Growth responses of broilers fed with varied preparations of golden miracle snail (GMS) meal

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the chemical composition of processed golden miracle snail meals, investigate and evaluate growth performance of broilers and identify the effective level of inclusion of those meals in the broiler ration. Control ration containing 5, 10, and 15 percent fish meal were formulated. Those fish meal were completely substituted in an equivalent weight basis with sundried and boiled GMS meals with and without shells to comprise the dietary treatments in experiment 1. The same levels except 15% were also used in experiment 2, but calculated nutrients were made isonitrogenous. These dietary treatments were randomly fed to 300 low man broiler chicks following a two factor factorial in completely randomized design for four weeks for every experiment. Chemical analysis showed that GMS without shells has highest crude protein and ether extract contents. Those with shells have higher crude ash and calcium content. Phosphorus content is similar for both preparations. In experiment 1, highest weight gain was found in the control ration. There was no significant difference noted in the weight gain of birds fed with all the different rations because the rations were made isonitrogenous. As to the amount of feed consumed, in Experiment 1, highest consumption was found in the control ration while the lowest was with sundried GMS with shell. In experiment 2, the highest consumption was with sundried GMS, boiled with shells while the lowest was with the control ration. A significant decrease in body weight gain was observed as level of fish meal and GMS meal rations were increased to 10%, but no further decrease was noticed when the level was increased to 15%. Feed efficiency was highest for fish meal and sundried GMS with shell for the first experiment. Boiled GMS with shell has the lowest efficiency. In the second experiment, no significant differences were noticed in the efficiency of all rations except for sundried GMS with shell which was found the lowest.