Gastropod Cultivation (Heliciculture)
Technical Certificate · 14 credit hours · 1 semesters · Division of Animal and Agricultural Sciences
Commercial snail production for the culinary and cosmetic markets. Pen construction, humidity management, feed formulation, purging, and grading to European market standards.
The practicum term runs from March through May, when ambient humidity in the production facility reliably falls within the range required for active breeding stock. Students enrolled outside this window complete humidity management modules using controlled-environment equipment in the Annex laboratory. A climate equipment charge is assessed per term and is published in the Schedule of Charges.
Curriculum
| Course | Title | Credits | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| HEL 110 | Heliciculture Fundamentals | 3 | 1 |
| HEL 120 | Pen Construction and Environment | 3 | 1 |
| HEL 130 | Feed Formulation and Purging | 3 | 1 |
| HEL 140 | Grading and Market Standards | 3 | 1 |
| HEL 150 | Production Records | 2 | 1 |
Graduates
Purging is the whole margin. Grade to the European standard or sell as feed. HEL 130 is the course that decides which business you are in.
Marguerite Sowa, ’26 — Producer, specialty snail farm
Facilities and instruction
Instruction is delivered in the facilities of the Division of Animal and Agricultural Sciences. Additional photographs are collected at Campus photographs.
programs/gastropod-cultivation · Bellweather College of Applied Technology