Complete Guide to Snail Reaing in Nigeria

COMPLETE GUIDE TO  SNAIL REAING IN   NIGERIA

By FARM BUSINESS SETUP +234 7033378184 www.businessp!n."#$.n%

CONTENTS Introduction Setting up a snail Concrete pen/trench pen production of snail farming Soil Climate Moisture

Edible snail species of Africa origin Reproduction Mating and egg laying Growth Cannibalism by hatchlings Constructing a snail pen Mortality Hibernation opulation density Introduction of snails to reproduction field Irrigation !eeding Supplementary feeding !eeding management Selecting breeding snails "iseases and ests

Har#esting snails for growing out or pen $ips for har#esting or transferring snails Mar%eting rocessing of snail meat E&port mar%ets 'perational cost for stoc%ing ()) snails roduction planning rofit pro*ection for ()) snails Snail pens layout/snail capacity per pen !re+uently as%ed +uestions INTRODUCTION

Snail meat has been consumed by humans worldwide since prehistoric times, It is high in protein -.0.123 and irons -4505) mg/%g36 low in fat6 and contains almost all the amino acids needed by humans, Snails are a healthy food6 high in protein with almost no fat, 7hile they contain a small amount of cholesterol and also contain amino acids6 #itamins and minerals, A recent recent study study has also sho shown wn that that the glandula glandularr sub subst stance ancess in edible edible snail meat cause cause agglutination of certain bacteria6 which could be of #alue in fighting a #ariety of ailments6 including whooping cough, Edible snails also play an important role in fol% medicine, In 8igeria6 the bluish li+uid obtained from the shell when the meat has been remo#ed is belie#ed to be good for infant de#elopment, $he high iron content of the meat is considered important in treating anaemia, In the past6 it was recommended for combating ulcers and asthma, At the Imperial Court in Rome6 snail meat was thought to contain aphrodisiac properties and was often ser#ed to #isiting dignitaries in the late e#ening, In 7est Africa6 snail meat has traditionally been a ma*or ingredient in the diet of people li#ing in the high forest belt -the forested area other than the sa#annah forest3, In C9te d:I#oire6 for 

e&le6 an estimated ;,< million %g are eaten annually, In Ghana it is clear that demand currently outstrips supply, supply, International trade in snails is flourishing in Europe and 8orth America, Howe#er6 in spite of the considerable foreign and local demand6 commercial snail farms such as those in Europe6 South0 East Asia and the Americas hardly e&ist in Africa, In Ghana6 8igeria and C9te d:I#oire6 where snail meat is particularly popular6 snails are gathered from the forest during the wet season, In recent years6 howe#er6 wild snail populations ha#e declined considerably6 primarily because of  the impact of such human acti#ities as deforestation6 pesticide use6 slash and0 burn agriculture6 sponta spo ntaneou neouss bus bush h fires6 fires6 and the collec collecti tion on of immatu immature re snails snails,, It is theref therefore ore impor importan tantt to encourage snail farming -heliculture3 in order to conser#e this important resource,

SETTING UP A SNAIL FARM

A se+uence of fi#e steps is suggested= . lan -mar%et6 production6 organi>ation3  ilot production and sales ( Go or no0go decision 4 In#estment in facilities and %now0how -cages/pens6 finance6 %nowledge3 5 ?p scaling -logistics6 +uality6 +uality6 financial control3

Advantages of snail farming

 Environment 

Snails Snails are en#iron en#ironmen ment0f t0fri riendl endly y6 because because66 unli%e unli%e poultry poultry or pigs6 pigs6 neithe neitherr the snail snail nor its droppings smell offensi#ely, offensi#ely, Snails can also be reared in the bac%yard,

 Inputs

Capita Capital6 l6 techni technical cal66 labour labour and financ financial ial inputs inputs in simple simple snail snail farmin farming g are relati relati#el #ely y low compared to those in other types of li#estoc% farming -poultry6 pigs6 goats6 sheep6 cattle3,  Snail meat  meat 

Snail meat is a good source of protein, It is rich in iron and calcium6 but low in fat and cholesterol compared to other protein sources li%e poultry and pigs,

Disadvantages of snail farming

Climate

7ithout e&pensi#e artificial means of climate control6 snail farming is restricted to the humid tropical forest >one6 which offers a constant temperature6 high relati#e humidity6 preferably no dry season6 and a fairly constant day/night rhythm throughout the year, Cultural restrictions

Snail meat is considered a delicacy by some6 whereas others will not e#en touch it for religious or cultural reasons,

Growth

Snails are relati#ely slow0growing animals, !urthermore the consumable meat ma%es up only 4)2 -ma&imum@3 of the snail:s total li#e weight, Conse+uently snail farming is not a way to ma%e money +uic%ly

CONCRETE PEN AND TRENC PEN PRODUCTION OF SNAIL FARMING FARMING

$he following sections describe the technical and practical aspects of the model concrete pen  production trial and the full biological cycle of breeding snails, Concrete pen and trench pens  production is the domestic method of breeding and growing snails in, In Africa this method of  growing snails will be %nown as pen snail farming

SOIL

?se a good medium soil that has neither a lot of sand nor too much clay, Snails are unable to dig into hard6 dry clay, Soils with too much sand do not contain enough water, Soil that contains )2 to 4)2 organic matter is good, $he soil should be similar to that of a garden in which green6 leafy #egetables thri#e, If your snail farm contains plants6 %eep them wet and properly care for  them, Regularly remo#e any weeds, 8eutrali>e 8 eutrali>e soil that is too acidic with lime to ma%e it suitable -at about pH ;3, esides the pH #alue of the soil6 calcium must be a#ailable either from the soil or another readily a#ailable source6 since snail shells are <;2 to ation treatment helps the soil structure resist washing, $his allows regular cleaning without destroying the crumb structure of the soil that is beneficial for egg laying, Snails dig in soil and ingest it, Good soil fa#ors snail growth and pro#ides some of their  nutrition, ac% of access to good soil may cause fragile shells e#en when the snails ha#e well0  balanced feedD the snails growth may lag far behind the growth of other snails on good soil,

Snails will often eat feed6 and then go eat dirt, Sometimes6 they will eat only one or the other, $his may be one reason that you should not crowd too many snails into too small a pen, $he soil6 unless fre+uently changed6 will become fouled with mucus and droppings, Chemical changes also may occur in the soil, A mi&ture of peat6 clay6 compost6 CaC'( at pH ; ma%es a #ery good soil, eaf mold at pH ; wor%s almost as well, 'rganic matter in the soil seems as important as carbonates, Soils that are richest in e&changeable calcium and magnesium stimulate growth best, ?sable carbonates and total calcium are important, Calcium may be added to the soil at the rate of .) pounds per .)) s+uare feet, Calcium may also be set out in a feeding dish or trough so the snails can eat it at will, CLIMATE

 A mild climate -5<0;5 !3 with high humidity -;52 to <523 is best for snail farming6 though most #arieties can stand a wider range of temperatures, $he optimal temperature is ;) ! for many #arieties, 7hen the temperature falls below 45 !6 snails hibernate, ?nder 54 ! the snails are inacti#e6 and under 5) !6 all growth stops, 7hen the temperature rises much abo#e B) ! or  conditions become too dry6 snails esti#ate, 7ind is bad for snails because it speeds up moisture loss6 and snails must retain moisture, MOISTURE

Snails need damp6 not wet6 en#ironments, Although snails need moisture6 you must drain wet or  waterlogged soil to ma%e it suitable for them, Similarly6 rainwater must run off promptly, Snails  breathe air and may drown in o#erly wet surroundings, A soil moisture content of B)2 of  capacity is fa#orable, In the hours of dar%ness6 air humidity o#er B)2 will promote good snail acti#ity and growth,  8inety0nine percent of snail acti#ity6 including feeding6 occurs in the cool6 dar% nighttime6 with  pea% acti#ity ta%ing place  to ( hours after dar%ness begins, $he cooler temperature stimulates acti#ity6 and the nighttime dew helps the snail mo#e easily, $hey hide in sheltered places during most of the day, If necessary6 use misting sprayers6 li%e those used for plant propagation6 in dry climates to maintain ade+uate humidity and moisture le#els,

EDI!LE SNAIL SPECIES OF AFRICA ORIGIN ORIGIN  Achatina  Achatina achatina, Common name= giant snail6 tiger snail -Ghana3

ocal names -corresponding language within parentheses3= Gambia= honuldu Sierra eone= %on%  iberia= dain -8ano36 drainn -Gio3 Ghana= abobo -Ewe36 elon%oe -8>ima36 %re%ete -Hausa36 nwapa -A%an36 wa -Ga36 wele -"agarti3  8igeria= %atantawa -Hausa36 ila%o6 isan -Foruba3 -Foruba3 East Africa= %ono%ono -Swahili3

 Achatina  Achatina ulica, Common name= garden snail6 foolish snail -sometimes also called the giant

African snail3 Ghana= nwa -A%an3  8orthern tribes of Ghana6 ur%ina !aso6 $ogo6 $ogo6 8igeria= %rete%e  8igeria= eesan or ipere -Foruba3 -Foruba3 enya= e%humuniu -uhya36 %amniyo -uo3

East Africa= %ono%ono -Swahili3

African land snail  Archachatina  Archachatina mar!inata mar!inata"" Common name= big blac% snail6 giant African iberia= proli -epelle3 Ghana= pobere -A%an3  8igeria= igbun -Foruba36 -Foruba36 e*una -Ibo3 'ther edible species e&ist6 but they are of minor6 local importance,

 Achatina  Achatina achatina

-giant snail6 snail6 tiger tiger snail snail36 36 a widely widely distr distribu ibuted ted specie speciess in 7est Africa Africa  Achatina achatina -giant -particularly in enin6 C9te d:I#oire6 Ghana6 iberia6 8igeria6 Sierra eone and $ogo36 can be considered a good candidate for snail farming in most areas of 7est Africa6 although it re+uires higher humidity than the other two species and needs a longer growing time to reach se&ual maturity,

Des#ri$tion

 Achatina achatina snails are reputedly the largest land snails in the world, Although usually

much smaller6 they can grow up to () cm in body length and 5 cm in shell height, A#erage A#erage adult shell length is .B cm6 with an a#erage diameter of < cm, $he conically shaped6 fairly pointed shell is brownish with a characteristic stripe pattern -hence the name tiger snail3,

Distri%&tion

 Achatina achatina originates from the 7est African rainforest belt6 from Guinea through 8igeria,

eca ecaus usee  A. achatina is the most pri>ed species for consumption in Ghana it is becoming

increasing increasingly ly rare in the wild, Se#eral ecotypes -locally adapted populations populations of A. achatina3 can  be found6 with differences in growth rates6 si>e6 aesti#ation -dormancy3 patterns6 colour and e#en fla#our, $he differences in si>e may be e&plained partly by differences in the length of the aesti#ation periodD the shorter the aesti#ation period6 the longer the feeding period and the larger6 therefore6 the ecotype,

 Achatina achatina

 Achatina  Achatina ulica Des#ri$tion

-garden n snail snail66 foolis foolish h snail snail33 is a large large snail snail66 reachi reaching ng ) cm in length length or   Achatina fulica -garde occasionally more6 with a shell length up to ) cm and a ma&imum diameter of . cm, $he conical6 spiralled shell is predominantly brown with wea%6 dar%er banded mar%ings across the spiral, Colouration is highly #ariable6 depending on diet, A mature snail a#erages 5) g in weight

Distri%&tion

$he species originated in the coastal regions of East Africa -enya6 $an>ania36 and spread by the .ambi+ue, "uring the .il3,

 Achatina fulica

 Archachatina  Archachatina mar!inata mar!inata Des#ri$tion

 Archachatina marginata -big blac% snail6 giant African land snail3 is a large snail6 generally

growing to about ) cm and a li#e weight of 5)) g, $he shell is much less pointed than the  Achatina species6 the roundness being especially ob#ious in young animals, Striation on the shell

may gi#e the appearance of a :wo#en: te&ture, $he head of the snail is dar%0greyD its foot is a lighter shade

$his species has been the ob*ect of a series of stoc%ing and feeding E&periments E&p eriments in 8igeria Distri%&tion

 Archachatina marginata marginata is nati#e to the humid African rainforest belt6 from Southern 8igeria to

Congo6 but is now found in other parts of the African rainforest >one,

Gro'ing #onditions

In the 8igeri 8igerian an e&peri e&perimen ments6 ts6 *u#eni *u#enile le growth growth was found found to be in#ers in#ersely ely propor proportio tional nal to temperature6 falling sharply at temperatures  () C6 and directly proportional to rainfall and humidity, ody weight gain slows down significantly during the dry season -"ecember to March in Southern 8igeria6 where the breeding trials too% place3,

 Archachatina marginata marginata

MATING AND EGG LA(ING

Snails are hermaphrodites, Although they ha#e both male and female reproducti#e organs6 they must mate with another snail of the same species before they lay eggs, Some snails may act as males one season and as females the ne&t, 'ther snails play both roles at once and fertili>e each other simultaneously, simultaneously, 7hen the snail is large enough and mature enough6 which may ta%e se#eral years6 years6 mating mating occurs occurs in the late late spring spring or early early sum summer mer after se#eral se#eral hou hours rs of courts courtship hip,, Sometimes there is a second mating in summer, -In tropical climates6 mating may occur se#eral times a year, In some climates6 snails mate around 'ctober and may mate a second time  wee%s later,3 After mating6 the snail can store sperm recei#ed for up to a year6 but it usually lays eggs within a few wee%s, Snails are sometimes uninterested in mating with another snail of the same species that originated from a considerable distance away,

Mating snails

Snails need soil at least  inches deep in which to lay their eggs, $he soil should be at least ( inches deep, eep out pests such as ants6 earwigs6 millipedes6 etc, "ry soil is not suitable for the  preparation of a nest6 nor is soil that is too hea#y, In clay soil that becomes hard6 reproduction rates may decrease because the snails are unable to bury their eggs and the hatchlings ha#e diffi difficult culty y emerg emerging ing from from the nest, nest, Hatcha Hatchabil bilit ity y of eggs depends depends on soil soil temper temperatu ature6 re6 soil soil humidity6 soil composition6 etc, Soil consisting of )2 to 4)2 organic material is good, eep the soil 15 ! to B) !6 best around ;), Maintain soil moisture of B)2, 'ne researcher remo#es eggs immediately after they are deposited6 counts them6 then %eeps them on moist cotton until the eggs hatch and the young start to eat, Snails lose substantial weight by laying eggs, Some do not reco#er, About one0third of the snails will die after the breeding season, Eggs measure about (mm in diameter and ha#e a calcareous shell and a high yol% content, Mostly eggs are lay in April6 may6 may6 une6 uly6 uly6 August6 or September  to B wee%s after mating6 in holes dug out in the ground, -"ata #aries widely on how long after mating snails lay eggs,3 $he snail puts its head into the hole or may crawl in until only the top of the shell is #isibleD then it deposits deposits eggs from the genital genital opening *ust behind the head, It ta%es the snail . to  days to lay () to 5) eggs, 'ccasionally6 the snail will lay about a do>en more a few wee%s later, $he snail co#ers the hole with a mi&ture of the slime it e&cretes and dirt, $his slime6 which the snail

e&cretes to help it crawl and to help preser#e the moisture in its soft body6 is glycoprotein similar  to eggs, !ully0de#eloped baby Achatina achatina ach atina snails hatch about ( to 4 wee%s after the eggs are laid6 depending on temperature and humidity, irds6 insects6 mice6 toads and other predators ta%e a hea#y toll on the young snails, $he snails eat and grow until the weather turns cold, $hey then dig a deep hole6 sometimes as deep as . foot6 and seal themsel#es inside their shell and hibernate for the winter, $his is a response to both decreasing temperature and shorter hours of daylight, 7hen the ground warms up in spring6 the snail emerges and goes on a binge of replacing lost moisture and eating,  Achatina achatina eggs are yellow6 spherical6 about (mm in diameter and are laid 5 days to (

wee%s after mating, -"ata #aries widely due to differences in climate and regional #ariations in the snails: habitats,3 habitats,3  Achatina achatina lays an a#erage of B5 eggs in a nest that is .0 to . ./0 inches deep, "ata #aries from () to o#er .) eggs6 but high figures may be from when more than one snail lays eggs in the same nest, In warm warm66 damp damp clim climat ates es66  Achatina achatina may lay eggs as often as once a month from !ebruary through 'ctober6 depending on the weather and region, Mating and egg0laying begin when there are at least B hours of daylight and continue until days begin to get shorter, In the ?nited States6 longer hours of sunlight that occur when temperatures are still too cold will affect this schedule6 but increasing hours of daylight still stimulate egg laying, If warm enough6 the eggs hatch in about  wee%s6 or in 4 wee%s if cooler, It ta%es the baby snails se#eral more days to  brea% out of the sealed nest and climb to the surface, In a southern climate6 Achatina achatina mature maturess in about .( mon months ths,, In centra centrall Italy Italy66  H. aspersa  hatches and emerges from the soil almost e&clusi#ely in the autumn, If well fed and not o#ercrowded6 those snails that hatch at the start of the season will reach adult si>e and form a lip at the edge of their shell by the following une, If you manipulate the en#ironment to get more early hatchlings6 the si>e and number of  snails that mature the following year will increase, In 8igeria6 some  Achatina achatina mature in .. months6 and under ideal conditions in a laboratory6 some ha#e matured in 1 to B months,

y contrast6 contrast6 one giant African African snail6  Achatina fulica6 lays .)) to 4)) elliptical eggs that each measure about 5mm long, Each snail may lay se#eral batches of eggs each year6 usually in the wet season, $hey may lay eggs in holes in the ground li%e H. pomatia6 or lay eggs on the surface of a roc%y soil6 in organic matter6 or at the base of plants, In .) to () days6 the eggs hatch releasing snails about 4mm long, $hese snails grow up to .)mm per month, After 1 months6 the  Achatina fulica is about (5mm long and may already be se&ually mature, Se&ual maturity ta%es 1

to .1 months6 depending on weather and the a#ailability of calcium, $his snail li#es 5 or 1 years6 sometimes as many as < years,

GRO)T

7ithin the same snail population and under the same conditions6 some snails will grow faster  than others, Some will ta%e twice as long to mature, $his may help the species sur#i#e bad weather6 etc,6 in the wild, Howe#er6 a snail farmer should ob#iously select and %eep the largest and fastest maturing snails for breeding stoc%, Sell the smaller snails, y selecting only the

largest6 largest6 the a#erage a#erage si>e of the snail may increase increase significantly significantly in only a couple of generations generations,, Most of the differences in growth are probably due to en#ironmental factors including stoc%ing density, Howe#er6 to whate#er e&tent these differences are genetic6 you might as well breed large6 fast0growing snails instead of small6 slower0growing ones, Se#eral factors can greatly influence the growth of snails including= population densityD stress Jsnails are sensiti#e to noise6 light6 #ibration6 unsanitary conditions6 irregular feedings6 being touched6 etc,KD feedD temperature and moistureD and the breeding technology used,  Achatina achatina re+uires at least (2 to 42 calcium in the soil -or another source of calcium3

for good growth, Most snails need more calcium in the soil than  H. aspersa, ow calcium inta%e will slow the growth rate and cause the shell to be thinner, Calcium may be set out in a feeding dish or trough so the snails can eat it at will, !ood is only one calcium source, Snails may eat  paint or attac% walls of buildings see%ing calcium6 and they also will eat dirt, A newborn:s shell si>e depends on the egg si>e since the shell de#elops from the egg:s surface membrane, As the snail grows6 the shell is added onto in increments, E#entually the shell will de#elop a flare or reinforcing lip at its opening, $his shows that the snail is now matureD there will be no further shell growth, Growth is measured by shell si>e6 since a snail:s body weight #aries and fluctuates6 e#en in .))2 humidity, $he growth rate #aries considerably between indi#iduals in each population group, Adult si>e6 which is related to the growth rate6 also #aries6 thus the fastest growers are usually the largest snails, Eggs from larger6 healthier snails also tend to grow faster and thus larger, larger, "ryness inhibits growth and e#en stops acti#ity, 7hen it becomes too hot and dry in6 the snail  becomes inacti#e6 seals its shell and esti#ates -becomes dormant3 until until cooler6 moister weather returns, Some snails esti#ate in groups on tree trun%s6 posts6 or walls, $hey seal themsel#es to the surface thus sealing up the shell opening,

CANNI!ALISM !( ATCLINGS

$he first snails to hatch eat the shells of their eggs, $his gi#es them needed calcium for their  shells, $hey may then begin eating unhatched eggs, If the snail eggs are %ept at the optimum temperature6 1B ! -for some #arieties36 and if none of the eggs lose moisture6 most eggs will hatch within . to ( days of each other, Cannibalism also will be low, If hatching e&tends o#er a longer period6 cannibalism may increase, Some eggs eaten are eggs that were not fertile or did not de#elop properly6 but sometimes6 properly de#eloping embryos might be eaten, A high density of LclutchesL of egg masses increases the rate of cannibalism6 as other nearby egg masses are more li%ely to be found and eaten, Snail egg has . to ) times the protein of salad, $he  protein helps the baby b aby snails start de#eloping +uic%ly and an d be healthier, healthier, Snail egg is an e&cellent starter food for newly hatched snails6 but they tend to only eat eggs of o f their own species,

CONSTRUCTING A SNAIL PEN C*oosing a s+stem, t*e o$tions

$he type and dimensions of your snailery or snaileries depend6 ob#iously6 on the snail growing system you choose6 and on the +uantity of snails you intend to produce, As far is *o&sing *o&sing is concerned6 concerned6 your snail farm could be e&tensi#e6 semi0intensi semi0intensi#e6 #e6 or intensi#e6 in increasing increasing order  of comple&ity6 comple&ity6 management and financial inputs, $hree options might be considered= 

E&tensi#e system= outdoor6 free0range snail pens,



Mi&ed Mi&ed or semi semi0i 0int ntens ensi# i#ee syst system em== egg egg layi laying ng and and hatc hatchi hing ng occu occurr in a cont contro roll lled ed en#ironmentD the young snails are then remo#ed after 10B wee%s to outside pens for  growing or fattening or both,



Intensi#e= closed systems6 for e&le plastic tunnel houses6 greenhouses and buildings with with control controlled led climat climate, e, -8ote= -8ote= the same same option optionss of e&tens e&tensi#e i#e66 semi0i semi0inte ntensi nsi#e6 #e6 or  intensi#e apply to feed and feeding 3, Regardless of the si>e and type of your snail farm6 the housing system must meet the following conditions, It must be=



Escape0proofD snails are master0escapists and unless pre#ented from doing so they will +uic%ly wander all o#er your you r -or your neighbors3 garden or house,



Spacious6 in accordance with the growing stage of the snails -hatchlings6 *u#eniles6  breeding snails6 or mature snails fattened for consumption3, Snails suffer from o#ercrowding6 which impedes their de#elopment and increases the ris% of diseases, Suitable rearing densities range from  .))/m for hatchlings to ;0.)/m for breeding snails,easily accessible and easy to wor% in or with6 for handling the snails6 placing feed6 cleaning and other tas%s,



well0protected from insects6 predators and poachers

Different materials #an %e &sed for %&ilding snaileries- de$ending on $ri#e and availa%ilit+" 

"ecay0 and termite0resistant timber, In 7est Africa fa#ourable tree species are iro%o - Milicia  Milicia excelsa6 local name N odum36 opepe - Naucleadiderrichii  Naucleadiderrichii6 local name N %usia36 or  e%%i - Lophira  Lophira alata6 local name N %a%u3, In South East Asia poles can be made of a species li%e tea% -Tectona grandis36 which is widely planted in other continents co ntinents as well,

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Sandcrete bloc%s6 or mudbric%s,

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Gal#ani>ed sheets6 polythene sheets,

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Chic%en wire6 for protection,

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Mos+uito nets or nylon mesh6 for co#ering the pens as protection against insects,

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Second0hand materials6 li%e car tyres6 oil drums and old water tan%s,

T*e follo'ing t+$es of $ens mig*t %e #onsidered for sim$le snaileries, 

Hutch bo&es



$rench pens

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!ree0range pens

UTC !O.ES Des#ri$tion

Hutch bo&es are s+uare or rectangular6 single or multi0chamber wooden bo&es with lids6 placed on wooden stilts abo#e the ground at a suitable height for easy handling, $he stilts should be fitted with plastic or metal conical protectors or aprons6 to pre#ent #ermin from crawling or 

climbing up the stilts to attac% the snails in the bo&es, $he protectors could be made from old o ld tins or plastic bottles, In the middle of the lid is an opening co#ered with wire netting and nylon mesh, $he lid should be fitted with a padloc% to discourage pilfering, In the floor of the bo& are a few holes through which e&cess water can drain out, $he bo&es are filled with sie#ed blac% soil to a depth of .B05 cm, $he bo& -es3 should should ob#iously be well protected protected from scorching scorching sun or  torrential rain,

A$$li#ation and &se

Hutch bo&es are useful in a semi0intensi#e snail breeding system, $hey are #ery suitable as hatchery and nursery pens because eggs and young snails can be easily located and obser#ed,

Mature snails in larger snaileries could be transferred to hutch bo&es when they start ma%ing holes to lay eggs, $he breeding snails should be remo#ed to their own pens after the hatchlings start to emerge, $he soil must be changed occasionally because an accumulation of droppings will increase the chances of disease de#elopment, A soil change e#ery three months is ade+uate,

Advantages and disadvantages

Hutch bo&es can be placed close to the farmer:s house6 ensuring good super#ision and protection, $hey are built at a comfortable wor%ing height6 which facilitates feeding and handling of the snails,

"isad#antages are the cost of construction and their limited si>e6 which restricts the number of  snails that can be %ept in them -some () hatchlings/*u#eniles6 or about three mature snails in a  bo& of the si>e3,

TRENC PENS Des#ri$tion

$rench pens are ad*oining snail pens of ),1 O ),1 m to . O . m6 either dug into the ground -which must be #ery well0drained36 or raised 4)0 5) cm abo#e the ground, 'utside walls and inner   partitions consist of sand Crete bloc%s or mud bric%s in either case, -"ug trench pen and raised trench pen3, $he pens are filled with suitable soil to a depth of .)0.5 cm, $hey are co#ered with wooden or steel frame lids with chic%en wire plus nylon mesh6 and fitted with padloc%s to discourage discourage poachers, poachers, 'b#iously the pens must be protected against the fierce heat of the sun or  hea#y rain, Shredded semi0dry banana lea#es may be spread in the pens to pro#ide shelter for the snails,

A$$li#ation and &se

$rench pens are suitable in semi0intensi#e to intensi#e snail growing #entures, $hey can be used as hatchery6 nursery or fattening pens6 with the number of stoc% being adapted to the si>e of the snails in each case, $he snails can be mo#ed from one pen to another according to the growing cycle,

Advantages and disadvantages

$he main ad#antage of a trench pen system6 whether sun%en or raised abo#e the ground6 is its fle&ibility, Snails can be mo#ed around easily6 in accordance with their si>e and phase in the growing cycle, $he snails are always easy to locate6 for feeding6 handling6 selection and final sale or consumption, $he main disad#antages of trench pens are -a3 construction costs -specifically of  raised pens636 and -b3 the fact that the farmer has to stoop or %neel down to tend the snails,

arge deciduous trees -plantain or banana3 should be planted on all the side of o f the shed to  pro#ide shade and natural thermal comfort, In line with the researchers researchers commitment to en#ironmental sustainability6 sustainability6 the trees will help reduce the daytime temperature6 thus the pod

will becomes more energy efficient, It impro#es in the acti#ity of the snails that resulted in more effecti#e breeding and a lower mortality rate,

MORTALIT(

"eaths of snails were mostly adult snails and usually occurred at the end of the mating season or during hot dry conditions6 especially in the first year, year, I!ERNATION

As the weather progressi#ely became hot 6dry or colder6 the snails completely closed off the opening of their shells with a hard6 calcareous co#er called an epiphragm,

i%ernation

POPULATION DENSIT( Rearing densit+

"ensity affects the growth and breeding capacity of snails, High density populations tend to grow slowly6 de#elop into smaller adults6 and lay fewer clutches of eggs and fewer eggs per 

clutch, If the snails are #ery densely pac%ed6 they may not breed at all, $he accumulating slime suppresses reproduction, 'ther disad#antages of high density are the high rates of parasitism and ease of transmission of diseases, In terms of snail weight6 the recommended density is .0.,5 %g  per m -for A. achatina6 this would be about .5 to 5 snails per s+uare metre3, It is best to start a snail farm with as low a density as possible, As the farmer becomes more familiar with snail habits and with managing the enterprise6 the numbers could be increased, INTRODUCTION OF SNAILS TO REPRODUCTION FIELD

7hen the forage brassica crops were around )cms in height6 it was considered that it was time to introduce the snails for reproduction, $he collected snails were sorted and culled and .6)B; of the largest of the snails were chosen as the initial breeding stoc%,$hese snails were placed in the reproduction field in early 8o#ember ))4,$hey continued to mate and breed and the first hatchlings were noticed in mid "ecember ))4, It was estimated that 56))) snails were hatched ha tched from mid "ecember ))4 to end !ebruary ))5

IRRIGATION

An abundant supply of water is necessary for irrigating crops and misting snails to encourage night0time acti#ity, acti#ity,

A polythene polythene pipe irrigation irrigation system system was integrated integrated into each field and connected connected to water tan%s filled with water, Irrigation outlets should place in e#ery pen and consisted of a riser standing <)cm with a full circle sprayer on the top, 7ater misting was carried out each e#ening for )0() minutes, minutes, $he watering time time should should be ad*usted ad*usted according to the weather, weather, lenty lenty water will be re+uired during anuary and !ebruary when the weather will hot and dry, dry,

FEEDING

Feeding

!eeding season is April through 'ctober6 -or may #ary with the local climate36 with a Lrest  periodL during the summer, summer, "o not place food in one small clump so that there is not enough room for all the snails to get to it, Snails eat solid food by rasping it away with their tongues, !eeding acti#ity depends on the weather6 and snails may not necessarily feed e#ery day, E#ening irrigation in dry weather may encourage feeding since the moisture ma%es it easier for the snails to mo#e about, ut the breeding snails in the breeding pens in April or early May, !eed until mid une when mating begins and the snails stop feeding, Snails resume eating after they lay eggs, 'nce snails ha#e laid their eggs6 you can remo#e the adult snails, $his lea#es more food and less crowding for the hatchlings, Snails of the same species collected from different regions may ha#e different food preferences, Some foods that snails eat are= Alyssum6 fruit and lea#es of apple6 apricot6 articho%e -a fa#orite36 aster6 aster6 barley barley6 beans6 bindweed6 California California bo&wood6 almost almost any cabbage cabbage #ariety #ariety66 camomile6 camomile6 carnation6 carrot6 cauliflower6 celeriac -root celery36 celery6 ripe cherries6 chi#e6 citrus6 clo#er6 cress6 cucumbers -a fa#orite snail food36 dandelion6 elder6 henbane6 hibiscus6 hollyhoc%6 %ale6 lar%spur6 lee%6 lettuce -li%ed6 and ma%es good snails36 lily6 magnolia6 mountain ash6 mulberry6 mums6 nasturtium6 nasturtium6 nettle6 nettle6 nightshade nightshade berries6 oats6 onion greens6 pansy6 pansy6 parsley parsley66 peach6 ripe  pears6 peas6 petunia6 phlo&6 plum6 potatoes -raw or coo%ed36 pump%ins6 radish6 rape6 rose6 sorrel6 spinach6 sweet pea6 thistle6 thornapple6 tomatoes -well li%ed36 turnip6wheat6 yarrow6 >innia, $hey will eat sweet lupines6 but will re*ect bitter lupines and other plants with high +uinoli>idine al%aloids, Snails also a#oid plants that produce other defensi#e chemicals6 defensi#e stem hairs6 etc, Snails usually prefer *uicy lea#es and #egetables o#er dry ones, If you feed snails #egetable trimmings6 damaged fruit6 and coo%ed potatoes6 promptly remo#e uneaten food as it will +uic%ly spoil, Fou may supply bran that is wet or sprin%le dry bran o#er leafy #egetables, $he diet may consist of )2 wheat bran while B)2 is fruit and #egetable material, Some growers use oats6 corn meal6 soybean meal6 or chic%en mash, aying mash pro#ides calcium6 as does crushed oyster shells, Snails also may eat materials such as cardboard -but do not purposely feed it to

them3D they can eat through shipping cartons and escape, Snails may sometimes eat6 within a 40 hour period6 food e+ual to .)26 and occasionally as much as )26 of their body weight, Acti#e snails depri#ed of food will lose more than one0third of their weight before they star#e to death00 a process that ta%es B to . wee%s, Esti#ating snails can sur#i#e much longer, Supply calcium at least once a wee% if it is not a#ailable in the soil, It should not contain harmful salts or be so al%aline as to burn the snails, Mi& calcium with wet bran or mashed potatoes and ser#e on a panD this will %eep any lefto#er food from rotting on the ground, Some researchers use chic%en mash for feed, Fou can cut a plastic pipe in half lengthwise to ma%e two troughs which can be used as feeders for mash, Mi& laying mash -used for egg0  producing hens3 into the feed to pro#ide calcium for the snails: shells, Commercial chic%en feeding mash is around .12 to .;2 protein6 from fish meal and meat meal6 ma%ing it good for  growing growing snails, snails, Supplying Supplying mash to hatchlings hatchlings might reduce cannibalism, cannibalism, $wo feeds that snails li%e and that promote good growth are= -A3 broiler finisher mash consisting of ;2 broiler  concentrate6 5B2 corn6 .12 soya6 .B2 sorghum6 ; 2 limestone flour -4)2 Ca3D and -3 chic%en feed -pellets3 for layers consisting of 52 layer concentrate6 .)26 corn6 .52 soya6 )2 sorghum6 442 barley6 12 limestone flour -4)2Ca3, e sure to fre+uently clean the feed and water dishes, $he amount of feed a snail eats depends #ery much on air humidity and on the a#ailability of drin%ing water, Fou can ser#e clean drin%ing water in a shallow container to reduce the ris% of the snail drowning, Some types of  chic%en chic%en watere waterers rs may be suitab suitable, le, 'ther 'ther factor factorss -e,g,6 -e,g,6 temper temperatu ature6 re6 light light intens intensity ity66 food food  preferences #ersus food supplied6 etc,3 also affect feeding, A compromise6 until you find the optim optimum um feed6 feed6 is to feed feed half half green green #egeta #egetable ble materi material al and half half chic%e chic%en n feed/g feed/grai rain/a n/anim nimal al  protein,

An abundant supply of water is necessary nece ssary for irrigating crops and misting snails to encourage night0time acti#ity, acti#ity, A polythene pipe irrigation system should be integrated into each field and con nected to water tan%s,

7ater misting was carried out each e#ening for )0() minutes or ad*usted according to the weather ,more water is re+uired during anuary and !ebruary when the weather was hot ho t and dry,

Cro$s

$he following crops were trialed and grown as a food source for the snails as well as pro#iding shelter from the sun, P 7hite clo#er -Trifolium repens3 P Strawberry clo#er -Trifolium Trifolium fragiferum3 P !orage rape - Brassica  Brassica napus3 P !orage brassica hybrids - Brassica campestris spp,3 P lantain - Plantago  Plantago lanceolata3

P Sil#erbeet - Beta vulgaris3 P eetroot - Beta vulgaris3 P Chic%ory -Cichorium int!us3 P Endi#e -Cichorium endiva3 P Sunflower - Helianthus  Helianthus annuus3 P ettuce - Lactuca  Lactuca sativa3 P Radicchio -Red chic%ory3 -Cichorium int!us3 P "andelion -Taraxacum officinale3 P English or common spinach -"pinacia oleracea3 P Radish - #aphanus  #aphanus sativus3

!orage brassicas6 leafy turnips6 sil#erbeet6 plantain6 English spinach and clo#er were the most successful and most li%ed food and shelter source for the snails,

Forage %rassi#as

$he brassicas pro#ed to be suitable for the cool region of the 8S7 central tablelands and were  planted in spring and autumn, $hey pro#ided high +uality feed and withstood low temperatures6 frost and snow during winter, $he lea#es pro#ided high le#els of protein and that resulted in high weight gain and fast snail growth rates, $he brassica crops grew +uic%ly and were dense enough to smother most germinating weeds, $he forage brassicas were not resistant to attac% by aphids and white cabbage moths and the first crops planted were infested badly, Howe#er6 ladybirds and wasps appeared and +uic%ly reduced the offending insects,

After a few wee%s6 the crops regenerated and grew new fleshy lea#es,

Leaf+ t&rni$

eafy turnips are a hybrid cross between #arious species of the brassica family and are less resistant to attac% from insects such as aphids, $hey are a smaller plant and are well0li%ed as snail food but ha#e a reduced growing period, $he plants need trimming to maintain new growth and they need to be planted densely as the snails +uic%ly strip the fleshy lea#es,

Silver%eet

Sil#erbeet produces prodigious #olumes of lea#es and has pro#ed to be an ideal crop for shelter  and a minor food source, $he lea#es retain moisture from e#ening irrigation and dew and pro#ide a cool microclimate and shelter for the snails, 7ith consistent trimming of the old lea#es6 fresh and tender lea#es appear +uic%ly, $he #igorous growing #ariety Q!ordhoo% sur#i#ed winter  temperatures and new shoots grew again the following spring, It is planted in spring and autumn,

Clover

oth white and red clo#er pro#ed to be a useful and easily grown plant and was well li%ed by newly hatched snails, Clo#er is a perennial legume and has a high nutriti#e #alue, After the snails were hatched6 they reduced the lea#es to alacy effect before mo#ing on to the  brassicas Clo#ers also pro#ide shelter and it was obser#ed that eggs were often laid in the areas planted with clo#er, $he condition of the soil is also impro#ed with the use of clo#ers as a Qgreen manure crop, Clo#er can be planted in spring or autumn,

Englis* or #ommon s$ina#*

English spinach is an ideal plant if sown in autumn, It grows best during cooler months and is a useful source of #itamins A6  and C and calcium, $he lea#es are smaller and softer than sil#er sil#erbee beet, t, Engli English sh spinach spinach pro#id pro#ides es som somee calciu calcium m for growin growing g snails snails to assist assist with with shell shell de#elopment,

Plantain

lantain is mineral rich and also contains calcium, It has a strong cool season growth and is useful as a rotation crop with brassicas, It appears to be well li%ed by snails,

S&$$lementar+ feeding

Snail farming method of feeding snails recommends that supplementary crops be grown as an additional food supply when the crops ha#e been eaten out or are at the end of their life,

Supply of green waste lea#es from local fruit and #egetable suppliers should be readily a#ailable, $he lea#es consisted of fresh lettuce and cabbage, Second0grade carrots were as an additional supplement, In times of low feed or high density of *u#enile snails6 con#entional feeders containing custom snail mi& were also used as supplementary food, $he custom snail mi& consisted of e&truded grains such as mai>e and soybean6 soybean 6 whey powder6 limestone and #itamins and minerals,

Maintenan#e

'ne of the biggest *obs in the pen production system was maintenance,

As well as %eeping %eeping the pathways clean6 the crops should be trimmed trimmed at least three times during during the growing season, $o encourage new growth of fresh6 clean lea#es for the growing snails, $he remo#al of old or decaying lea#es helped to a#oid the attraction of unwanted insects from the  pens,

SUPPLEMENTAR( FEEDING

A self0mi& snail feed formula

Ingredients

/g

Mai>e

(.,(

Groundnut ca%e

01

Soy bean meal

23

!ish meal

4

7heat offal

05

alm %ernel ca%e

4,

'yster shell

B,)5

one meal

0"2

remi& #itamins  minerals

),5

FEEDING MANAGEMENT 

Growth is highly dependent on ambient temperature and humidity, At high temperatures - () C3 and relati#ely low air humidity - c, ;)23 growth slows down or stops6  because snails go into dormancy, dormancy, $his should be a#oided as much as possible6 by good snail housing and management,



'pti 'ptimu mum m stoc stoc%i %ing ng dens densit ity y ob#i ob#iou ousl sly y depen depends ds on age age and and si>e si>e of the the snai snails ls,, !or  hatchl hatchling ingss and *u#eni *u#eniles les stoc%i stoc%ing ng rates rates of .))/m .))/m or more more are applied appliedDD for mature mature  breeding snails stoc%ing should not e&ceed .)0.5 snails/m, '#ercrowding results in reduced growth and increased mortality@

o' and '*en to feed snails

In their natural habitat snails are nocturnal animals6 hiding during the day and coming out at night to feed, $heir main feeding time starts from around two hours after sunset, !or best results the snail farmer should not put snail feed in his pens before nightfall, ?neaten snail food should  be remo#ed from the pens dailyD otherwise6 it will attract #ermin and/or diseases, $o facilitate cleaning6 the snail food might be placed on a flat dish6 a concrete slab6 or an oil drum lid6 placed within the pen

SELECTING !REEDING SNAILS

$he initial breeding stoc% should be carefully ca refully selected from a reputable snail farms with -point of  laying snails3,

Diseases and Pests asic common sense hygiene may pre#ent the spread of disease or otherwise impro#e the health and growth rate of snails, !or e&le6 remo#e and replace food daily to pre#ent spoilage, Earthworms added to the soil will help %eep the pen clean, arasi arasites tes66 nemato nematodes des66 tremat trematodes odes66 fungi6 fungi6 and microa microarth rthrop ropods ods may attac% attac% snails snails66 and such such  problems can spread rapidly when snail populations are dense, $he bacterium seudomonas aeruginosa causes intestinal infections that can spread rapidly in a crowded snail pen, 7atch for predators such as= rats6 mice6 moles6 s%un%s6 weasels6 birds6 frogs and toads6 li>ards6 wal%ing insects -e,g,6 some beetle and cric%et #arieties36 some types of flies6 centipedes6 and e#en certain cannibalistic snail #arieties -such as "trangesta capillacea3,

arvesting snails for gro'ing o&t or $en

Har#esting for growing out pen should carry out as soon as the *u#enile snails reached maturity, Should "etermined by the accepted mature si>e of (cm and the hardness of the lip of the shell, $he measurement is ta%en across the underside of the shell, $he shell lip is the outer edge of the shell, If the outer edge of the shell -or lip3 is soft and pliable6 it means that the snail has not finished growing, $o determine maturity6 the shell lip should be hard and resistant to touch, Sometimes undersi>e snails de#eloped a hard shell lip so those snails should discard, $hey are not suitable for reproduction or processing and if left will eat #aluable food, $he best time for  har#esting is at dawn and dus%6 especially after rain or water misting,

Ti$s for *arvesting or transferring snails Ser#e !eed containing custom snail mi& on a feeder to attract them, 'nce the snails gathered on the feeders they can be easily pic%ed up and transferred to the growing pen, After rain and watering6 the snails climbed up the sides of the netting fences, $his allowed the snails to be easily pic%ed off the nets early in the morning,

Mar/eting 7ith 7ith the ability to mass produce large numbers of snails6 consistent and regular supply of snails is now a possibility, possibility, It is suggested that mar%et research and good mar%eting principles be conducted before underta%ing commercial snail production Lo#al mar/ets

In the high0altitude forest areas of 7est Africa6 particularly in Ghana6 8igeria and C9te d:I#oire6 snail meat forms a substantial part of the meat in the diet of the local people, Snails are gathered in the wild6 pac%ed into bags6 wooden crates or bas%ets and transported to selling points along main roads or to urban centres, $he most common species sold at the roadside in 7est Africa are snails6 dui%ers6 brush0tailed porcupines6 hares and Grasscutters, Snails and grasscutter fetch the

highest highest mar%et mar%et prices prices per %ilogram, %ilogram, In urban areas6 areas6 the gatherers gatherers may sell the snails snails directly to consumers or to wholesale traders or retailers, Snails can be smo%ed and stored for sale during the off season when prices are highest, Snail price differences between the wet and dry $he channel of distribution for snails was from producers and hunters to retailers and then to consumers6 consumers6 or from hunters directly directly to consumers, Snail mar%eting mar%eting was found to be marginall marginally y efficient in both the wet and dry seasons6 which may be attributable to problems such as the nature of the source of supply6 poor storability and e&cessi#e price,

Snail $rod&#ts

A 8igerian study showed the feasibility of using snail meal of the giant African snail Archatina marginata as a partial fishmeal substitute in raising fish - Clarias Clarias gariepinus gariepinus$$ with a 1)2 snail

meal/4)2 fishmeal mi&ture gi#ing optimum results, $he study puts the production cost of snail meal -o#en0dried flesh including #iscera3 at 8 5)/%g #ersus 8())/%g for fishmeal -. ?S T U  8.;,5) in ));3, roduction costs of snail meal might be further reduced by promoting the acti#e acti#e rearing rearing and mar%eting mar%eting of the species for its #alues as a fishmeal product6 product6 and supplier of   protein and nutrients for humans, ?nderde#eloped or damaged snails may be fed to pigs,

S*el S* ells ls are often cited as a potential additional source of income from snail breeding6 more

specifically their sale to sou#enir shops, $his is ob#iously a #ery limited mar%et and it would be unwise to base profitability calculations of your snail farm on a niche mar%et li%e snail shells as adornments or sou#enirs, Crushed snail shells may be applied in chic%en feed or in liming to impro#e the +uality of acidic -fish pond3 soils, Howe#er6 do not forget that your snail feed must contain enough calcium to enable the snails to de#elop sturdy shells,

Pro#essed snail meat

!resh snail meat can be processed6 for storage or mar%eting6 in se#eral ways=



At farm le#el6 it can be smo%e0dried for sale in the off season when prices are



traditionally higher, higher, Snail meat can be fro>en or canned6 for sale to domestic or o r e&port mar%ets, $his type of  processing re+uires in#estments on a scale that is -probably3 beyond the means of the indi#idual snail farmer6 though it might be underta%en by strong6 prosperous farmers:



cooperati#es, 'n0farm processing of snail meat into locally well0recei#ed6 tasty dishes6 for sale at your own roadside shop or to nearby restaurants6 may be another way of adding #alue to snail farm products, 'b#iously6 you should abide by local sanitary regulations when starting and running a snail meal %itchen,

PROCESSING OF SNAIL MEAT Pro#essing arvesting and storage

$he age and si>e at which snails should be collected from the snailery ob#iously depends on the farming ob*ecti#e= whether the snails are grown for personal use or for the mar%et, Snails grown for personal use can be har#ested according to the farmers needsD whereas customer preferences dictate the optimum si>e and conse+uently age of snails har#ested for the mar%et, Snails usually need to grow for at least one year to reach their proper si>e and weight, It is recommended to har#est snails by the time they reach two years6 because after this age their rate of growth slows down, Snails are pic%ed by hand6 at nightfall6 when they become acti#e and are easier to find and collect, $hey need to be put carefully into a bas%et6 bo&6 crate or sac%6 to a#oid damaging the shell6 which would lower their mar%et #alue, 8e#er put more than .) %g snails together in whate#er storage receptacle you use6 to a#oid crac%ing or crushing the shells in the lower layers, Snails6 whether for household consumption or for the mar%et6 can be stored safely for up to 10B wee%s in a bo& or crate6 if you do not want to collect them daily, !irst put a 5 cm layer of 

sawdust sawdust or finely finely cut corncob corncob lea#es on the bottom of the bo&D place o#er this a layer of snails6 then another ( cm layer of sawdust6 and so on6 ending with a co#ering layer, $he bo& should be %ept %ept in a cool6 cool6 shad shaded ed plac place6 e6 well well prot protec ecte ted d from from pred predat ator orss and and poach poacher ers, s, Snail Snailss can be transported to the mar%et in bas%etsD bo&es or sac%s6 but always ta%e care not to damage them by  putting too many together on top of each other -ma&, .) %g3,

Pro#essing

!reshly gathered snails ha#e *ust eaten -e&cept if collected when aesti#ating or hibernating3, $hey can be used directly6 but all faeces and dirt must be remo#ed in the %itchen, It is easier and more hygienic to ha#e them defecate before use, Store them in a bas%et or sac% in a cool6 shaded  place without food for four days6 to enable them to discharge all aliments in their intestinal tract, $hey are now ready for washing6 boiling and dressing,

"ashin! 

ut snails in a buc%et with water6 adding some salt and a dash of #inegar, emon or lime *uice can be used instead of #inegar, Soon6 the snails will start to discharge their slime= a mil%y6 whitish li+uid, $hrow away the water and repeat the washing procedure until the water remains clear,

 #oilin! 

After washing6 put snails into boiling water6 again adding some salt and #inegar6 or lime or  lemon *uice6 and boil thoroughly for at least 5 minutes,  Achatina fulica -but possibly the other  GAS species as well3 is reported reported to be an intermediat intermediatee #ector of the Rat ungworm ungworm and other  diseases diseases potentially potentially lethal to humans, humans, Improperly Improperly coo%ed  Achatina fulica meat may act as a ma*or source of human infection in places where it is commonly eaten by people6 such as $aiwan, $horough boiling is essential@

 %ressing   %ressing 

E&tract the snail from its shell6 draining off the body fluid or haemolymph -unless local recipes call for its use36 remo#e the #iscera -heart6 stomach6 %idney6 li#er6 li#er6 intestines3 and cut off the head, h ead, $he meat is now ready for boiling6 stewing6 frying or whate#er coo%ing techni+ue your local snail recipe boo% calls for,

E6$ort mar/ets !rance plays a central role in the growing international trade in snails, Some of the snails import imported ed into into !rance !rance are processed processed and e&port e&ported ed to other other Europea European n countri countries es or to 8orth 8orth America6 especially to the ?SA6 which imports hundreds of millions of ?S dollars worth of  snail meat annually annually,, 'ther important important mar%ets mar%ets are Germany Germany6 elgium6 elgium6 8etherlands6 8etherlands6 Canada6 Swit>erland6 apan6 Sweden6 Austria6 "enmar% and South Africa, Among the ma*or suppliers to these mar%ets are Greece6 Greece6 $u $ur%ey r%ey66 Rumania6 Rumania6 Algeria6 Algeria6 $unisia $unisia66 as well as $aiwan6 aiwan6 $hailand $hailand and China, China, Mos Mostt countr countries ies supply supply the Europea European n snail snail specie speciess  Helix aspersa6  H. pomatia  and and  H. lucorum6 while the Asian countries supply Achatina fulica , $he snails are supplied fresh6 fro>en

or canned, $he African species fetch about one third of the price of the European species, $his is mainly because6 compared to the European species6 the meat of the African species is considered to be rather rather rubber rubbery y and the shell shell less less suitab suitable le for presenti presenting ng the final final product product,, Europea European n consumers generally prefer snails ser#ed in the shell,

Howe#er6 studies by the Ministry of Agriculture6 Agriculture6 !isheries and !ood in the ?nited ingdom ha#e shown sho wn that *u#enil *u#enilee  A. achatina snails are meatier and more tender than the more fa#ored European species, It is hoped that this finding will increase demand for the African species, !or  7est African producers6 this might mean not only a bigger mar%et for their product but also reduced costs of production because of the shorter growing period re+uired -for the snails to reach the si>e preferred by consumers3, Howe#er6 it will ta%e some time before the long0standing

 pre*udices in continental Europe against the African snail species are o#ercome, E&port mar%ets clearly offer opportunities6 though the small0scale snail producer should not underestimate the difficulties6 including import regulations6 hygienic and health re+uirements, It would seem that the small6 local snail farmer might participate in e&port opportunities best through farmers: cooperati#es6 or by contract farming for large6 local snail processing and e&port #entures,

OPERATIONAL COST FOR STOC7ING 811 SNAILS C'S$ '! REE"I8G S8AI 8;) matured snail that are ready to lay V ()) snail UN90- 111

PRODUCTION PLANNING

Good planning means controlling the ma&imum number of animals in the shed, $his figure should always be uppermost in any production planning6 and snails should be calculated and  planned throughout the year, $he breeder should not hesitate to sell surplus snails or to enlarge  pens as soon as possible6 in order to reduce the ris% of o#erpopulation, PROFIT PRO:ECTION FOR 811 SNAILS

rando mlyD a snail can lay 011<811 in a year  91; of the matured snail will lay eggs randomlyD If 241 snails lays =1 eggs U 05-911 snails lays randomly If 31; reach mar%etable si>e in a year  B4)) mar/eta%le snails +earl+ Cost of mat&red %et'een N211
If sold at >N211 6 9411  mar%etable snails yearly ?N0- 591-111

Under ver+ good management

arge deciduous trees -plantain or banana3 should be planted on all the side of o f the shed to  pro#ide shade and natural thermal comfort, In line with the researchers researchers commitment to en#ironmental sustainability6 sustainability6 the trees will help reduce the daytime temperature6 thus the pod will becomes more energy efficient, It impro#es in the acti#ity of the snails that resulted in more effecti#e breeding and a lower mortality rate,

SNAIL PEN LA(OUT< SNAIL CAPACIT( PER PEN

100ft Plantain plantation

Plantain plantation

Plantain plantation

Plantain plantation

Plantain plantation Plantain plantation Plantain plantation

Path way 4ft wide 8 by 8ft

8 by 8ft

8 by 8ft

8 by 8ft

8 by 8ft

8 by 8ft

8 by 8ft

8 by 8ft

8 by 8ft

8 by 8ft

Snail pen unit

       t         f         0        5

Path way 4ft wide Plantain plantation Plantain plantation Plantain plantation

Plantain plantation

Plantain plantation

Plantain plantation

Plantain plantation Plantain plantation 8111 snail #a$a#it+

Capacity ()) snails per pen in 9 %+ 9 ft %o6

Fre@&entl+ As/ed &estions o' long do t*e+ live forB  Giant African and Snails can li#e for .) years6 but the a#erage is

more li%e 5 or 1 years, o' long do t*e+ ta/e to %e#ome ad<sB

 Giant African and Snails #ary in their growth rates, If %ept in optimum conditions6 you can e&pect your snails to start laying eggs between nine months and two years6 depending on the species and how they are %ept, Snails %eep growing throughout their lifetime6 but slow down on reaching maturity, maturity,

)*en do t*e+ sto$ gro'ingB  Giant African and Snails continue growing throughout their life6

 but they grow +uic%er when they are younger6 when plenty of food and cuttlefish is a#ailable6 and when it is warm enough, specie iess call called ed Achat Achatina ina irade iradelei lei   gi#es birth to li#e young, Do all all s$e# s$e#ies ies La+ La+ eggsB eggsB 'ne spec Howe#er6 in actual fact6 the babies are born from eggs but these are incubated inside the snail, )*ats t*e most #ommon s$e#iesB  $he most common Giant African and Snail you are li%ely

to find in capti#ity is Achatina fulica,

)*ats t*e largest s$e#iesB   $he largest e#er Giant African and Snail is a species called

Achatina achatina6 achatina6 and one indi#idual grew to .5 inches long, Are t*ere an+ %oo/s on Giant Afri#an Land SnailsB  'nly one that I %now of I:m afraid@ It:s

called called C'ME C'ME$E $E G?I"E G?I"E $' S8AI S8AI REAI8G REAI8G I8 8IGER 8IGERIA IA by amson amson 'peyemi 'peyemi It:s It:s a#ailable from -if you are in the 8igeria3 86 ;5) e0copy o' m&#* do Giant Afri#an Land Snails #ost to /ee$B  Giant African and Snails #ary in

 price, I:#e seen them in #illage mar%et in 8igeria for 85) for a snail of  inches@ $he most e&pensi#e thing about snails %eeping is probably probab ly their enclosure, African an and Snails Snails can eat a wide #ariety #ariety of  )*at do Giant Afri#an Land Snails eatB Giant Afric foods6 from fruit and #egetables6 to rotting meat and e#en cardboard@ o' man+ eggs does a fulica can lay o#er ()) eggs in one go6 but Giant Afri#an Land Snail la+B  $he species Achatina fulica can species such as Achatina marginata lay much fewer6 from one to twenty eggs at a time, o' #an +o& tell if a snail is se6&all+ mat&reB  $he snails which de#elop aperture teeth and/or 

reflected lip are se&ually mature when these features are de#eloped, !or those without these  physical features only si>e can be used, 7hen the shell is almost full si>e6 it is se&ually mature, )*at and '*ere are t*e snails se6 organsB  $he reproducti#e opening is located in the head@

$he reproducti#e organs themsel#es are in the #isceral hump, $hee meth method od used used is slim slimee trai traill o' o' do snai snails ls find find a mate mateB B Is it at a snai snail lss $a#e $a#eB B $h following,$he same method as prey detection,

Do snails *ave #o&rts*i$B  Fou bet@ Reproduction in some hermaphroditic snails begins by

engaging in a preliminary lo#e0play, A pair of snails raise the creeping sole of their feet off the ground and bring them together, At the same time they roc% their bodies to and fro and acti#ely caress one another with their greatly e&tended tentacles, After a short time the lo#e0play passes into a lo#e0duelD each snail pro*ects its calcareous lo#e0dart into the sole of its partner:s foot -only if the snail has a dar% sac%3, $hereupon the two animals become interloc%ed6 often for a long time6 until they once more raise themsel#es and the actual mating occurs, "uring mating each e#erts its penis and e*ects the fertili>ing sperm into the #agina of the partner, $he two snails then separate6 and each stores the sperm of the other until its own eggs ha#e ripened,

Does selffertiliation o##&rB   Cross0fertili>ation is the rule but self0fertili>ation does occur, Does self fertiliation *ave geneti# $ro%lemsB  Most freshwater snails can self0fertili>e for two

or three three genera generatio tions ns without without diffic difficult ulty y in geneti geneticc factor factors, s, ulmon ulmonate ate snails snails will will use cross0 cross0 fertili>ed sperm in reproduction in preference to sperm from the same indi#idual, $his ability of  self0fertili>ation is a #ery significant feature6 because it enables the snail to establish a new colony by means of a single indi#idual, $his is only possible if the indi#idual can hold out for a fairly long time at its new location, In e#ery possible situation it will use cross0fertili>ation to maintain genetic di#ersity, di#ersity,

o' do eggs develo$B  7hen the young are hatched6 they are miniature adults, $here is no

metamorphosis or molting, Foung snails grow by the mantle adding material to the leading edge of the shell which in turn adds morewhorls, $he Achatina fulica snails in a clutch emerge to the surface en masse6 usually within a few hours, In some cases6 one or two indi#iduals force a path through the sand to the surface and the others following the same route, After hatching6 they eat their shells6 and sometimes the shell of unhatched siblings, Much of the growth is in the first month with a little less in the ne&t two months,

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