1. When is the best time to start a snail farm and why The rains are here and snails in the wild are waking up from their sleep i.e. snails are now active. Snails tend to lay more eggs at the beginning of the rainy season. Plants that serve as food are also in abundance during the rainy season. The abundance of food to eat also stimulates growth and egg production. Anyone interested in snail farming should start now.2. What type of snail should I raise and where can I get the breeding stock There are 3 major types of Giant African Land Snails, these are achachatina marginata(west African snail), achatina achatina(tiger snail) and achatina fulica.The West African snails are the best to raise because they can grow as big as 600 grammes and they lay quite a number of large eggs. The demand for it is also high.You can order for your breeding stock from CUAD by calling 08061697604 or visit our website www.cuadconsulting.org or blog http://farminginthecities.blogspot.com. 3. Cost implications and profitability of a commercial snail farm:Initial stock: 1,0003,000 adult snails (egg laying snails) (Breeding stocks available).Housing type: Intensive systemdwarf walled concrete pen cover with mosquito nets with iron sheet roof.Soil type: loamy soil, Planting area- to plant snail food. Calcium powder- growth booster.Cost of snails: N1,800 per dozen.Housing Unit: 14feet by 3 feet to stock 500 snails @ N40,000. (Cost can be cheaper)Growth booster : N 5,000 for 10 kilogramme.Population projection: Stock of 1,000 will produce 8,000 snails within 4 months and 16,000 snails within a year. Sale of snails starts at the 2nd year. Sale at N80 per snail. 16,000 x 80N1,280,0004. My catfish are not growing well. At 6 months most are less than 500 grammes, what could be responsible for the stunted growth There are several factors that could be responsible, these are: (a) Over stockingif you stock more than the capacity of the pond, your fish will not grow well. Avoid Overstocking.(b) Type of feed: The type of feed you feed your fish is very important to their growth. At 4 -12 weeks they should be fed with well balanced feed if at this stage they are not fed with good quality feed their growth will be affected. I recommend use of imported feeds at the early stage. Change in type of feed should not be sudden. If you want to change their feed let it be a transition.© Water quality: The quality of pond water can also affect the growth of your fish. The ideal ph of 5.5 and 7.5 neither alkaline nor acidic will make your fish strive well. Also watch out for the temperature of the pond water.(d) Source of fingerlings: If the fingerlings have a genetic problem they will not grow well. The source of your fingerlings is important, buy from reputable organisation or farmer.5. Cost implications for starting a commercial Japanese quail farm and its nutritional values. Initial Stock: 500 birds. Age of bird 4-6 weeks.@ N150 per bird Self cleaning cage: 6ft by 2ft - N 5000.Population projection within 3months 33,600 birds( a female quail egg will lay 28 eggs in a month) Hatching period: 17 days.(use of incubator) Price of incubator: N25,000. Sale at 5 months: 33,600 birds x N150 =N5,040,000 Medicinal values of quail eggs.Treatment of certain aliments with quail eggs is recognized around the world. The list of diseases that can be cured (or alleviated) using quail eggs include chronic cholecystitis, asthma, heart disease, nervous system, cancerous tumor, Treats allergics.Quail eggs purify the blood, normalize blood pressure, increase hemoglobin, intensively removes radionuclides from the body. They restore the body after an operational period of a heart attack. Research scientists have shown that quail meat and eggs avoid adverse effects of stress and overwork. They are rich in unsaturated fatty acids that inhibit the development of atherosclerosis and obesity, even against the background dietary intake of significant amounts of cholesterol. Eggs are especially useful for children to enhance development, both physical and mental..They give good results in treating infertility, epilepsy, allergies, and all kinds of eczema. Saturate the prostate vitamins, minerals, amino acids, which cause a strong increase in sexual potency, slow rapid ejaculation in men. Also quail eggs make a woman feel better during pregnancy, saturate the body with vitamins, amino acids, trace elements in the postpartum period, thereby increasing the amount of milk in nursing mothers.Happy farming and stay healthy!
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