benefits of snail farming

• 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 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.

SYSTEMS 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

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

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:

1. 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.
2. Cage: Holes should be drilled around the side and bottom of the cage. Avoid excess wetting of the soil.
3. 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.
•      
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.

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.
• Supply to hotels and restaurants