Criação comercial de caititus ("Pecari tajacu"): uma alternativa para o agronegócio

This study aimed to evaluate the investment profitability of a collared peccary farming. The economical indexes for the captive breeding of 30 females and eight males, on a semi-confinement regime, were determined in the southern Bahia. The purchase of reproducers (34%) and the building of facilities (47%) represented the main expenses at implantation. These expenses, however, represent, respectively, less than half and up to one tenth of the amount required for starting a semi-confinement or intensive domestic pig farm. Feeding represented 80%, while the manpower represented 18% of the variable costs. The benefit cost index obtained showed that for each R$ 1.00 (ca USA$0.55) of investment returns ranged from R$1.15 to 1.26 (ca USA$0.64 to 0.70). From the beginning of the activity, there is a three year period to turn the balance between revenues and expenses positive. The commercial captive breeding of collared peccaries is an alternative of animal production in the south of Bahia and similar regions where local conditions constrain traditional livestock and/or agricultural production.