SNAIL FARMING
Heliculture (snail farming) is breeding of edible land snails for human or industrial consumption. SNAILRY is a place where edible snails are kept, and reared. Snails are invertebrates belonging to the phylum Molusca and class gastropoda. People eat both snail meat and eggs (white caviar). Each snail has female and male reproductive organs to procreate fertile eggs. Hence, reason for calling them Hermaphrodites. Snails are nocturnal animals that prefer dark moist places. This gives reason why they are seen during rainy season especially under leaf litters. They hibernate during dry season by producing a mucur membrane to cover the mouth of their shell till the next rainy season. Before they hibernate, they would have stored enough food and water in their system to survive the long spell of dryness. As the rain start, they brake loss the mucur membrane and become active again.
As for the nutritional benefits, snails are a vital source of calcium, phosphorus, iron, and protein. Also, snails are low in cholesterol, sodium, and fats.
SPECIES OF SNAILS
Snails come in various species, colours, sizes, and shapes. There are three snail species in Nigeria. They are: Achatina fulica (the East African land snail), Achatina achatina (the giant Ghana or tiger snail) also called African land giant snail which is the most popular because of its economic size, and Archachatina marginata (the giant West African snail). Achatina achatina can lay up to 1,200 eggs yearly and is one of the largest snails in the world.
The Helix aspersa is a popular snail specie in Europe. Other species are the Burgundy snail (Helix pomatia), the garden snail (Cornu aspersum), the white garden snail (Theba pisana), and the milk snail (Otala lacteal).
BENEFITS OF SNAIL FARMING IN NIGERIA
1. Snail farming is a source of employment for people especially fresh graduates seeking for jobs. People can also set it up as per time jobs.
2. It requires little land or space to set up. 3. Snail farming has low start-up capital and maintenance costs. Forty snails consume about 2 kg of snail feeds (a mixture of crushed corn, chalk, milk powder, and herbs).
4. Snail meat and eggs are highly protenious and very profitable. Snail meat demand is high in the dry season.
5. Snails are environment-friendly because neither the snails nor their droppings have an offensive smell.
6. Snail is more nutritious than chicken meat, for it does not contain fat and cholesterol.
7. Snails are used in phermacautical and cosmetics industries
8. Snails are a rich source of proteins, iron, calcium, Vitamin A, and more minerals. Vitamin A boosts your immune system and strengthens your eyes.
9. Snail manure improved the organic content of the soil.
10. The snail mucin is important to a human’s skin. It hydrates the skin and treats dry skin conditions.
11. The snail mucin slows ageing and eliminates wrinkles, scars, and stretch marks.
12. An integrated farming system is very feasible with snail production. You can do snail-banana-earthworm-rabbit-palm tree and plantain farming.
13. Snail shells serve as calcium used for animal feeds.
14. Snails have a low mortality rate because they can live up to 20 years.
15. Snail shell can be crushed and used for scrubbing pots.
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN SNAILRY REARING.
FEEDING
To feed snails is less expensive because they feed on readily available food. For commercial purposes, food and water should be made available for the snails in the morning and night every day.
Snails can be fed with plantain, pumpkin, potato, lettuce, pawpaw, cabbage, banana, cucumber, etc. They also feed on flowers, vegetables, plantain and banana leaf, Pawpaw leaf, palm fruit, guava, oranges, watermelon and other fruits
Snails commonly feed on meal leftovers and green leaves without salt. Calcium is also vital for the growth of their shells. So ensure you add limestone, and egg shells to their feeds.
Other ideal staples for snail feeds include; corn, pap, beans, and rice, all without salt. Calcium is crucial in feeding snails because it boosts snails’ growth rate and produces thicker shells.
Compounded feeds can also be made and feed to them. Such feed must not have pepper or salt in them.
HOUSING
There are many ways of rearing snails. The most common places people keep snails in Nigeria are:
In a large room aquarium (it can be your garage).
In plastic or wooded snaileries (a place where edible snails are bred) on the balcony or compund.
In a greenhouse.
Outdoors on a farm (with simulated natural habitat) .
Use of car tyres
Locally, use of earthen pots.
The housing unit should be located under a shade not places with direct sunlight.
The size of the snails’ house will determine how comfortable the snails will be. Also, the style and size of the snail house are dependent on the size of your snail farm.
Snails house should be sorted according to their age. Separate them into mature, young, and newly hatched into the separate houses, and make sure the younger snails have a comfortable shelter that protects them from predators. Also, keep the temperature around and in the snailrys regulated and moist respectively. Use leaves to prevent dehydration in the snailery.
Fig 2: DIFFERENT SNAIL HOUSES
SOIL TYPE
The soil is the snails’ primary habitat, and is essential for their survival. Sandy-loamy soil is suitable because of the high level of organic matter it contains and ease of drainage when water is sprinkled on them. The soil also make it easy for snails to lay their eggs and drink water. Organic matter is also a source of food to them. For indoor farming or in a greenhouse, the soil should be 10 inches deep and kept moist. This will make it easy for the snails to burrow into the soil and lay their eggs.
PESTS AND DISEASES
Common predators of snails include; turkeys, geese, chickens, ants, snakes, lizards, and termites. Snails are not associated with many diseases, but it is common to find issues of bacteria and fungi due to overcrowded pens.
Toads, frogs, birds, weasels, skunks, moles, mice, and rats are carriers of fungi, nematodes, and fungi. Therefore, the housing unit should be properly protected.
REPRODUCTION IN SNAILS
Snails are hermaphrodites. A single snail possesses both male and female reproductive organs but they still require another snail of their kind to reproduce.
When snails are sexually mature – between 8 to 12 months, they mate. They would lay eggs in the soil that would hatch within a month.
The newly hatched snails would stay in the soil and feed on the egg shells. This would supply them the needed calcium to develop their own shell. After a week, they begin to emerge from the soil. Therefore, they should be separated into a new pen with adequate spacing and protection.
If left with adult snails, they would be eaten up.
Another alternative is to scoop the soil gently to evacuate the eggs to a new pen and cover with soil. Water should be sprinkled on the soil to keep it moist especially during dry season before the eggs hatch.
For commercial farming, where water supply is available to keep the snailery moist, there is no specific breeding period for snails, about 5 to 6 clutches of eggs would be produced per year with an average of 200 eggs,
This stage may be cumbersome, but the market value and fertile nature of the snails will compensate you for the long maturity period.
MARKETING SNAILS IN NIGERIA
Before starting snail rearing , carry out a market survey, analyze and test sales in the market. Determine the demand of people in different locations for snails and the market price. Some other major markets for snail meat are:
Supply snails to restaurants that prepare snails cuisines.
Sell snails to institutions with snail meat dishes on their menus (e.g. high-end schools).
Supply snails to events like weddings.
Sell them to food companies that sell packaged frozen snails or snail dishes.
Supply snails to companies that use them to make medications and beauty products/cosmetics.
Export to European and Asian countries
