How to grow snails

• How to grow snails

It is believed that snails spreading across Europe from Italy. In central Russia, they do not live, but are often found in the Baltic States, the Kaliningrad Region and on the southern outskirts of our country. They love moist warm climate: the old gardens, overgrown with bushes and ravines.

Let's see how it is grown "horned delicacy" on special farms.

Breeding snails - a new direction "livestock" in Europe and one of the options for small businesses.

There they gather and collectors, by sending large quantities of fresh and frozen in supermarkets and restaurants of the developed European countries. Demand is great and is growing constantly. This horned and unusually slippery delicatessen meat appreciated, not containing harmful cholesterol and fats. Consisting of pure desired protein, essential amino acids for man and mass of various vitamins. Yes, the more it increases the potency.

In addition to the popular worldwide marine mollusks, in France love and a land force - snails (Helix pomatia). Mollusks delicacies called the beautiful word "escargot" (escargot) and sold in any supermarket. Fishing (hunting? Collection? Fishing?) Wild snails in France becomes more and more difficult due to the destruction of natural habitats, so it can not satisfy the appetites of the nation's gourmet. Part of the food problem is solved at the expense of imports. But the patriotic French prefer domestic products, they really believe that all of the French - the best in the world. Therefore, the only solution - to breed in captivity.

The moist marine air Brittany is perfect for this land mollusk. At Le Croisic it is one of many French snail farms. The farm is called "teaching", since there are regularly held guided tours, which is a surprise for the zoologist look at Helix pomatia. A characteristic phrase guide near a poster depicting the anatomy of the cochlea: "... At the end of the shell is placed liver. If the authority does not remove, the taste of snails will be spoiled. "

The scroll farms were organized when reduced, or even come to naught, the area abandoned orchards and ravines that in some European countries have banned collecting snails, taking them under protection.

Beautiful, light - brown, with dark stripes and almost completely twisted shell, large, almost up to 5 cm in length and in height (which is why they were called great of in Russia). Some people even contain their homes as pets, however ridiculous it may sound.

It starts with the cultivation of snails breeding. Snail-makers give special diet rich in carrots. We wonder that each individual snail is both male and female sex organs (although in terms of snails, probably men and women - being defective ...). Snails are put in pairs, and they fertilize each other. Since snails lay their eggs in the ground, after mating manufacturers put on a special little pots with soil. Then valuable contents pots were placed in an incubator.

Newborn snails live in small terrariums, and grown relocated in an aviary with mesh walls, on the boards, which slide into the special boxes in the desk. The food is "young" with carrot cereals. Snails on the farm reach gastronomic sizes (as plum) for a few months; "Wild" Snail in nature this takes one and a half years. Here, on the farm, in a special laboratory, which is certified by the sanitary and veterinary inspections, made cooking of snails.

First, they were placed for five minutes in boiling water, then extracted from the shells, the liver was removed, passaged, boiled in a special broth, put back into the sink and pour the traditional specific parsley green sauce and garlic. An elderly Frenchman once said to me: "Sami snail - just meat, but the sauce for them - it is something special."

ends with a tour of the farm shop and restaurant, where both should be "warmed up" gourmets can finally taste the various dishes and delicacies to buy for future use spiral. Snails under the traditional sauce, snails in "cups" of the test instead of the shell, Cassoulet (cassoulet) of snails with mushrooms in tomato sauce, semi-finished product for the fans to cook - unflavored boiled snails in cans, Et Cetera.

Breeding snails in artificial, "hothouse" conditions is also a guarantee that the meat that is sold will be free of various contaminants: heavy metals, pesticides and other. Snails reproduce well. Only they need space. Normal conditions are created for their lives when 40-50 snails (that is, about a kilogram) live on 1 square meter. Do snails offspring brings each individual. Once a year, in spring, they lay 40-60 eggs. Offspring grows quite quickly and in vitro gaining marketable weight of approximately one and a half year cycle ( "spring - autumn - spring"). "Commodity" is the weight of 20-25 grams and the size of about 5 cm. Even if part of the new generation will not survive anyway, each snail is bringing in a specified period of up to 1 kg of litter. A spent on 1 kg delicatessen 2 kg of feed. Thus, 100 kg of snails can receive several tons of litter. What is not a business?

We are actively engaged in cultivation of molluscs began ubiquitous Chinese. Patience and persistence they do not hold. The thing is, I must admit, although advantageous, but not easy. Snail business itself does not require a large initial investment, but without the professionalism and experience here, certainly, can not do.

Without going into the writing business - plan and cost estimates, it should be noted that the cost of organizing the case will be: training costs, costs for the purchase (or collection) of the initial batch of snails at the farm fence, on the cages and feed. They like the leaves of wild strawberry, horse sorrel, burdock, cabbage and, of course, grape leaves, for which he received his name.

At the station just polsotki can obtain useful meat, exactly, more than from the bull. And its price is 10 times higher than the price of beef.

As the German monks cultivated snails on the cabbage beds, can be put into the cage or some artichoke - the crops. The temperate climate (about 21 degrees) and humidity of 75 - 95% - an indispensable condition for shellfish breeding. Snail - a nocturnal animal. she sleeps during the day. Just as in winter, buried in the soil and becomes dormant. The soil must be present calcium.

For the second year snails living in favorable conditions, will be able to mate. It is normal for individuals when 40 - 50 live snails approximately 1 sq. m. Each lays about 50 eggs. Eighteen months later, individual gaining marketable weight. Thus, 100 kg of snails, torture, basically, with the kids, you can get a few tons of new shellfish.

Another problem is to obtain a certificate. After shipment of goods will be carried out abroad.

In summary, we note that whether it's a rabbit, ostrich, chicken or a small snail, if it is - a living creature, the main thing that you have to invest - it's care and attention. Then - success is assured.