The
system of breeding of a complete biological cycle is the most spread both in Italy and all over the world. The
above mentioned system is exclusively carried out in the open without either protective structures or shelters
as this business becomes profitable and economic only if costs are limited and controlled. This method is based
on the insertion of snails meant for conpling and reproduction into enclosures.The sale of this product includes both: the snails put into the enclosure and the new born which developed in the fattening period. The choice of breeding snails in the open has been decisive in the development of this activity as it differs from the system of breeding carried out by other European countries such as France and England. The Italians thought that no other system of breeding but the one in the open could be taken into consideration as this method is based on both the simplicity of the anatomy of this mollusc and on its slow cycle of life. The snails which are bred in captivity (glass houses, containers or confined places) can mate, lay eggs abd become adult too, but they need to be cleaned, fed and artificially irrigated. If the snails are kept in safe enclosures on the one hand they may be less subject to become prey of insects, rodents and birds, on the other hand, they seem to have more problems with both the absorption of carbon dioxide (ventilation is not sufficient if they are under shelter) and the inability of benefiting from natural humidity in the form of den which is essential to their life. The above mentioned system was not applied in Italy because of the numerous disadvantages it brought about, among them the main deterrent was the excessive labour cost due to the continuous presence of man. At first French had started this more industrialized and artificial method but later they gave up this type of breeding and the Italian system was adopted.
