Benefits derived from snail

BENEFITS OF SNAIL FARMING

Low capital intensive
Good source of protein
Low fat & cholesterol levels
Environmental friendly
Secondary occupation
Low mortality

BENEFITS

Good foreign exchange earner
Feed
The shell
Traditional medicine

BREEDS OF SNAILS
AFRICAN ORIGIN

Archachatina marginata ( African giant snail)
Achatina Achatina
Achatina fulica .

Archachatina marginata Limicolaria spp

WHITE SKINNED SNALS

BLACK SKINNED SNAILS

Achatina achatina

Achatina fulica

Helix.aspersa - Spain , France ,Italy.
H .pomatia - Rome , France , Britain .
H .lacteal - Spain .
H .nemoralis - Spain
H . hortensis - central and northern Europe.
H . aperta.
lucorum - Crimea to turkey.
adanensis (turkey )

EQUIPMENT AND TOOLS NEEDED IN SNAIL FARMING

Small weighing scale.
Watering can
Water containers (Water tanks)
Hand trowel
Water and feeding troughs
S h o v e l.
H o e.
Cutlass.
Plastic buckets.
Measuring tape
R a k e.

SYSTEM OF PRODUCTION

EXTENSIVE SYSTEM
ADVANTAGES

The condition of the environment closely resembles the natural habit of snails compared to other systems.

Low labour and low general management input i.e. inexpensive to maintain
The farmer needs not purchase feed because it is already available in the snailery.
There is no restriction on the movement of the snails.

DISADVANTAGES OF EXTENSIVE SYSTEM

Little control over the performance of snails

It requires a lot of land compared to others of production.
Record keeping is difficult.
Poor disease management.
The snails are exposed to predators’ attacked (e.g. soldier ants)
Mortality rate could be higher than other systems.
Semi-Intensive System
The system is like the extensive system except that the snails are supplied
with feeds besides what is grown in the snailery

INTENSIVE SYSTEM
In the intensive System, the Snails are only fed with feeds brought to the snailery.

ADVANTAGES

It is good for backyard or commercials farming.
Record on performance of the snails can be kept.
There is proper control over disease and predators
The management practices are simple.
It can be practiced both in urban and rural area.
The growth rate could be influenced by introducing formulated ration.
The mortality rate is low.

DISADVANTAGES
The snails can be stolen at once because the confinement which is very difficult in extensive system because the snails are scattered

INTENSIVE SYSTEM

BASKET
TIERS OF TYRE.
USED DRUM
USED TANK.
LOW FENCED PEN.
HIGH FENCED PEN.

PLATE 5: POT
PLATE 6 : TIERS OF TYRE
PLATE 7: USED DRUM
PLATE 8: CAGE

SOURCING, SELECTION AND STOCKING
Sources of foundation stock

Snail farmers
Research Institutes.
M a r k e t s
Hawkers
Direct from the bush

SNAIL FARMERS
ADVANTAGES

The age of the snail could be determined.
The performance of the snails are known.
The snails are already used to the system of rearing (Intensive system)
The snail are well adapted to the environment.

DISADVANTAGE

The price may be higher than that of snails purchased from
hawkers or obtained directly from the bush.

RESEARCH INSTITUTES

Snails to be used as foundation stock could also be purchased from Research Institutes like -
Institute of Agric. Research and Training, Moor Plantation. (I.A.R.&.T.), Ibadan.
The experts will also give necessary advice.

MARKETS

Snails could also be purchased from the markets. The buyer must be very careful when purchasing from the market because of the adaptabil
ity and future performance of the snail. The market women do not take care of the snails in the market.
The hawkers along the highway used to create hole in the shell and allow the rope to pass through the hole, this process has adverse effect on the future performance of the snail if bought from the hawkers.
Direct from the bush: The price of other snails if bought from the person that collected them from bush directly is cheaper because no expenses is incurred by the gatherers.

SELECTION OF FOUNDATION STOCK

The snails must be healthy and active.
The fleshy part should completely fill the shell.
Snails of the same specie must be selected.
The snails must be relatively of the same size.
Snail with no shell damage is recommended.
Consult experts or those that have been rearing snails in your locality especially for the choice of breed and necessary advice.

STOCKING/M2

40 to 50 hatchlings
35 growing snails
10-15 adult snails

PROTEIN RICH FEEDS
Protein are obtained from animal or plant source. It is required for growth, maintenance of body parts and egg production, e. t. c.
Sources: Soybean residue, fish meal, meat meal, groundnut cake, , pawpaw leaf, soybean meal, palm kernel cake, cooked beans, e. t. c.

MINERAL SUPPLEMENT
Snails need regular supply of calcium and phosphorus for shell formation, good health and maximum production. Minerals in the tissue aid digestion, absorption and transformation of feed to release energy.
Sources: Dicalcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, bone meal, egg shell, snail shell, e. t.c Deficiency: Malformation of the shell. The shell may turn white in colour.
Vitamins: The ultimate source is green plants though some minute quantity could be supplied in natural feed.
Sources:    Pawpaw fruit( ripe and unripe), orange, garden egg, carrot, mango, cocoyam leaf, sweet potato leaf, pawpaw flower, hibiscus and milk bush.

FAT AND OIL
They are good sources of energy.
Sources:   Palm fruits, palm kernel meal and palm oil, e. t. C
Water:      Clean water should be provided always. Water should be given without restriction. Use of treated water should be avoided.
Sources

Well.
Bore hole
Rain

FEEDING TROUGH FOR SNAILS
SNAILS WITH FEEDING TROUGH
FEED FORMULATION FOR SNAIL.

FORMULATED FEEDS
This is the combination or mixture of two or more feed ngredients(maize, groundnut cake, fish meal, soy bean meal, oyster shell, and bone meal) at different proportions to meet the particular need (growth, maintenance, reproduction) of a specific animal using locally available feed resources at lowest possible cost.

BENEFITS OF USING FORMULATED FEED

It improves performance of the snail.
It can be used to meet the specific requirement of the animal.
It can be easily measured.
It saves time and energy.
It is good for commercial production of snail.
It can be stored for longer period.

DEMERITS

Knowledge of simple arithmetic is required.
It is expensive.
Milling machine is required.

REQUIREMENT FOR FEED FORMULATION

Nutrients requirement of the animal must be known.
Cost of the necessary ingredients must be known.
Nutrients composition of the feed ingredients is essential.
Availability of the feed ingredients.
Little knowledge of arithmetic is required.
The state (health, stages of reproduction) of the animal must be known.
Use of computer.

METHODS OF FORMULATING FEED

Pearsion square method.
Trial and error method.
Use of computer.
Simple Pearsion method.
Formulate a feed of 24% protein using groundnut cake and maize.

Solution
% protein of maize =10%
% protein of G.N.C =42%
Nutrient requirement =24%
MAIZE                      10
G.N.C                        42
Maize ►10 ∕52 x 24= 4.62%
G.N.C► 42 ∕52 x 24=19.38%
Check
Maize--      4.62∕24 x 100   =19.25
G.N.C- -        19.38∕24 x 100=80.75
--------
100
---------
i.e.19.25% of maize and 80.75% of G. N.C are required to formulate a diet of 24% protein.

PRECAUTIONS TO BE TAKEN BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER FEED FORMULATION FOR SNAIL
•        Avoid using adulterated, mouldy or infested ingredients
•        The ingredients must be properly dried.
•        Be sure that the ingredients are weighed correctly.
•        The feed must be ground to finest particle size
•        The attendants or the manager must be present at the feed mill.
•        The finish feed must be stored in well ventilated dry place.
•        NUTRIENTS REQUIREMENT FOR DIFFERENT CLASSES OF SNAIL.

	PROTEIN	ENERGY	CALCIUM	PHOSPHORUS
	%	KcalMe/kg	( % )	(%)
HATCHLING	26	2200	3.5-4.5	0.6
GROWERS	24	2200-2400	3.5-4.5	0.6
ADULT	24-26	2200- 2400	5.5	0.6

Omole 2003.

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF SOME FEED INGREDIENTS

INGREDIENTS	Dry Matter (DM) %	Crude Protein %	Energy ME K Cal/kg	Ether Extract (Oil)%	Crude Fibre %	Lysine %	Methionine %	Calcium %	Phosphorus % (Available)
MAIZE	88	10	3434	4.00	2.00	0.25	0.18	0.01	0.09
GUINEA CORN	89	11	3300	3.00	2.00	0.35	0.10	0.04	0.32
MILLET	88	10	2560	4.00	8.00	0.40	0.18	0.02	0.10
MAIZE OFFALS	100	11	2500	2.80	12.00	0.25	0.18	0.01	0.09
SORGHUM OFFALS	100	9	2700	5.00	6.00	0.25	0.18	0.01	0.09
WHEAT OFFALS	89	17	1870	3.50	8.5	0.90	0.25	0.10	0.30

SUMMARY OF PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS OF SNAILS
(A. marginata) FED WITH OR WITHOUT COMPOUNDED RATION

PARAMETERS (MEAN)	PAWPAW LEAF(ALONE)	PAWPAW LEAF PLUS COMPOUNDED RATION	PAWPAW FRUIT ALONE	PAWPAW FRUIT PLUS COMPOUNDED RATION
DRY MATER FEED INTAKE (G/WEEK)	41.8	46.9	42.3	47.9
WEIGHT GAIN(G/WEEK)	7.13	11.87	7.23	12.23
FEED CONVERSION RATIO	5.86	3.95	5.85	5.82
WEIGHT OF EGGS (G/WEEK)	4.51	5.65	4.54	5.82
WEIGHT OF THE HATCHLING	4.40	5.54	4.46	5.75

GROWTH AND REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE IN SNAIL:
•        Factors
•        Stages of production
•        Feeding
•        Stocking rate
•        Darkness
•        Management Practices
•        Climatics factor
•        Source of the foundation stock.

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AFFECTING PERFORMANCE
Climatic factors affecting snail production:

Rainfall
Temperature (Hibernation and Aestivation)
Wind
Light
Relative humidity.

How to avoid excess water in the snail pen:

Drum/Tank: Drum and Tank for rearing snail should be perforated at the bottom or sides to drain the excess water in soil. Wetting of the soil must be moderate.
Cage: Holes should be drilled around the side and bottom of the cage. Avoid excess wetting of the soil.
High Fenced Pen: Palm fronds should be densely placed on the top of the pen

EDAPHIC FACTORS AFFECTING SNAIL PERFORMANCE
Edaphic factors affecting snail farming are:

Soil pH
Soil Texture
Soil Structure
Topography
Soil Fertility.

REPRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
Sexual maturity:-
Snails will start to lay eggs when they are sexually matured at 8-12 months or when their weight is between 110-125g. Snails would continue to lay eggs both in the rainy and dry seasons under domestication.

Factors that affect sexual maturity:-

A g e
Feeding
Temperature
Relative humidity.

Disease condition
Specie of the snail.
Eggs of snails
Clutch Size             4-18
Incubation period   28-32 days
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES:

Care for hatchlings or baby snails:
Care For The Growers
    Care For The Breeders/Adults
Daily routine practices
•        Check the housing units and remove any dead snail.
•        Remove the left over feeds every day.
•        Clean and replenish water trough with cool, clean, fresh water daily.
•        Clean the pens and the surroundings.
•        Make sure that the soil is well covered with dry leaves(mulching).
•        In the dry season, wet the soil adequately. In the rainy season, if the rain is a
•        dequate, it may not be necessary. The soil must be moist.
•        Check whether the wire netting or mosquito netting is intact.
•        Check the water in the gutter/ water bath or in the container in case of cage
•
•        system, if it is adequate for prevention of soldier ants attack.
•        Feed the snails after sunset (5-6pm) to preserve the freshness of the feed .
•        Keep the door to the housing unit shut always

Practices General Routine
•        Discourage visitors from entering the snailery.
•        Proper inspection of materials carried to the snailery must be done
•        Do not use chemicals or agro-chemicals i.e. Insecticides or herbicides in the snailery.
•        Adequate shade must be provided.
•        Snails must be handled carefully.
•        Soil must be properly moistened especially in the dry season.
Fresh poultry droppings should not be added to the soil in the snailery
•        Mouldy, stale or fermented feed should not be given to snails.
•        The hatchlings or young ones require more humid environment and more attention than the mature ones.
•        The inside and outside of the snailery should be cleaned.
•        Feed and water should be served in shallow containers for easy accessibility.
•        The feed or the soil must be supplemented with oyster shell, bone meal, egg shell or other calcium sources.
•        Snails should be well protected from predators such as soldier ants, snakes and rodents e.t.c.
•        IMPACT OF SNAIL FARMING ON THE ENVIRONMENT.
•        Introduction:
•        Snail farming is simple and the management practices are very simple. We need
•        to ask and answer some questions:
•        What is the effect of rearing snail under domestication on the wild
•        environment i.e. the atmosphere? Is the rearing a nuisance to man?
•        What are the likely source of the pollution?
•         How can the pollution be controlled?
•        EFFECT OF SNAIL FARMING (DOMESTICATED) ON THE ENVIRONMENT.
•        Air Pollution:
•        If the management practices are not strictly followed, there could be atmospheric pollution as a result of dead snail not removed from the pen. Dead snail has very offensive odour. It is more offensive than poultry droppings odour. The offensive odour could lead to diarrhea or cholera in man if not properly checked.
•        Soil Pollution:
•        The soil could be polluted if the pen is not well managed. If the soil inside the pen is not removed or turned regularly the soil may be polluted as a result of excreta from the snail, mouldy feed and decayed fruits, etc. Dead snail will rapidly decay turn to liquid within 2 or 3 days after death and the effluent could pollute the soil. The rusting of iron used to build the pen could also be a source of pollution.
•        Water Pollution:
•        The dropping and the decayed snail (only the fleshy part of the snail can decay) could be washed into the nearby stream or rivers and could result into water pollution
•        Food Safety:
•        The fleshy part of the snail is slippery and if not well processed could lead to stomach disorder. Eating of snail from Endemic area, or polluted soil i.e. lead accumulated soil could be hazardous to man. Over cooking and frying could reduce the nutritional quality of the snail. Taking up of toxic materials from the soil
•        v)      The Shell:
•        The shell of the snail after processing if not well disposed could litter the surrounding.
•        vi)     Cutting of Mulching Materials:
•        Indiscriminate cutting of leaves (Plantain, banana, cocoa) for mulching snail pen could directly or indirectly affect the productivity of the plan or lead to the death of the plant.
•        vii)    Inedible Part:
•        The viscerals i.e. intestine, kidney, etc. constitute the inedible part. If the visceral is not properly taken care off i.e. by burning, burying or use for other beneficial purposes, it could decay and have adverse effect or the environment.
•        Snail as Metal Pollution Bio-Indicator:
•        Snail could be used to detect presence of heavy metal such as:
•        Lead (Pb),
•        Cadmium
•        Copper
•        Zinc
•        POSITIVE IMPACT OF REARING SNAILS UNDER DOMESTICATION ON THE ENVIRONMENT
•        Extinction: Snail farming under domestication will prevent extinction of snail from the wild.
•        Earthworm population: There is symbiotic relationship between snails and earthworm. The latter feeds on the excreta of the former while earthworm helps in turning the soil of the pen.
•        Soil fertility: The soil fertility inside the pen is improved as a result of decay leaves inside the pen. The presence of earthworm in the soil is an indication of fertile soil.
DISEASE PREVENTION
•        Signs of ill health:
•        The snail will fail to eat i.e.
•        . Loss of appetite.
•        The snail will be inactive.
•        There will be loss of weight.
•        No ensalivation of the fleshy part(foot) .
•        Dryness of the fleshy part.
•        Nodules may be formed on the surface of the snail.
•        The foot or fleshy part withdraws into the shell
PREDISPOSITION FACTORS OR CAUSATIVE AGENTS:
•        Adverse environmental condition:
•        Insufficient shading and mulching
•        Overcrowding:
•        Nutrition:
•        Poison:
•        Pathogen
•        Use of fresh poultry droppings
•        Old age:
•        Purchasing snails from different sources
•        WHAT TO DO IF THERE IS INCIDENCE OF DISEASE:
•        Remove the dry leaves used for mulching.
•        All dead snails should be removed and burnt outside the snailery.
•        Top soil in the housing unit must be dug to a depth of 2-3cm and replaced
•        with humus soil.
•        The healthy snails should be washed in clean water and put in
•        the housing unit carefully.
•        The snails should be well covered with new dry leaves.
•        Proper management in terms of good feeding, adequate shading,
•         proper mulching, optimum
•        stocking rate and sufficient wetting will curtail or curb the incidence of disease outbreak
•        HOW TO PREVENT SOLDIER ANTS INFESTATION
•        Don’t use any insecticide.
•        Remove the snails from the housing unit. Wash them in clean water to remove any attached insects.
•        Light a rag or wood to produce smoke. This smoke will send the ants away.
•        Remove the top soil.
•        Make sure that the ants have all disappeared before putting the snails back.
•        CAGE
•        LOW OR HIGH FENCED PEN
•        TYRE
•        DRUM
HOW TO PREVENT OTHER PREDATORS

Lizard, rats, rodents, snake,
the wire netting should be reinforced with mosquito nets.
The doors to the pens and cages should be shut every time.
Materials brought to the snailery must be well inspected.
Life span: snails can live up to 7-8 years

PROCESSING AND MARKETING

Processing of snails: Snails could be processed for eating purpose as form eight month of age
Use hard objects like stone, club or iron e.t.c to break the shell or put the snail in hot water for 3-5 minutes. Remove and shake. The visceral (Intestine and kidney e.t.c ) of the snail and the foot(edible portion) will come out of the shell.
Separate the edible portion (foot) from the visceral and the shell.
Wash the foot with alum or lime to remove the slime.
The edible portion can then be boiled, fried, stored or utilized as required.

CARCASS ANALYSIS OF DIFFERENT BREEDS OF SNAIL.

Parameter	A. marginata	A. achatina	A. fulica	Limicolaria spp
Mean Liveweight (G)	285.0	162.0	23.88	8.40
Weight Of The Foot	112.2	59.91	9.34	2.62
Weight Of The Shell (G)	72.68	41	5.47	2.03
Weight Of The Visceral (G)	62.43	35.28	4.98	1.95
Dressing percentage (%)	39.36	36.98	39.11	31.19
Shell/Live-weight %	25.50	25.5	22.91	24.16
VISCERAL / LIVE WEIGHT (%)	21.91	21.78	20.69	23.21

TABLE 1.
PROXIMATE COMPOSITION OF GALS (A. MARGINATA VAR. SATURALIS)

X	Proximate composition (%)	White-skinned eggs	Black-skinned eggs	Meat**
Moisture Content	60.00 ± 2.18	59.94 ± 2.00*
Crude Protein	64.01 ± 2.40	63.89 ± 2.35*	63.46 ± 2.56
Ash	30.98 ± 0.03	31.25 ± 1.80*	2.08 ± 0.01
Crude fibre	0.01 ± 0.01	0.00 ± 0.00*	3.01 ± 0.01
Lipid/Fat	1.03 ± 0.02	1.01 ± 0.01*	2.40 ± 0.02
Carbohydrate	3.97 ± 0.05	3.85 ± 0.04*	22.53 ± 1.08

TABLE 2.
MINERAL COMPOSITION OF GALS (A. MARGINATA VAR. SATURALIS)

x	Mineral (mg/100 g)	White-skinned eggs	Black-skinned eggs	Meat**
Potassium (K+)	4.65 ± 0.05	4.62 ± 0.05*	98.47 ± 2.87
Sodium (Na+)	17.16 ± 1.00	17.28 ± 1.15*	30.89 ± 3.25
Calcium (Ca++)	184.20 ± 9.38	185.10 ± 10.15*	30.89 ± 3.25
Iron (Fe++)	5.10 ± 0.07	5.00 ± 0.06*	0.64 ± 0.01
Magnesium (Mg++)	4.70 ± 0.05	4.72 ± 0.06*	31.00 ± 3.02
Zinc (Zn++)	0.08 ± 0.01	0.09 ± 0.01*	2.01 ± 1.01

MARKETING
In Africa, there is no organized market for the sale of snails. They are sold directly to the buyers or consumers from the snail farmers or those who gather them from the bush or hawkers along the highways. With increasing awareness and production, snails could be marketed in the following ways;

The snails could be sold directly to consumers or snail sellers directly from the farm
Arrangement could be made to supply hotels and restaurants, e.t.c eggs and meat (DW basis).
Exporting snails to foreign countries like United States of America, Britain, France.e.t.c.
Snail farmers association of Nigeria with headquarters at the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training Ibadan has been established and marketing of snails is one of their goals.
The price of snails is always higher in the dry season than the raining season because the supply is limited at this time.