How much does crocodile farming cost? A detailed profit analysis

Crocodile farming has the advantages of low investment, quick returns and significant economic benefits. In addition, the whole crocodile is a treasure: the meat, liver, blood and skull all have high medicinal value, it also has high ornamental value, and the skin has high leather value. The market prospects are promising and the farming prospects are broad. Let us take a look below at the costs and profits of crocodile farming!

The farming prospects for crocodiles

With the improvement of people's living standards, China's demand for crocodile products keeps growing, and the development of crocodile farming, processing and tourism will receive more and more attention. In recent years, the number of units importing crocodiles into China and the import volume have also increased. Some guesthouses, restaurants and hotels have already put crocodile meat on the table as a seafood product. At the same time, the international market price of processed crocodile leather is 2 to 8 US dollars per square cm, and other parts of the crocodile such as the head, feet, teeth, claws and spine can also be processed into souvenirs for sale, while the glands, scent pouches, gall bladder and fat can be made into new anti-cancer drugs or processed products. The main consumer markets are some of the more economically developed countries and regions, so the market prospects are broad.

The farming costs of crocodiles

The feed consumed by crocodiles is mainly meat (including trimmings, chicken bones, etc.) and fish. On average, the total feed per crocodile per year is 72.6 kg, which converts to no more than 500 yuan. In addition, raising crocodiles can make maximum use of the rearing site and equipment. The rearing enclosure area is not very large and the stocking density is quite high: for young crocodiles under one year old, 17-18 can be raised per sq m; for sub-adult crocodiles 2-5 years old, 1 can be raised per sq m; and for adult crocodiles over 10 years old used for breeding, the density is slightly lower, with a rearing area of 10 sq m per crocodile.

The farming profits of crocodiles

Crocodiles have strong reproductive capacity. Female crocodiles over 10 years old lay an average of 40-70 eggs each per year, and based on practical experience about 40 young crocodiles can be bred. The egg-laying period of a female crocodile can last for decades, or even over a hundred years. Young crocodiles need only 3-5 years of rearing before they can be turned into products for processing and use, because slaughtering at this age gives the lowest feed cost and the greatest economic benefit. For a breeding population of more than 20 female crocodiles, calculated at an average of 40 young crocodiles bred per female per year, the population can breed nearly 800 young crocodiles each year. Based on the current calculation that each imported crocodile costs at least 20,000 yuan, the price of adult crocodiles in China is 30,000-60,000 yuan. If used as crocodile products, after 3-5 years of rearing the price is at least 15,000 yuan, and after deducting costs, considerable economic benefits can still be obtained.