Crocodile Farming Research, Development and On-farm Monitoring 1995 to 1998 A report for the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation by Rob Mayer, Queensland Department of Primary Industries October 1998 RIRDC Publication No 98/109 RIRDC Project No. DAQ-188A © 1998 Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. All rights reserved. ISBN 0 642 57849 4 ISSN 1440-6845 "Crocodile Farming : Research, Development and On-farm Monitoring. 1995-1998” Publication no. 98/109 Project no. DAQ-188A The views expressed and the conclusions reached in this publication are those of the author and not necessarily those of persons consulted. RIRDC shall not be responsible in any way whatsoever to any person who relies in whole or in part on the contents of this report. This publication is copyright. However, RIRDC encourages wide dissemination of its research, providing the Corporation is clearly acknowledged. For any other enquiries concerning reproduction, contact the Communications Manager on phone 02 6272 3186. Researcher Contact Details Mr Rob Mayer Queensland Dept of Primary Industries P.O. Box 1085 Townsville Q 4810 Phone: 07 47222614 Fax: 07 47782970 Email: [email protected] RIRDC Contact Details Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Level 1, AMA House 42 Macquarie Street BARTON ACT 2600 PO Box 4776 KINGSTON ACT 2604 Phone: 02 6272 4539 Fax: 02 6272 5877 Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.rirdc.gov.au Published in October 1998 Printed on environmentally friendly paper by the DPIE Copy Centre ii FOREWORD The crocodile farming industry in Australia is very unstructured and farmers tend to operate independently. This is not surprising given the way that a lot of the farms began – people with a fascination with this large reptile and often starting out buying a few adult rogue animals caught in the wild. Very little has been published about the requirements for commercial farming of the Australian saltwater crocodile – most of the literature has been on the American alligator, which is a much more docile animal and has a much less discerning palate. Hence, the farms in Australia have developed a wide variety of farming techniques, based mainly on anecdotal or overseas information. In 1995 RIRDC convened a workshop in Darwin of government, university and private company researchers to meet with crocodile farmers, product manufacturers, buyers and exporting agencies to identify research, development and extension strategies for the Australian industry. ‘Production’, encompassing management and nutrition was identified as the top research priority. This report covers the production research carried out by the Queensland Department of Primary Industries in Townsville and its extension and networking with industry and other research agencies. It follows on from earlier benchmark work done in RIRDC Project DAQ- 132A. The main focus of the current project was on: • researching optimal environmental, management and nutritional issues related to growing juvenile crocodiles to one year of age • setting up and working with an R&D advisory group consisting of farmers and fellow researchers • extending results quickly via seminars, research publications and producing an Australian industry newsletter. This research is part of RIRDC’s New Animal Products R&D Program, which is aimed at accelerating the development of viable new animal industries in Australia. Peter Core Managing Director Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation iii Acknowledgments This report has been compiled from many sources of information published on the crocodile R&D activities over the period of the project, including:- • Crocodile Research Bulletin Vol.2 June 1997 • Crocodile Capers Newsletter, Issues 1-5 • DPI Research Updates (Nov. 1997, August 1998) • Reports on seminars, meetings. Authors of some of these articles have been S. Peucker (who is also editor of Crocodile Capers), B. Davis and A. Thomas. I would like to acknowledge their contributions to this report. The project has received strong support from the Queensland Crocodile industry, and thanks must go to K. Cook and A. Darbonne (Cairns Crocodile Farm), A. Neilan (Edward River Crocodile Farm). P. Freeman and G. McClure (Hartley’s Creek Crocodile Farm, M. and M. Tabone (Johnstone River Crocodile Farm), and J. Lever (Koorana Crocodile Farm) for providing hatchling animals each year for research and for their valuable contributions to the Industry Advisory Group. R. Flemming (Billabong Sanctuary) has provided newly laid crocodile eggs for research on incubation. These contributions have been essential to the project. B Davis is thanked for reviewing several drafts of this document. As project leader I would like to thank RIRDC Research Manager, Dr. Peter McInnes, for his encouragement and support and the time he has devoted to reading draft copies of the many reports that have been produced from this project. The often hard, unglamorous and mostly unheralded work done by other members of the DPI team – R. Jack, R. Bloomfield, H. Stephenson, L. Morrissy, S. Johnson and S. Blyth – is gratefully acknowledged. This report reflects a team effort and this has been central to our progress. Finally, M. Read, Department of Environment (Queensland), is thanked for his interested and keen support for the project. iv Contents Foreword ........................................................................................................... iii Acknowledgements ............................................................................................ iv Executive Summary ........................................................................................ vii 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Crocodile Farming in Australia............................................................................ 1 1.2 Industry Research Needs...................................................……………………… 1 2. OBJECTIVES...................................................……………………………………. 3 3. METHODOLOGY 3.1 Research Animals and Eggs…………………………………………………… 5 3.2 Research Facilities…………………………………........................................... 7 3.3 Experimental Procedures ……………………………………………………… 7 3.4 Research Program 1995-98……………………………………………………. 8 4. ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH 4.1 Light…………………………………………..................................................... 9 4.2 Rearing Density……………………………………............................................ 16 4.3 Hide-boards and Water Temperature ………………………………………….. 26 4.4 Water Volume …………………………………………………………………. 27 5. NUTRITION RESEARCH 5.1 On-farm Evaluation of Pellet Prototypes………................................................. 31 5.2 Acceptability Trials………………………………………………….................. 32 5.3 Hatchling Response to Pellets …………………………………………………. 35 5.4 Pellet/Mash and Water Temperature Trials ……………………………………. 37 5.5 Feed Additives …………………………………………………………………. 41 5.6 Growth Response Trials ……………………………………………………….. 44 5.7 Recent Developments ………………………………………………………….. 46 5.8 Runts …………………………………………………………………………… 46 6. EGG RESEARCH 6.1 Incubation Study………...............................................………………………… 51 6.2 Egg Fungal Levels…………………………………………………................… 51 6.3 Incubation Techniques…………………………………………………………. 61 6.4 Embryonic Mortality…………………………………………………………… 61 v 7. ON-FARM STUDIES 7.1 CROCTEL……….………...............................................……..…………………. 63 7.2 Breeder Infertility Investigations…………………………………................……. 75 8. EXTENSION TO INDUSTRY 8.1 Queensland Crocodile Industry Advisory Group................................................. 77 8.2 Industry Seminars…..……………………………………………….................. 80 8.3 Conferences…………………….………………………………………………. 80 8.4 Publications …………………………………………………………………… 81 8.5 General…………………………………….……………………………………. 81 8.6 Industry Adoption of Research…………………………………………………. 82 9. NETWORKING 9.1 Northern Territory Organisations………………................................................. 85 9.2 University of Queensland (Brisbane)……………………………….................. 87 9.3 James Cook University (Townsville)..…………………………………………. 87 9.4 Department of Environment (Queensland).……………………………………. 88 9.5 Primary Tasks Pty Ltd…………………………………………………………. 88 9.6 US Alligator Organisations…………………………………………………….. 88 9.7 Tourist Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries and Zoos…………………………………. 89 10 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 10.1 Research Advances for Juvenile Crocodiles.…................................................. 91 10.2 Priorities for Future Research and Development………………….................. 91 10.3 Cooperative Activities……………...…………………………………………. 92 vi Executive Summary In long established Australian intensive livestock industries (pigs, poultry) research has shown the economic benefits of providing controlled-environment rearing sheds and least-cost pelleted food diets. The result has been wide-spread adoption of standard farming practices by producers in these industries. Also, these industries have set up and strongly supported effective industry associations, contribute funds to continued R&D and organise regular national and state workshops and conferences. In contrast, the crocodile farming industry in Australia is a relatively new industry, research on farming methods for the saltwater crocodile has been very limited and farmers use a wide variety of farming practices (shed and pen design, rearing environments) and rely on whatever fresh meat they can buy cheaply to feed their crocodiles. This is akin to the old practice of feeding swill to pigs. Using fresh meat also