid per clutch and the average number of eggs per clutch in the animals fed the concentrated diets were statistically higher than those obtained with the vegetable diets (between 0.34 and 0.45 clutches and between 6.10 and 7.46 eggs respectively). The concentrated diets significantly improved the reproductive performance of Arch. marginata compared with the vegetable diets. In addition, reproductive performance was optimal on the R5 diet with the highest protein incorporation rate.
Keywords: Archachatina marginata, diet, protein content, reproduction
How to Cite
Downloads
References
Adikwu MU. Snail production for sustainable development and good health. Procceedings of the 1st International Conference on Giant African Land snails (NeTGALS). Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria; 2012.
Ademolu KO, Akintola MY, Olalonye AO & Adelabu BA. Traditional utilization and biochemical composition of six mollusc shells in Nigeria. International Journal of tropical biology and conservation. 2015; 63(2):459–464.
Damerdji A. Contribution to the Biosystematic Study of Gastropod Molluscs Terrestrial Pulmonae of the Tlemcen Region. Magister's thesis in Biology from the National Institute of Higher Education in Biology. University of Tlemcen (Algeria). 1990;205.
Mandangi GM. Contribution to the study of the consumption and valorization of giant African snails in Kinshasa. Complementary Master's degree in Management of animal and plant resources in tropical environments. University of Liège-Gembloux Agro Bio Technology. 2010;123.
Dafem R, Ngoula F, Teguia A, Kenfack A, Tchoumboué J. Reproductive performance of the giant African snail (Archachatina marginata) in captivity in Cameroon. Tropicultura. 2008;26(3):155 -158.
N'dri KJ, Kouato F, N'zué KS, Karamoko M & Otchoumou A. Study of the reproduction of Archachatina ventricosa in the National Center of Floristic (NCF) of the Félix Houphouët- Boigny University of Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire). International Journal of Bioscience. 2019;15(3):251-260
Aman JB.: Effect of the source and calcium content of the breeding substrate on the biological performance of Archachatina marginata (Swainson, 1821). Doctoral thesis, UFR of Natural Sciences, Nangui Abro Goua University, Abidjan Ivory Coast. 2013;156.
Jess MRJ. The interaction of the died and substrate on the growth of helix aspersa (Müller) variety maxima. Slues and snail in word agriculture Henderson, I Edition; 1989.
Stievenart C. Shell morphology, Growth, Reproduction and Aestivation in giant African snails: Archachatina marginata suturalis, Achatinaachatina and Achatina fulica. Doctor of philosophy (PH.D.) thesis in Tropical Animal Production. Prince Leopold Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerpen, Belgium. 1996; 204.
Hodasi JKM. Life history studies of Achatina achatina (Linnaeus). Journal of Molluscan Studies. 1979;45:228- 239.
Otchoumou A. Effect of calcium content of compound feed and photoperiod on biological performance in three species of Achatinidae snails from Ivory Coast reared in buildings. State Doctorate Thesis in Natural Sciences in Animal Biology and Ecology, University of Abobo-Adjamé, Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire). 2005; 171.