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 feedingstrategies during the tropical gar larvicultureDesign/methodology/approach: Growth and survival obtained from the evaluationof an experimental diet with maize starch, comparing against the conventionalstrategy (commercial diet for rainbow trout and co-feeding with Artemia naupliii). Theexperimental diet was evaluated with co-feeding with Artemia and with no Artemia.The productions cost was estimated for each strategy and was calculated the unitcost by juvenile as well as the sale cost. We also determined the cost-benefit relationand the breakeven point for the economic analysis. Results: The direct feeding with no Artemia strategy during the larviculture is notprofitable. According to the relation cost-benefit, comparing the strategy with theexperimental diet in co-feeding with the conventional strategy, the profitability of thefirst was greater. The breakeven point between the profitable strategies was similar,but the greater survival with the experimental diet suggest a higher impact on theoptimization of the product system.Limitations on study/implications: the lack of economic analysis on the tropical garlarviculture 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 usingexperimental diet with co-feeding is the most profitable process of larviculture.