Methods for the Prevention and Control of Pests and Diseases in Snail Farming
I think many people are very familiar with snails. With the rapid development of the late-night snack industry in recent years, snails have become quite popular in late-night snacks. Many young people like to invite a few friends in the evening and sit together chatting when they have nothing else to do.
What Are Snails
Snail farming, as the development and utilization of a native species, has only emerged in recent years. Snails belong to the phylum Mollusca, class Gastropoda, family Viviparidae, genus Cipangopaludina, with a total of 4 species: Cipangopaludina chinensis, Cipangopaludina cathayensis, Cipangopaludina ventricosa, and Cipangopaludina ussuriensis. Currently, the main species farmed is Cipangopaludina cathayensis. Snails are generally suited to farming in rice paddies, shallow ditches, low-lying land, wetlands, and similar places. Snails do not have high requirements for the farming site; generally, shallow water areas with slight modification and soft mud bottoms rich in humus are suitable for farming, and conditions with a certain amount of mild flowing water are even better.
Prevention and Control of Pests and Diseases in Snail Farming
Diseases and pests of snails have so far been found to be relatively few, and there are not many reports on them. However, here are a few suggestions for reference:
1. The suitable living temperature for farmed snails is 10-40°C, with the optimum being 20-28°C. Above 40°C causes death, while below 10°C they enter a dormant state. Note that in summer, high temperatures must be guarded against, because rice paddy water is shallow and in summer the water temperature may reach the upper lethal limit; and in winter, the mud bottom for overwintering should not have too high an organic matter content, otherwise toxic substances are easily produced and affect the snails' overwintering.
2. Snails are relatively sensitive to the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water. Normal life requires dissolved oxygen in the water to be above 4 mg per liter. When it drops to 3.5 mg, appetite decreases, and when it drops to 1.5 mg, it causes death.
3. The breeding season of snails is from June to July (in places with suitable conditions, they will also lay eggs once in autumn). If you plan to breed them yourself, it is best not to raise carp in the rice paddy where snails are farmed, otherwise the small snails will be eaten by the carp.
4. The use of pesticides in rice paddies should be avoided as much as possible or minimized; even if used, low-toxicity pesticides should be adopted, and they should be applied on sunny days; it is best to apply them to half of the paddy at a time.
5. During the peak growing season, organic fertilizer can be used regularly. The principle is small amounts applied multiple times; it is not advisable to apply too much fertilizer at once.
6. Consider polyculture of snails with leeches, loaches, rice field eels, and so on, which will yield better economic benefits.
Prospects for Snail Farming
Snail meat is a nutritious natural health food, and abroad it is also known as a beauty food. It contains up to 10.3% protein and 1.2% fat, and also vitamins, calcium, iron, and other elements essential to the human body. Snail meat is nutritionally superior to chicken, duck, goose, and pork, and is no less than crucian carp and sea cucumber. Snail meat can nourish kidney yin, improve eyesight and clear the mind, enhance muscle elasticity, and make the skin delicate.
Snails can be used as an everyday meat dish, and can also be processed into a series of food products, prepared into various medicinal dishes, and used to prevent and treat diseases. At present, naturally grown snails are far from meeting market demand, and snail farming has fast growth and high yield, so snail farming has broad "money" prospects.
Cost of Snail Farming
Since snail farming does not require feeding a lot of bait, the cost of the bait is also very low. Therefore, basically little cost is needed. As long as your family has the land, what remains is just the snail seedlings.
The benefits of snail farming are quite significant. For snail farming alone, 667 sq m can produce 400 kg. The current market price is 3-4 yuan/kg. Calculated at 3.5 yuan/kg, the output value of 667 sq m can reach 1400 yuan. In addition, a small number of grass carp can be polycultured in the snail pond to increase the benefit per unit area of the pond. Since snail farming does not require feeding a lot of bait, the cost of the bait is also very low. Therefore, the net profit of snail farming is about 1000 yuan per 667 sq m, which is a fairly considerable benefit.
Therapeutic Value of Snails
1. Clearing heat: Snails can clear the heart and purge fire, clear heat and relieve restlessness, and can eliminate heat toxins in the blood. They can treat heat-related difficult urination, jaundice, beriberi, hemorrhoids, and blood in the stool.
2. Promoting urination: They contain diuretic components, can eliminate water and sodium retention in the body, and promote urination and reduce swelling. They can treat edema, red swollen painful eyes, and boils and swellings.
3. Quenching thirst: They moisten the throat and remove dryness, making a person feel refreshed and comfortable. They can treat excessive thirst.
4. Sobering up: Snails can neutralize the toxicity of ethanol and promote rapid excretion after drinking.
In the process of snail farming, the prevention of snail diseases is also very important. In the farming industry, if you want to obtain high yields, disease prevention is indispensable. Only by mastering certain prevention methods can you handle farming with ease.