The operation of a crocodile farm has good financial potential but requires 3 to 4 years of initial investment during the growth period of the alligators before you make a profit from the sale of leathers or meat in the national markets Or international. The southern US Offers the best conditions for the cultivation of lizard crocodiles, although the Tillage has been successfully established in Colorado and Idaho. Success is not guaranteed, but the following steps provide an idea of how to start crocodile tillage.
The Crocodile farming industry is a $60 to $70 million dollar industry in Louisiana alone. Crocodiles are primarily farmed for their meat, which is both expensive and luxurious. The skin can also be used to make leather goods such as belts and handbags. Crocodiles have very few natural predators, so they don’t need much protection from humans or other animals.
How to Start Crocodile Farming
Investigate the specific laws and regulations for the location of your crocodile farm. Some areas require special licensing and have restrictions for facilities and buildings, the purchase of eggs or offspring, or length requirements for crocodile harvesting.
Your local or state fish game department is a good place to start.
- Decide whether you will have an integrated or non-integrated farm (“feedlot”) of crocodiles. The comprehensive farm includes broodstock, hatchery and nursery services, and fattening buildings. Non-integrated farm buys and grows young only.
- Specialized farms sell ranchers, in areas with wild crocodile populations, state agencies that administer alligators can also sell the offspring.
Build a Utility Building
An area of 800 square meters (74.3224 square meters) will house the hatchery (for integrated farms), refrigerator, freezer, and storage space. The non-integrated building keeps the young offspring, so a nursery is not necessary.
Builds a non-integrated building for the first year of the offspring. Typical buildings are about 5,000 square feet (464,515 m2). Various designs include cement blocks, wood, or metal constructions, but all are well insulated and the rest are on a heated concrete base. Hot water pipes run through the concrete to provide a constant temperature of 86 to 88 degrees Fahrenheit (30 to 31 degrees Celsius) in the building, electrical heating coils can be used, but are less common.
Prepare the area of the corral
Swimming pools about 1 foot (0.3 m) deep with sloping bottom to a drain (for easy cleaning) and with covers prepared for each corral before the placement of the insolation and then to pour the concrete. The pens are about 12 feet (3.7 m) long and 14 feet (4.3 m) wide, each one having a 5-foot (1.5 m) wide deck for feeding and sunbathing and a 9-foot pool (2.7 m) wide.
The deck is next to the central aisle so you can feed the alligators and clean their pens easily (and without entering the pens). A 3-foot (3-foot) concrete block wall separates the yard from the ship (to prevent outward climbing and escape).
Each corral my house about 160 2-foot (0.6 m) long crocodiles, or 50 4-foot (1.2 m) alligators, and may be divided into separate alligators under 2 feet long (0.6 m) Those more than 2 meters, some states require this by law. Use concrete blocks to construct a wall that generates two corrals capable of holding 80 2-foot crocodiles.
Builds a second non-integrated building for the second year of the offspring. This building uses the same plans as the first one, but it is 7,300 square feet (678,192 m2). Build a third 10,300-square-foot building (956,901 m2) for your third year of growth.
Feeding
Decide on the diets of your crocodiles. Crocodile food in the form of pellets is preferred by crocodile farmers and eliminates the maintenance of a stock of fresh, frozen meats (such as meat, chicken, deer, fish, and horse) on hand. You can also use a combination of food and meat.
Adequate feed rates to ensure adequate growth. Tariffs for the first year are 25 percent of body weight per week and are reduced to 18 percent in the third year. Overfeeding can cause gout in crocodiles but is cured with fasting of 7 to 10 days.
Organize each pen to be stress-free. Sturdy alligators can develop diseases of brown spots, which leave discolored spots on the skins and diminish their value. Stop the overcrowding of crocodiles in the pens and minimize outside noise through the sunshine of the building. Alligators do not congregate in the wild, except in breeding season
Establishes a schedule of feeding and cleaning of pens at different times. Alligators should never be agitated before, during or after eating. It is possible to coordinate the cleaning of the corral in the morning. The feeding in the afternoon to prevent the stress.
Producers
Some of these producers send skins to the quoted international luxury market, especially companies from Europe and the United States. Others promote the consumption of meat and crocodile oil, especially in restaurants and exotic food markets.
Even the authorities established a program to boost activity, especially in the marshes of the Gulf of Mexico. The strategy includes encouraging the participation of communities to commit themselves to conserving the species and its habitat. And at the same time generate an economic benefit.
Recovery
In the 1970s the Moreletti crocodile, better known as a marsh, was about to die out in Mexico. Poaching to harness their skin and the destruction of the areas where they lived dramatically reduced their population.
In 1973 the Moreletti crocodile was included in the list of species threatened by the United States government. In the United States, there is the largest skin market in the world. Thus, the Mexican government has since established a total ban for the species, in addition to creating conservation areas and breeding grounds in some marshes.
FAQ
How do you farm crocodiles?
Farming crocodiles can be a challenging but rewarding endeavor. The most important factor to consider is the habitat you provide for your crocs. A large, outdoor enclosure with plenty of water and shade is essential for their health and growth. Additionally, you will need to ensure the enclosure has adequate fencing or walls to protect both your animals and any people who may come in contact with them.
Is crocodile farming cruel?
Crocodile farming can be cruel depending on the practices used. For example, if the crocodiles are kept in cramped, unsanitary conditions with no access to sunlight or natural bodies of water, this could lead to stress and physical ailments. Additionally, if the animals are not provided with a healthy diet or proper veterinary care when needed, this could also lead to suffering for the animals.
What is the problem in crocodile farming?
Crocodile farming can be a controversial practice, as it involves the breeding, captivity and harvesting of wild animals. One of the major problems with crocodile farming is that it can lead to an over-harvesting of wild populations. This can be especially problematic when there is not enough regulation in place to ensure that wild populations are being sustainably harvested. Additionally, crocodiles bred in captivity may lack the ability to adapt to their natural environment, making them unable to survive if released into the wild.
Conclusion
American alligators and crocodiles can be farmed domestically or internationally depending on what varieties you have access to locally. Louisiana alone sees about 5% of America’s total production for both species combined—worth around $60–$70 million annually! So if you’re looking into getting into the lucrative business, it may just help your wallet grow as well! If this guide has helped answer any questions about raising these creatures, please share our article with others who might also need guidance.
As A Reference: Wikipedia
