HELICICULTURE/HELICULTURE Generally called Snail Farming
Snail is a common name applied to shelled gastropods,often land snails/terrestrial pulmonate gastropod molluscil.
Characteristics of snails
(1) Snail are hermaphrodites in nature ,there by posses male and female reproductive item
(2) They have the ability to hybernate during extremely cold weather or dry season for months
(3) They are very active in the night and prefer dark environment.
(4) They are deaf and cannot head but only see,smell and feel
(5) They can turn upside down while climbing
(6) Snails can live from 5 years up to 20year .
(7) Snail lays 80 to 100 eggs at once
Classifications of snail
(1) Giant African Snail
(2)Gastropods
(3)Stylommatophora
(4)Cornu aspersum
(5)Perinwincle
(6)Burgundy Snail
(7)Heterobranctia
(8)Achatina achatina .
Benefits of snails
Snails generally known to have health and economical benefits.
The health benefits of snail
(1) It contains omega 3 and 6 fatty acid when assist in the development of brain
(2) It can reduced the risk of high pressure of and prevent diseases related to hearts. (3) Its high in vital to ensure availability of required numbers of blood cell everyday
(4)High in selenium which is important mineral and nutrients to fight disease such as cancer and hearth diseases.
(5)It contains high-level of protein when compared with the other source of protein.
The economical benefits
(1) Low start up capital
(2) requires small farmland for breeding
(3)High profit margin
(4)Large sale output
(5)Snail shell can be used for ornaments.
SNAIL FARMING
Snail farming, (scientifically called heliculture/heliciculture) is the breeding/rearing of snail ,scientifically called heliculture .
Snail farming is not capital and management intensive ,especially when compared to poultry piggery and catfish farming. It can be done at your backyard and expand
Processes of snail farming
Research, to start snail farm ,first identity the type of snail that are suitable for your snail farm ,for instance ,Achachatina (the biggest snail in the world) commonly in Nigeria.
Choosing a snail farm
(1)The physical environment of a snail farm must be properly selected and must be situated in an environment that is free from disease and bacteria that can affect them.
(2) Ensure there are trees and plant that can shield the snail farm from direct sunlight and winds.
(3). The snail type plays major role In the snail cycle because snails requires calcium and other nutrients for the formation of the shell and reproduction (I.e for hatching).A perfect soil is a loamy soil .
(4)Snail farm building whether intensive or extensive farming system
(5) Sourcing for snails,it can be easily source from the forest or from snail farm, ensure they are very active and have not been exposed to sunlight to avoid stress which can affect the breeding.
(6) Snainery ,varies according to the available space for breeding, the number of snails,start up capital at your disposal but avoid over population and ensure the place is secured from the attack of rodent also prevent them from escaping.
(7) Snainery feeding, mostly feed on vegetables, plant and fruits, feed on variety of foods such as pawpaw leaf, garbage, cashew, watermelon, cassava leave and many more.
(8). Harvesting, takes about six to twelve months to get to marketable size. To determine the mature snail, it depends on how thicker or stronger is the beam.
It is not economically wise to harvest snail before its maturity. Start something today. Thanks to steemit for this opportunity to display ideas
