R. Bras. Zootec.01/Apr/2002;31(2 Sup..):835-41.
Protein requirement for Helix aspersa maxima during the growing phase
DOI: 10.1590/S1516-35982002000400005
Aiming to determinate the dietary crude protein (CP) requirements for Helix aspersa maxima snail, 200 animals, with average initial weight of 2.00 g were used, and assigned to a completely randomized design with four treatments [12.00, 15.00, 18.00, and 21.00% CP] and five replicates of 10 animals per experimental unit, during a period of 90 days. It was observed a quadratic effect of CP levels on final mean weight, feed conversion, protein efficiency rate, shell percentage and carcass yield with the best values for 16.23, 16.95, 14.79, 16.07, and 15.87% CP, respectively. The CP levels did not affect the survival rate. It may be concluded that the requirement of CP on diets for the Helix aspersa maxima is 16.23%.
Keywords: crude protein; gros gris; heliciculture; Helix aspersa maxima; snail