Authors : Popoola, Y. A.; Olorungbohunmi, T. O.; Idowu, A. B.; Owosibo A. O.; Abraham, O. A.; Olatundun B. E.; Ajayi, O. T.; Omole, A. J.; Popoola A. K.

Volume/Issue : Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 2 - February

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/46kx5frr

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/mr47um7b

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26feb648

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.

Abstract : This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of a natural growth promoter consisting of a mixture of Neem leaf, Bitter leaf, and Moringa leaf meal (NBM) on the weight gain, feed efficiency, reproductive performance, and carcass quality of snails. Four dietary treatments—NBM1, NBM2, NBM3, and NBM4—contained 0%, 1%, 2%, and 3% inclusion levels of the NBM mixture, respectively. The leaves were air-dried before incorporation into the feed. A completely randomized design was used, with four replicates per treatment and ten snails per replicate. Data were collected on growth performance, reproductive indices, carcass yield, and cost implications. Significant differences were observed in feed intake among treatments. The highest feed intake (971.2g) was recorded in snails fed 3% NBM, although it was not significantly different from those fed 2% NBM (969.1g). Dressing percentage and egg production were significantly influenced (p<0.05) by dietary inclusion levels. Snails fed 3% NBM recorded the highest egg production, while incubation period was not affected by treatment. Cost per weight gain was lowest in the 3% NBM group. The study concluded that NBM can effectively be used as a natural growth promoter at 2–3% inclusion in snail diets.

Keywords : Snails, Natural Growth Promoter, Feed Efficiency, Productivity.

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