Electric fences have been tried with two to six wires, 2 mm–4 mm apart, powered by a 6 or 12 volt battery. To prevent the snails escaping over the top of the fences, the wire can be curved inward, or a galvanized sheet can be used as snails do not crawl on this material. The fencing material can be close-meshed wire netting, woven plastic, corrugated metal or plastic sheets, and should extend 60 cm below the ground surface to give protection against burrowing predators. Fenced enclosures up to several metres in size can be used. Troughs made from wood or building blocks and covered with plastic netting to keep predators out are used with a sprinkler system to keep the substrate moist. The site chosen should have some protection from the prevailing wind. This intensive system will produce market snails within four months.Įxtensive systems should be on neutral or alkaline soils which are self-draining. High densities affect juvenile growth rates and cause fungal disease that can decimate the stock within three days therefore, 600 10-gram snails per square metre is suggested. The entire building should be cleaned and disinfected every two years. All dead snails and uneaten food should be removed. Other common substrates are paper, peat moss and soil over gravel. Fertilizers, animal manure and compost should be avoided because of the risk of toxicity or contamination by moulds, bacteria or parasites. Failing that, a source of calcium should be provided (bone meal, ground cuttle fish, natural chalk limestone or eggshell). The soil should be 10 cm deep to facilitate egg laying, and should either be neutral to alkaline to provide calcium carbonate required for shells. Soil, which should be moist but not wet, is the most common substrate used. The housing ideally should have a concrete floor and insulated waterproof wall and ceilings. Suggested lighting patterns are 12 hours of daylight for breeding snails and 8 hours of daylight for young snails. Lighting must also be controlled to prevent the photoperiod effect from inducing hibernation. There should be a constant temperature of 17 o–22 oC and a relative humidity of 80%–90%. In intensive systems, the snails are housed in an insulated controlled environment. Plastic tunnels are a cheap way of protecting farmed snails from the environment and from predators however, it can be difficult to control the temperature in the tunnel and is therefore not recommended. Mixed system of indoor breeding and outdoor fattening.There are four methods of snail farming: They are: In Brazil, there is research being done with the utilisation of slime (the snail’s drool) as healer for scars and ulceration. In France and in Germany, snails are the foundation to the preparation of cosmetics, and are also used in handcraft and in many shell arrangements. As snails’ meat is poor in lipids, it can be eaten by those who suffer from liver diseases, arteriosclerosis and obesity. Its high quantity of mineral salts and iron is useful during pregnancy and nursing. Because it is a food rich in calcium and polysaturated fatty acids, a diet based on snails’ meat is recommended in cases of rickets and cholesterol. These amino acids contribute to the restoration of the integrity of the gastric tissue, curing, this way, ulcers. The truth is, there are indicators that prove the therapeutic value of snails, such as the amino acids, contained in the protein of the snails’ meat and in their drool. However, it is important to distinguish between scientific facts and superstitions without scientific evidence. There are some reports of miraculous cures of gastric ulcers by ingesting, during a week, live snails taken from their shells. In the Medieval Age, peoples used the water where the snails were boiled to help sore throats and bronchitis, and also to cure gastric-intestinal infections and cataplasm. Medically, since ancient times, snails have been prescribed as medicine for maladies of the stomach, hydropsy and labour. Benefits in Snails & the Increasing Demand for Snail The cultural acceptability is higher in Nigeria and most countries.There are potentials for exportation to foreign countries.The ROI for snail farming is higher compared to other micro-livestock animals.The fat and cholesterol levels in snail meat are low. The meat of snail is very rich in protein, iron and calcium.The capital, labour, financial and technical inputs in simple snail farming are relatively low compared to.Hence, you can rear snails in your backyard without any form of environmental pollution. Snails are environment-friendly and both the snails and their faecal waste don’t smell offensively.
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