People thinking of crocodile farming have put a series of questions to us over time. This is a general response to those questions and it is not meant to be detailed or exhaustive. Please note that this document is merely intended to point prospective farmers in the right direction.

Answer: All farming enterprises are a business. You will be a price taker, you won't determine price. The only way you can increase income in the absence of a price rise is by producing a higher proportion of high grade skins and reducing costs.

Answer: That depends on a number of factors. For example, are crocodiles to be your sole income and what sorts of farming system do you want to establish? The list is substantial and it is very individual. The only way to really address this issue is to establish a business plan.

Establish a business plan with the assistance of professional advice. Advice costs money, so be prepared to pay. At the end of the day the advice might say "give crocodile farming a miss." Your expectations are an important consideration.

Answer: It's your decision. Crocodiles can be fast, aggressive and therefore dangerous but fascinating to work with. They are not and never will be household pets.

Answer: You can keep breeders and collect and hatch their eggs. Initially, you can buy your breeders from other farmers. Conversely, you could buy hatchlings from another hatchery.

Question: Can I catch wild crocodiles or take eggs from wild crocodiles and farm them?

Answer: No you can't. You must have a government permit. Also taking eggs and baby crocodiles is not a job for the inexperienced.

Answer: The location of the site is very important (if not the most important consideration) for prospective farmers. Crocodiles need to maintain body temperatures of approximately 30 degrees. Any area where winter temperatures drop consistently below 10 degrees is considered unsuitable for any form of outdoor breeding. Indoor breeding is expensive as housing requirements are expensive (all round insulation) and energy cost is high due to external temperature demand for these houses (which have to be supplied via boilers through out the year). A good guideline would be to establish if crocodiles were historically present in the area through out the year.

In addition thereto, the site has ample supply of clean water and electricity, is close to feed suppliers, processing plants and links to markets. The site will need to be secured and meet the requirements of your local authority. You will also need substantial capital (an economic unit of 3000 skins per year will cost approximately R 5 million to establish) and patience (it will take approximately 3 years to establish and another 2 years before you will produce your firs skins).

Answer: Remote farm land costs can be less expensive. However, transport costs associated with servicing these sites (e.g. feed and products to market) are frequently overlooked by prospective farmers. Careful consideration needs to be given to transport costs because they can be expensive.

Question: Is there standard descriptive commercial crocodile language in use?

Hatchlings are baby crocodiles and the term may apply up to one year of age
Clutches are groups of hatchlings from the same nest
Growers are animals of about one year old to harvest
Breeders are large adult animals. Breeders are further described as male and female. Males are sometimes called bulls.
Hatchling describes sub-adult breeders or advanced growers
The term "colony" is sometimes used to describe a group of growers or breeders. The term
"clutch" does not apply because there is generally more than one clutch in pens.

HUSBANDRY

Question: How long does take to grow crocodiles to market size?

Answer: It will take about three years from the time you place your first hatchling until they are ready for market.

Question: Do all crocodiles reach a standard market size at the same time?

Answer: No. Fast growing animals could reach market size in approximately two years. Slow growing animals may take three years or more. The current growth rate response has implications for both stock rotation and management.

Question: How do I house animals?

Answer: Housing depends on location. Crocodiles need to have their body temperature maintained at about 32-34ºC, especially the small ones. Seek informed advice on this issue from, established farmers, established consultants and animal housing specialists.

Question: What do I feed crocodiles?

Answer: Currently crocodiles maintained in captivity are fed chickens and/or discarded meat. Sometimes beef and horse offal is used. Some farmers are developing pellet feed made from manufactured ingredients such as carcass meal, meat meal, fish meal etc. Some farmers use a combination of the above.

Question: Where do I buy manufactured ingredients to make diets?

Answer: Ingredients for on-farm mixing can be purchased from merchants catering for the pig, poultry and aquaculture industries.

MARKETING AND PROCESSING

Question: What am I selling?

Answer: About 80 percent of your income will be derived from skins and the remaining 20 percent from meat.

Question: Where do I sell my animals?

Answer: The main markets for skins are in Asia (Japan and Singapore) and Europe - France, for example. Meat is sold in Asia (Japan, China), Europe and at home here in South Africa. Contact Department of Trade and Industry for export requirements. You should try and sell your production through an agent. The market is not interested in small consignments of skins and meat.

Question: Are there market opportunities?

Answer: South Africa sells about 40,000 skins/year from crocodiles. By international standards South Africa is a small supplier (about 10% of the world market) and there is market opportunities for skins provided they are of high quality.

Question: Can I process my own animals?

Answer: Yes, provided you have a registered processing plant if you wish to sell meat locally or an export approved plant if you want to export internationally. Again economies of scale will dictate if it feasible to establish a processing plant. Currently there are three approved processing plants in South Africa.

You will need some industry-specific skills to remove the skin. First grade skins are valuable, second grade skins are worth about 75 percent of first grade skins and third grade about fifty percent. Remember your costs of production will be the same for all three categories.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Question: Where can I get more information about crocodile farming?

Answer: If you are still interested in crocodile farming, you can apply to pay the prescribed fee to Sacfa which will allow you access to the members only section of the www.sacfa.co.za Website. Sacfa will put you in touch with crocodile farmers in your area or supply you with the names of Consultants with crocodile farming experience.

Click here to view a Case Study

Requirements & Guidelines to Establish a Crocodile Farm