The effect of two different protein levels in the diet on the growth performance of Turkish snail (Helix lucorum)

Abstract

In order to determine the optimum level of protein required in the diet of Turkish snail (Helix lucorum) was investigated at the Snail Research Base of the Faculty of Agriculture, Trakia University, Bulgaria. Eighty Turkish snails with initial body weight 5.47±1.0 g, were divided into two groups of 40 snails each and were fed ad-libitum with the experimental diets for 90 days. The snails were grouped and assigned to the diets at two crude protein levels (16 and 26 %). The results showed that feed intake and weight gain were significantly influenced by dietary protein. Diets containing 26 % protein level appeared to be utilized more efficiently in term of food conversion ratio (1.51) than diets containing the other dietary protein (2.01). Survival of each group was 100 % and no significant difference among treatments. It was concluded that snail fed lower diet protein level (16 %) performed lower in growth at the end of the feeding trial.

Keywords

• helix lucorum
• diet
• protein levels
• growth performance