Effects of Snail-Based Calcium Supplements on Production Performance and Economic Viability in Laying Poultry: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Cordova, Siony Miranda and Hebron, Imelda Ulep and Taylaran, Renante Decenella and Alcántara, Charly Guillermo and Gonzaga, Nelda Ruba and Politud, Eric Randy Reyes and Camay, Rudy Mirabueno (2026) Effects of Snail-Based Calcium Supplements on Production Performance and Economic Viability in Laying Poultry: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of World's Poultry Research. 142 - 156. ISSN 2322455X

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Abstract

Snail-based calcium may substitute for conventional calcium sources in laying-poultry diets, especially in regions with abundant invasive snails. The effects of snail-based calcium on egg productivity and profitability differ depending on the snail species, processing method, and inclusion level. The present study aimed to estimate the effects of snail-based calcium supplementation on hen-day production and egg weight in laying poultry. Following PRISMA guidelines, nine databases through 2025 were searched for controlled trials comparing snail-derived calcium with conventional sources in laying hens. Out of 825 records, 18 studies met the inclusion criteria after systematic screening for study design, outcome reporting, and variance data. Egg weight and hen-day production were the primary outcomes; economic outcomes were analyzed qualitatively due to limited variance in the data. Using a random-effects model, pooled results indicated that snail-shell calcium significantly reduced egg weight compared to the conventional calcium sources, with no significant effect on hen-day production. Subgroup analysis indicated that quail maintained comparable egg production when fed snail-shell calcium, whereas layer hens experienced a significant decline. Among 26 economic comparisons, 69.2 reported favorable outcomes for snail-based calcium, primarily because lower ingredient costs offset the slight reduction in egg output. Heterogeneity was high for egg weight (I² = 81.6) and hen-day production (I² = 93.5). Snail-based calcium can be viable when processed appropriately and used at species-appropriate inclusion levels. Overall, the meta-analytic results suggested that snail-shell calcium can be a practical, cost-effective alternative when properly processed and used at levels suited to the target poultry species. © The Author(s) 2026. Open Access: This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article's Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article's Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	Calcium supplementation; Golden apple snail; Laying hen; Snail shell; Snail-based calcium
Subjects:	S Agriculture > SF Animal culture
Divisions:	Journal of World's Poultry Research (JWPR)
Page Range:	142 - 156
Journal or Publication Title:	Journal of World's Poultry Research
Journal Index:	Scopus
Volume:	16
Number:	1
Publisher:	Scienceline Publication
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.36380/jwpr.2026.14
ISSN:	2322455X
Depositing User:	Dr. Daryoush Babazadeh
URI:	https://eprints.science-line.com/id/eprint/1760

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