Nothing sluggish about this business
Snails may be slow movers but they are fast becoming a money spinner for a Farrarmere couple.
Stanley and his wife Heather Micallef – owners of Stanley’s Snails – have been farming snails on their suburban property for the past three years.
The demand for their sought-after escargot is forcing the couple to think of expanding their business to meet the growing demand.
Stanley told the City Times he and his retired wife were sitting on their nest egg several years ago and realised they needed to supplement their income.
A friend of theirs, who owns a restaurant in Cape Town, told the pair how expensive snails had become.
The idea sparked what is now a full-time job for the Micallefs, who carefully rear more than 500 snails a month.
The Farrarmere pilot farm started three years ago, with the Micallefs experimenting with the Australian and eastern European method of cultivating the snails in their garden.
The Australian way houses snails in paddocks, while the eastern European snail is confined to a paddock which is lined with curtains for the snails to cling onto.
Stanley and Heather have imported breeders of the Helix Aspersa Muller (commonly known as a garden snail) from Greece.
With selective breeding, these imported snails contain more meat, which replaced the conventional big-shelled snail with little mass.
The couple have experimented with raising snails indoors and outdoors.
The indoor method has a controlled climate and is far more viable, as the snails do not have any predators such as lizards, birds, spiders etc.
The outdoor technique allows for 200 snails to be raised per square meter, while the indoor method allows for 450 snails per square meter.
The couple are making use of both the indoor and outdoor method at the moment, with several rooms in the house being used for the snail farming.
Stanley said he has developed a secret dry food formula which contains all the vitamins and minerals required for optimal growth.
This special food mix allows snails to be raised from egg to table in seven to nine months .
This varies as farming conditions are different from farm to farm.
Snails are then prepared as and when needed, as they can be stored for six months without having been given any food.
Stanley said his pilot farm is promising to be a massive business venture, with exporting on the cards.
He said he is looking at forming a consortium, to develop snail farming and to disseminate the ideas and successes of his farm.
The couple treat each snail with care and can get up to R8 a snail, when sold privately.
