Overview

During the past two decades, production of farmed American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) for their hides and their meat has expanded significantly even as it has shifted to fewer and larger operations.

Louisiana and Florida continue to dominate the industry. The 2009 value of farmed alligator production in Louisiana was estimated at $32.3 million in farm-gate value, down from $33.4 million in 2008 (Outlook for Louisiana Agriculture 2010). Meanwhile, the net sales of alligator hides and meat in Florida were $4.0 million in 2007.

While the number of U.S. farms selling alligator hides has declined, the number of hides sold each year has steadily increased. Total sales of hides in 2005 was $33.4 million. That same year, the U.S. farms specializing in alligator meat produced over 1.3 million pounds and registered total sales of over $2.8 million.  (Census of Aquaculture 2005)  January 2010 ... Alligator

 Marketing

• American Alligator, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

 Production

• Alligators of Georgia and South Carolina, Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia 
• Alligator Production, Southern Regional Aquaculture Center, Texas A&M University.
• American Alligator, National Geographic animals.nationalgeographic.
• Annual Commercial Landing Statistics, Fisheries Statistics, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), 2008.
• Aquaculture Resources, Alternative Farming Systems Information Center, NAL, USDA.
• The Cajun Connection: How the U.S. Alligator Gets to Italy, FASonline, USDA, 2004.
• Census of Aquaculture (2005), USDA, 2006.
• Florida Alligator Farming, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
• Florida Harvest Data, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
• Louisiana Alligator Industry Information, Louisiana Fur and Alligator Advisory Council.
• Louisiana Alligator Regulations, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
• Louisiana Summary, Agricultural and Natural Resources, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, 2009.
• Outlook for Louisiana Agriculture, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, May 2010.

Links checked January 2010.