Edible land snail production under natural climatic conditions

in Nova Scotia
A. Lirettel, l. C. Lewis2, M. D. MacPhersonl, and;. f. Maclntyel
l
Department of Animal Science andzDepartment of Plant Science, Nova Scotia Agricultural
College, Tturo, Nova Scotia, Canada B2N 5E3. Feceived 19 JuIy 1991, accepted 21 Nov. 1991 '
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Lirette, A., Lewis, J. C., MacPherson, M. D. and Maclntyre , J. P. 1992. Edible land snail production
under natural climatic conditions in Nova Scotia. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 72: 155-159. One thousand
two hundred and fifty land snails were divided randomly among 25, 1.5-m x 0.9-m x 1'5-m cages
wrapped in a nylon screen and chicken wire to prevent the snails fiom escaping and to protect them
from predators. The cages were placed in a shaded area on the southeastern edge of a white clover
field and randomly divided into five nutritional treatments with each treatment replicated five times.
The snails were fed with natural vegetation, lettuce and oyster shells, lettuce alone, oat bran, or white
clover in treatments 1,2, 3,4, and 5, respectively. A digestibility trial on lettuce and white clover
was also carried out. The snails gained significantly (P<0.05) more weight when fed with the lettuce
and lettuce plus oyster shells than the othel treatments. The weight gains for the white clover and natural
vegetation were intermediate among the diets. The death rate was approximately 5 . 1 + 0. 3 % in each
treatment with the exception of the oat bran diet (66 X 5%). The digestibilities of lettuce and white
cloverdrymatterwere83.l + 13% and82.5 + 1.5%,respectively,andwerenotsignificantlydifferent
(P>0.05). It was concluded that edible land snails can be raised outside during the summer under the
For personal use only.

environmental conditions of Nova Scotia if fed with diets 1, 2,3, or 5.

Key words: Edible land snall, Otala, nutrition, Nova Scotia

Lirette, A., Lewis, J. C., MacPherson, M. D. et Maclntyre, J. P. 1992. Production d'escargots comest-
ibles dans les conditions climatiques de la Nouvelle-Ecosse. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 72: 155 159. Mille
deux cent cinquante escargots (Otala) ont 6t6 divis6s au hasard entre 25 cases de I ,5 X 0,9 x I ,5 m
envelopp6es d'une moustiquaire en nylon et d'un trellis ir volaille, h la fois pour les emp6cher de s'6chapper
et pour les prot6ger des pr6dateurs. Les cages 6taient install6es )r I'ombre, ir I'extr6mit6 sud-est d'un
champ de trdfle blanc et r6parties au hasard entre cinq traitements d'alimentation: v6g6tation naturelle,
laitue et coquilles d'huitres, laitue seule, son d'avoine, trdfle blanc. En outre, un essai de digestibilit6
6tait effectu6 pour les r6gimes laitue et trdfle blanc. Les escargots ont pris significativement (P< 0,05)
plus de poids si aliments avec laitue seule et laitue et coquilles d'huitres qu'avec trois autres r6gimes,
le trdfle blanc et la v6gdtation naturelle occupant une place intermddiaire h cet 6gard. Le taux de mortalit6
6tait d'environ 5,1 + 0,3%, sauf au rdgime son d'avoine oil il 6tait de 66 + 5.%.La digestibilit6 de
la m.s. de la laitue et du trdfle blanc 6tait respectivement de 83,1 + 1,3% et de 82,5 -t 1,5%. Les
r6sultats montrent que les escargots comestibles peuvent 6tre 6lev6s ) I'ext6rieur en 6t6 dans les conditions
climatiques de la Nouvelle-Ecosse, selon I'un des cinq r6gimes alimentaires essay6s sauf le son d'avoine.

Mots cl6s: Escargot comestible, Otala, nutrition, Nouvelle-Ecosse

Snails have been eaten by man from time early Roman times. There is evidence that the
immemorial. In many places around the raising and eating of snails was introduced to
globe, most notably North Africa, snails have France and England by the Roman Legions
been an important source of protein. Large of pre-Christian history (Cheney 1988).
scale snail farms were in production during Roasted snail shells have been found in
archaeological excavations on prehistoric sites.
Can. J. Anim. Sci. 72: 155-159 (Mar. 1992) In ancient Rome there were cochlearia -
r55
 156 CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE
gardens where snails were fattened before
being eaten. Pliny described the snail garden
of Fulvius Hirpinus 2000 years ago as having
separate sections for different species of
snails. Hirpinus allegedly fed his snails on
meal and wine. The Romans selected the best
snails for breeding. "Wall fish" were often
eaten in Britain, but were never as popular
as on the continent. Snails were often eaten
during Lent on the continent. Edible snails
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also played a role in folk medicine, and a
recent study has shown that glandular sub-
stances from edible snails cause agglutination
ofcertain bacteria, and therefore could be of
value against whooping cough and some other
diseases (Cheney 1988). The United States
imports $200 million worth of snails annually,
primarily from Taiwan and France.
The meat of the snail is high in protein, low
in calories, and has almost no fat or
cholesterol (Cheney 1988). It is considered
a digestive aid by many people in various
For personal use only.
cultures. Edible land snails are a good source
of high quality meat comparable to beef, pork,
or chicken (Johnson 1988, pers. commun.).
Snails can be grown by anyone, without using
large tracts of land or a large amount of cash.
Thus, their propagation has the advantage of
being a low input industry.
In Canada snail growing endeavours have
two major differences from the heliculture
operations in other countries. First only the
Otala species is permitted to be imported live
and cultivated in Canada. Otala lactea (mrlk
snail) is consequently the preferred snail of
Canadian heliculturists (Louise 1989\. Otqla
lactea originates in the Mediterranean and is
harvested worldwide and exported by Algeria,
Morocco and Tunisia. Secondly, Canada gen-
erally experiences prolonged sub-freezing
temperatures during the winter. Otala species
cannot survive freezing temperatures, and
therefore the Canadian climate is not suitable
for year-round outdoor heliculture.
Worldwide, with ttre exception of England,
snail farming is done outdoors. Due to differ-
ences in species and growing conditions much
information, although interesting, is only marg-
inally helpful. Information applicable to Mediter-
ranean conditions is not appropriate for Canadian
conditions. Basic data are required on the healttr,
diet, biology, and reproduction of Otala ktctea
before snail farming becomes a viable agricul-
tural alternative in Canada (I-ouise 1989).
There are few producers in Canada. The
value of snails produced in Canada is very
iimited at present. However, Canada imports
about $20 million worth of canned snails
every year at a price varying between $1.5
and S5.0 for a can of 20 snails.
In spite of the large potential for produc-
tion in Canada, there is little detailed accurate
information available. The various depart-
ments of Agriculture, both federal and provin-
cial, have few useful recommendations at this
time since little or no scientific research has
been done on this animal species.
The objectives of this work were first, to
study the possibility of growing edible land
snails under the Nova Scotia summer climatic
conditions; second, to study their nutritional
preferences; third, to study their resistance to
freezing temperatures.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Survival and Weight Gain Trial
One thousand two hundred and fifty yearling edible
land snails of the Otala species measuring 1.9 +
0.2 cm on average were divided randomly between
25, 1.5-m x 0.9-m x 1.5-m cages wrapped in nylon
screen and chicken wire to prevent the snails from
escaping and to protect them from predators.
However there were small openings around the top
door ofthe cages where a few snails, as discovered
later, were able to escape. The cages were placed
in a shaded area of a white clover field and randomly
assigned to five nutritional treatments with each treat-
ment replicated five times.
The snails placed on the ground were fed with
growing natural vegetation, lettuce leaves placed on
the ground and oyster shells placed in small con-
tainers on the ground, lettuce leaves alone, oat bran
placed in small containers, or growing white clover
in treatments |, 2, 3, 4 and 5, respectively. Water
was provided daily and put into small containers
placed on the ground in each cage.
The snails in each cage were weighed as total
weight per cage and counted approximately every
2 wk depending on the weather. The snails were
sprinkled with water at least once a day to keep a
sufficient level of moisture in the cages. The lettuce
leaves were changed twice a week, the oat bran was
 LIRETTE ET AL,
replaced every 2 wk and the cages were weeded
(plants other than specific feed treatment were
eradicated) once a week except for the natural vege-
tation treatment. Data were taken every 2 wk and
analyzed for mortality rates and weight gains for
each treatment. The feeding experiment started at
the beginning of May 1990 and finished at the end
of September 1990. Thus it was 5 mo in length.
Digestibility Trial
One hundred and twenty edible land snails of
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approximately the same weight were allocated into
24 trays, each containing five snails. The trays
were randomized into two groups. Group I was
fed with white clover and group 2 with lettuce
leaves. The feed was changed twice a week and
the weights and samples of both new and old feed
were taken at that time in order to determine the
dry matter content of the feeds. Feces were
collected from the trays, dried, dry matter (DM)
content was measured and they were then stored.
The percent DM digestibility was calculated as
follows:
For personal use only.
(Feed (DM) g initial - feed (DM) g end)
feces(DM)gx100
feed (DM) g initial - feed (DM) g end
Chemical Analysis
The crude protein (%) was done as described by
Sweeney (1989) and gross energy contents of the
feed and feces were done by a semi-micro
calorimeter (Model 1421, Parr Instrument Company,
Moline, IL).
Freezing Temperature Trial
At the end of the summer, 10 snails of each
were submitted to a cold stress experiment. They
were put in plastic containers partly filled with soil.
They were then placed in a freezer at a tempera-
ture of -5oC until they froze.
The time needed to achieve freezing point was
recorded. At the same time small plastic containers
filled with the same weight of water as the weight
of the average snail were placed in the freezer to
record the time needed for pure water to freeze
under the same conditions.
The remaining snails were left in their respec-
tive cages to test their survival rate under Nova
Scotia winter conditions. Dead leaves were placed
in the cages to allow them to get some kind of
natural protection. The survival rate ofthese snails
was evaluated the following spring by counting the
number of snails alive.
EDIBLE LAND SNAIL STUDY r57
Statistical Analyses
Standard analysis of variance (ANOVA) proce-
dures were performed on the data and Duncan's
multiple range tests were applied to significant vari-
ables (Steel and Torrie 1960).
RESULTS
The total weight per cage was uniform at the
beginning ofthe trial. The average snail final
weights were significantly (P<0.05) higher
for the treatments 2, 3 and 4 (lettuce and
shells, lettuce alone, bran) than the treatments
I and 5 (natural vegetation, clover; Table 1).
The death rate was significantly (P<0.01)
higher for the snails fed with oatbran (Table 2).
Several snails escaped from the cages through
small openings but number was not signifi-
cantly (P> 0.05) different among treatments.
It appears that oat bran was detrimental to the
snails giving a significantly (P<0.01) higher
number of deaths and consequently a signifi-
cantly lower total liveweight per cage at the end
- of the trial (Table 2).
The total weight gains per cage were higher
for treatments 2, 3, and 5 than for I and 4.
The natural vegetation and oat bran produced
a cage weight loss (Table 2). Lettuce and
oyster shells and lettuce alone gave the best
production results and oat bran the worst
among these five feed treatments (Table 2).
The digestibilities of lettuce leaves and
white clover were not significantly different
(P>0.05) being82.5% for lettuce and83.l%
for white clover (Table 3). This is in agree-
cage
ment with Staikou and Lazaridou-Dimitriadou
(1989) who found that.Flelix lucorum digested
82% ofthe lettuce eaten. The energy and pro-
tein digestibilities were high, all being above
80% (Table 3). These digestibilities are com-
parable to digestibility in ruminants which can
attain 80% (Lirette et al. in press).
There was no problem with invasion of slugs
or native land snails which are predators of
imported land snails. After I mo of trial infant
snails were noticed, indicating that the imponed
edible land snails were able to reproduce under
these environmental conditions. It is thought
that the young would be able to overwinter
indoors in a dormant state for growth the next
summer.
 t58 CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE

Table L Average snail weights

Inital wt Final wt Wt. gain

Treatment (e) (g) (9.)

I Natural 4.6a 6.tb t.5h

2 Lettuce and oyster shells 4.9a 7.7a 2.9a
3 Lettuce 4.9a 7.7a 2.8a
4 Oat bran 4.7 a 1.4a 2.7a
5 White clover 4.6a 6.6b t.9b
SEM 0.1 0.2 0.2
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a,bNumbers with different letters are significantly different (P<0.05) (Duncan's multiple range test)

Tabte 2. Influence of treatment on total initial weight, number of snails and final weight (average of five cages
per treatment)
Lettuce and White
Natural oyster shells Lettuce Oat bran clover SEM
Initial 229.6a 243.8a 243.8a 232.6a li t.2a 4.5
weight of
group (g)
AIive' 33.6a 36.0a 3 t.za l.2b 41.0a 2.8
Final live 203.4b 277.4a 286.2a 82.2c 261 .8a r 8.5
For personal use only.

weight of
group (g)
Net weight -26.2b 33.6a 42.4a - 150.4c 36.6a 19.7
change (g)
Dead' 2.8b 2.4b 2.6b 33.6a 2.0b l.l
Missingz 13.6a Il.6a 10.2a 5.2a 7.0a L.)

Extrapolated 281 .9b 368.0a 364.'/a l22.lc 314.1b 9.1

final wt.Y
Extrapolated gain 58.3c 124.2a 120.9a - 110.5d 82.9b 1.9
zNumbers counted.
YExtrapolated: (Extrapolated values considering the missing numbers (escapers).
a-dNumbers in the same row with different letters are significantly different (P<0.05) (Duncan's multiple range test).

Table 3. Feed digestibility

Apparent Dry Dry
Protein Energy DM matter matter
Crude Gross digest- digest- digest- f'eed ln
Feed proteln energv ibility ibility ibitity consump- feces
treatment (%) rcal g ) (%) (7o) (7o) tron (g) (e)

Lettuce 23.21a 3588.09a 81-4a 80.3a 82.5a 5.8a 0.94a

Clover 25.27b 4t24.57 b 80.3a 8l .8a 83. la 3.9b o.54b
SEM 0.63 I 55.46 2.1 2.1 1.9 0.4 0.l0
a,bNumbers in each column with different letters are significantly different (P<0.05) (Duncan's multiple range test).

Freezing Trial freeze under the same conditions. This seems

The snails froze after a time period varying to indicate that land snails are able to resist
between 24 and 48 h. The same amount of freezing temperature for some time. There
water as the weight of a snail needed 7 h to was also a significant (P<0.05) difference
 LIRETTE ET AL.
between the treatments for the weight lost by
the snails before freezing. The weight loss
magnitude was between 3 and l0%. When
lettuce was fed to the snails they lost more
weight before freezing. This is probably
result of a greater weight gain with lettuce-
based feed resulting in a greater resistance to
cold stress.
By the following spring, no snails had
survived the Nova Scotian winter.
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It was concluded that Otala lactea can be
grown outside under the Nova Scotian
summer climatic conditions if fed with lettuce.
clover or natural vegetation. Oat bran does
not appear to be a good feed for snails. Most
likely Otala lactea cannot survive Nova Scotia
winter conditions, and so would not become
a pest if some escaped during the summer.
Edible land snails of the Otala lactea
species can be raised outside under summer
climatic conditions in Nova Scotia if fed with
appropriate diets. However, year-round
For personal use only.
production would necessitate a controlled
environment during the long Canadian winter.
ED]BLE LAND SNAIL STUDY 159
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The authors wish to acknowledge the financial
support of a Nova Scotia Department of Agricul-
ture and Marketing Research and Innovative
a Demonstration Grant.
Cheney, S. 1988. Raising snails. U.S. National
Agricultural Library, Washington, DC. NAL
sRB88-04.
Lirette, A., Maclntyre, J. P., Maynard, E. G. and
Fraser, Joanna. 1D2. Comparison between perfor-
mances of steers fed with white clover, red clover
and alfalfa silages. Can. J. Anim. Sci. (in press).
Louise, K. 1989. Home grown escargot. Exquisite
Escargot, Blind Bag, BC Canada.
Staikou, A. and Lazaridou-Dimitriadou, M.
1989. Feeding experiments on and energy flux in
a natural population of the edible snatl Helix
lucorum L. (Gastropoda: Pulmonata: Stytom-
matophora) in Greece. Malacologia 31:217-227 .
Steel, R. G. D. and Torrie, J. H. 1960. Principles
and procedures ofstatistics. A biometric approach.
lst ed. McGraw-Hill Book Comp., New York, NY.
Sweeney, R. 1989. Generic combustion method for
determination of crude protein in feed: Collabora-
tive studies. J. Assoc. Off. Anal. Chem.72:770.