Abstract

This pilot study provides information on the nutritive potentials of eggs laid by two ectotypes of Archachatina marginata var. saturalis (P) snails. One hundred (100) adult A. marginata snails, 50 each of the black-skinned ectotype and white-skinned ectotype used for the study were selected from the snail sanctuary of the Department of Animal Science, University of Calabar, Nigeria. The snails were raised 5 per hutch and fed fresh paw-paw (Carica papaya) leaves and concentrate. Freshly laid eggs from snails’ matings were collected from the two ectotypes for chemical analyses (proximate and mineral compositions). Results of the proximate composition of the snail eggs revealed that there were no significant differences (P > 0.05) between the white-skinned and black-skinned A. marginata snails for all the fractions (moisture, crude protein, crude fibre, lipid/fat, carbohydrate and ash) analyzed. Results of the mineral composition of the snail eggs also revealed non-significant differences (P > 0.05) between the white-skinned and black-skinned A. marginata snails. The results of mineral composition further showed that snail eggs constitute good sources of calcium, iron, sodium, potassium and magnesium, and compared favourably in these minerals with snail meat, as well as meat of lean domestic livestock. These eggs are therefore recommended for both young and old as they will constitute alternative sources of essential nutritional elements (protein and basic minerals) at a lower cost for Nigerians.

Key words: Nutritive potentials, eggs, snail, ectotypes, Nigeria.