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

Resumen

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. We also 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.