Environmental Variations and Productivity Indices of Two Ecotypes of GiantAfrican Land Snails (GALS) FED Moringa Oleifera LeafMeal

This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of different housing systems on the productivity indices of two species of Giant African Land Snails (GALS) fed dried Moringa oleifera leaf meal. A total of 320 growing snails with average body weight of 250g were used for the study. Housing significantly (P<0.05) affected all production traits. Housing 1 (Tl) recorded the highest final mean weight, this was followed by housing 2 (T2) while housing 3 (T3) had the least value in descending order of 3 3 9. 60 ± 0. 09g, 2 75. 53 ±1. OOg and 215±. 2 41. OOg respectively. Total mean weight, shell live weight, offal live weight and dressing percentage also followed a similar pattern as recorded in final mean weight. In terms oftotalfeed intake andfeed conversion ratio, Treatment 3 had the highest valuedfollowed by Treatment 2 while Treatment 1 recorded the least with the corresponding values of 1233.61+1.00g, 902.18+1.00g and 886.08±0.09, 5.87±1.00, 3.87±1.00, 3.87±1.00 and 3.32±0.09 respectively. Although considerable (higher) values were observed on snails in treatment 1 but it was not correct in all the traits studied. This study therefore underscores the importance ofhousing system on the productivity indices of Giant African Land Snails (GALS) in humid and sub-humid climate with the aim of furnishing farmers, researchers and other stakeholders in snail industry with needed information.