Biological performance of Archachatina marginata in captivity

Between February and June 2017 a study focusing on the production of African giant snails was carried out at the University of Dschang's Ferme d'Application et de Recherche (FAR). The overall aim of the study was to contribute to the implementation of breeding techniques aimed at domesticating the giant African snail. More specifically, the aim was to evaluate the effect of diet on the growth characteristics, meat and shell yield and chemical composition of the meat of captive giant African snails Archachatina marginata. The three diets were as follows: R0 (Control diet consisting of papaya only); R1 (Papaya + powdered marine shellfish); R2 (Concentrated feed containing 12.3% calcium and 17.4% protein). Results showed that the concentrated feed (R2) induced the best results (P¿0.05) for survival rate, weight gain, meat yield and flesh quality.