Cost-benefit analysis for the production of juveniles of tropical gar (Atractosteus tropicus Gill): a comparison of four feeding schemes.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the production cost and profitability of different feeding strategies during the tropical gar larviculture
Design/methodology/approach: Growth and survival obtained from the evaluation of an experimental diet with maize starch, comparing against the conventional strategy (commercial diet for rainbow trout and co-feeding with Artemia naupliii). The experimental diet was evaluated with co-feeding with Artemia and with no Artemia. The productions cost was estimated for each strategy and was calculated the unit cost by juvenile as well as the sale cost. Also was determined the cost-benefit relation and the breakeven point for the economic analysis.
Results: The direct feeding with no Artemia strategy during the larviculture is not profitable. According to the relation cost-benefit, comparing the strategy with the experimental diet in co-feeding with the conventional strategy, the profitability of the first was greater. The breakeven point between the profitable strategies was similar, but the greater survival with the experimental diet suggest a higher impact on the optimization of the product system.
Limitations on study/implications: the lack of economic analysis on the tropical gar larviculture affect indirectly the product system tropical gar as there is no accurate information on production costs.
Findings/conclusions: From a financial point of view, the feeding strategy using experimental diet with co-feeding is the most profitable process of larviculture