Michele D. Singh michele.singh@gmail.com NEOTROPICAL WILDLIFE PRODUCTION: Protecting the Environment through Sustainable Agriculture Michele D. Singh michele.singh@gmail.com
Rationale Increasing cost of grain on the international market Decreased exportation of food from developed countries to developing countries Need to investigate indigenous flora and fauna for food
Rationale Caribbean is a net importer of food Opportunity to develop local flora and fauna for food Indigenous species of plant and animals are not fully understood/investigated Indigenous species are well adapted to the environmental conditions of the tropics
Neotropics 70% of World Biodiversity 604 species of birds 502 species of reptiles 140 species of amphibians 89 species of mammals (Ojasti 1996); (Garcia 2008)
Neotropical Animals We forget that all the meat that we now consume….comes from animals that were once wild The Muscovy Duck, Turkey and Guinea Pig all originate in this part of the world!
The Current Situation Hunting is the most common method for getting wildmeat Most hunting is controlled by laws with high levels of poaching Need to seek alternative methods for providing wildmeat to meet growing demands
Wild-Caught Animals Trinidad & Tobago, 2010 - 2012 (Hunter Return Cards, Forestry Division) Year Agouti Deer Lappe Wild Hog 2010 22,441.00 1,939.00 3,796.00 348.00 2011 18,772.00 2,115.00 162.00 2012 23,911.00 2,331.00 4,250.00 387.00
Neotropical Wildlife Black River Conchs Cascadura Spectacled Caiman Matte/Salipinter
Neotropical Wildlife Red Brocket Deer Agouti Quenk/Wild Hog Lappe/labba
Nine Banded Armadillo/Tattoo Porcupine Green Iguana Nine Banded Armadillo/Tattoo Oppossum/ Manicou
Red Tailed Boa Capybara Guinea Pigs
Factors Affecting Animal Production Housing & the Environment Feeding & Nutrition Genetics & Breeding Health & Disease Socio-Economic Physiological States
NEOTROPICAL ANIMAL UTILIZATION Education Research Recreation Conservation
Utilization The Agro-Eco Tourism Opportunity
Alligator Farming Everglades, Florida
Snake Farming Asia
Butterfly Farming St. Martin
Agouti (Dasyprocta leporina)
Agouti - Housing & Env. Floor pens – breeding colonies Wire cages Concrete floor Not wood –gnaw, not dirt-burrow No sweat glands- provide clean fresh water (cups/troughs) Wood to gnaw Feed trough/cup (metal)
Agouti Feeding & Nutrition Frugivores (fruits, berries, seeds, vegetables) Feed availablevailable fruits and vegs. and forages Feed 50g/adult/day
Agouti Breeding & Genetics 7 Diff. colors: Black, White, Brown, Gold, Brown with golden rump, white with golden rump, brown with white feet Male:Female ratio- 1:5 or 1:10 Gestation- 115 days, 2-3 young
Utilization Food!
NUTRIENT CONTENT OF NEOTROPICAL ANIMALS VS CHICKEN PROTEIN % FATS Agouti 23 0.75 Lappe 25 1.23 Tattoo 20 1.43 Quenk 26 0.47 Capybara 0.45 Guinea Pig 21 2 Iguana 24 3.49 Tegu/Matte 4 CHICKEN 14 ~30 (Source: Saadoun and Cabrera 2008)
Neo Tropical Animal Utilization and Cuisine Chicken Manicou Rabbit Agouti
Neo Tropical Animal Cuisine. Manicou/Opposum Chicken
Neo Tropical Animal Cuisine Agouti Chicken
Neo tropical Cuisine Peccary
NEOTROPICAL ANIMAL SPECIES WITH OPPORTUNITIES 5lb Guinea Pig 145 USD/plate Guinea Pig
Neo tropical Cuisine Guinea Pig
Spectacled Caiman
Neo Tropical Animal Cuisine
Neo Tropical Animal Cuisine
Caiman/Alligator Leather (Melanosuchus niger) Durable & pliable SA caiman is one of the most valuable and exotic leathers available on the market. Its savage beauty makes is the diamond star of the leather industry www.flickriver.com
Rhea - Feathers Rhea (Rhea americana)
Neo Tropical Animal Cuisine Rhea Meat
Neo Tropical Animal Utilization Peccary Leather Caiman leather
Neo Tropical Animal Utilization Armadillo/Tattoo shell
Neo Tropical Animal Utilization Armadillo/Tattoo shell
Conclusion There is a high demand for neotropical animal meat & Skin Wildlife may be farmed to increase production-Reduce hunting pressure Neotropical animals have the potential to become a protein source in the neotropics, reducing meat importation and developing sustainable food security
Thank You!