Ostrich Production Systems Part I: a Review
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11111111111,- 1SSN 0254-6019 Ostrich production systems Food and Agriculture Organization of 111160mmi the United Natiorp str. ro ucti s ct1rns Part A review by Dr M.M. ,,hanawany International Consultant Part II Case studies by Dr John Dingle FAO Visiting Scientist Food and , Agriculture Organization of the ' United , Nations Ot,i1 The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. M-21 ISBN 92-5-104300-0 Reproduction of this publication for educational or other non-commercial purposes is authorized without any prior written permission from the copyright holders provided the source is fully acknowledged. Reproduction of this publication for resale or other commercial purposes is prohibited without written permission of the copyright holders. Applications for such permission, with a statement of the purpose and extent of the reproduction, should be addressed to the Director, Information Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Viale dells Terme di Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Italy. C) FAO 1999 Contents PART I - PRODUCTION SYSTEMS INTRODUCTION Chapter 1 ORIGIN AND EVOLUTION OF THE OSTRICH 5 Classification of the ostrich in the animal kingdom 5 Geographical distribution of ratites 8 Ostrich subspecies 10 The North African ostrich 11 The Somali ostrich 12 The East African or Masai ostrich 12 The South African ostrich 12 The Arabian ostrich 12 The Rio de Oro or Dwarf ostrich 13 The Domestic ostrich 13 Chapter 2 BASIC ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF THE OSTRICH 15 Integumentary system 15 Skeletal system 18 Muscular system 21 Digestive system 23 Respiratory system 29 Circulatory system 29 Nervous system 32 Urinary system 32 Reproductive system 32 Reproductive organs of adult ostriches 34 Reproductive organs of chicks and juvenile ostiches 34 Organs of special sense 36 Chapter 3 FARMING SYSTEMS 37 Extensive farming system 37 Ostrich facilities 39 General considerations 39 Design of ostrich facilities 40 iv Bedding materials 45 Fencing 46 Environmental influences 51 Photoperiod 51 Constant vs changing photoperiods 52 Influence of photoperiod on growth 52 Influence of photoperiod on reproduction 52 Light intensity 53 Colour of light 54 Chapter 4 THE BREEDING SYSTEM 55 Sexual characteristics 55 Nest building 57 Mating behaviour 57 Egg laying 62 Major factors affecting egg productivity 63 Inheritance (or genetics) 63 Age 63 Environment 64 Nutrition 64 Health 64 Psychological factors 64 The ostrich egg 65 Factors affecting the fertility of breeding ostriches 65 Male:female ratio 66 Mating system 67 Age of breeding birds 67 Inheritance (genetic factors) 68 Nutrition 68 Health 68 Artificial insemination 69 Environmental factors 69 The breeding paddock 69 Collection and storage of eggs 70 Egg collection 70 Storage period of eggs 71 Optimum storage conditions 71 Chapter 5 INCUBATION AND HATCHING OF OSTRICH EGGS 75 Natural incubation 75 Artificial incubation 75 Incubation temperature 76 Humidity during incubation 76 Ventilation (gas exchange) 80 Egg position and turning 80 Other factors influencing hatchability 80 Hatching 82 Sexing 82 Vent sexing 82 Surgical sexing 83 DNA sexing 83 Chapter 6 MANAGEMENT OF OSTRICH CHICKS 87 Arrival at the farm 87 Stocking rates 89 Microchipping 89 Brooding environment 91 Brooding temperature 91 Relative humidity 92 Drinking-water 92 F eed 93 Light 94 Handling 94 Diseases 94 Ammonia concentration 95 Exercise 95 Chapter 7 NUTRITION OF THE OSTRICH 97 Basic nutritional concepts 97 Water 97 Protein 98 Energy 98 Minerals and vitamins 98 Fibre 99 Grit 99 vi Nutritional requirements of growing ostriches 99 From one day to three months 100 From three months to one year 101 Nutritional requirements of breeding ostriches 101 From one year to breeding 101 During breeding 102 Chapter 8 OSTRICH PRODUCTS 103 Ostrich meat 103 Slaughter of ostriches 104 Meat yield 105 Ostrich meat products 106 Ostrich skin 107 Skinning (flaying) 107 Curing 108 Grading 109 Packing and storage 110 Ostrich leather products 110 Feathers 111 Feather harvesting 112 Classes of feathers 112 Commercial characteristics of ostrich feathers 113 Other ostrich products 113 Chapter 9 DISEASES AND MEDICAL MANAGEMENT 115 Handling and examination of the ostrich 115 Handling 115 Ostrich restraints 118 The sick ostrich 118 Ostrich parasites 120 Ostrich vvireworm (or stomach worm) 123 Ostrich tapeworm 123 Nematodes 124 Eyefluke 124 Protozoa 124 External parasites 126 Bacterial diseases 126 Omphalitis and yolk sacculitis 126 Botulism 127 Anthrax 127 vii Campylobacteriosis 128 Necrotic (or ulcerative) enteritis 128 Viral diseases 129 Newcastle disease 129 Avian pox 130 Avian influenza 130 Mycotic diseases 131 Aspergillosis 131 Candidiasis 131 Nutritional disorders 131 Vitamin A 132 Vitamin D 132 Vitamin E 133 Vitamin B 134 Manganese 134 Other health-related problems 135 Impaction 135 Feather pecking and cannibalism 137 Trauma 138 Spread legs 138 Hypothermia 138 Intestinal torsion 139 Parsley-induced photosensitivity 139 Leucaena-induced nervous disorder 139 Chapter 10 ECONOMICS OF OSTRICH FARMING 141 Inputs 142 Fixed costs 143 Variable costs 143 Outputs 144 Sale of ostrich eggs 144 Sale of live ostriches 144 Sale of ostrich products 144 Factors affecting profitability of ostrich farms 144 Production parameters of adult ostriches 145 Production parameters of chicks and young ostriches 145 Production parameters of ostrich abattoirs 145 The world ostrich meat market 147 The global and European market 147 The European Union market 147 The United States market 148 The Far East Market 148 The Near East Market 149 Pricing of ostrich products 149 Ostrich meat 149 Ostrich skin 150 Ostrich feathers 150 Future of the ostrich industry 150 APPENDIXES 153 Appendix 1 Haematological blood parameters of clinically normal ostriches 154 Appendix 2 Chemical blood parameters of clinically normal ostriches 155 Appendix 3 Examples of some commercial ostrich diets 156 PART II- CASE STUDIES INTRODUCTION 165 Chapter 1 SOUTH AFRICA 167 Background 167 The history of ostrich farming in South Africa 167 Current situation of the ostrich industry 168 Future development 169 Subspecies and strains 169 Environmental effects 170 Management systems 170 Breeding and reproduction 171 Incubation and hatching 172 Brooding 173 Natural brooding 173 Artificial brooding 173 Growing to slaughter 173 Nutrition and feeding 173 Facilities and handling 175 Facilities 175 Handling 175 ix Slaughter and processing 176 Products 176 Meat 176 Skin and leather 177 Feathers 178 Diseases 179 Economics 179 Chapter 2 NAMIBIA 183 Background 183 The history of ostrich farming in Namibia 184 Current situation of the ostrich industry 184 Factors affecting the distribution of ostriches 185 Future development 186 Short term 186 Long term 187 Subspecies and strains 187 Management systems 188 Breeding and reproduction 188 Incubation and hatching 189 Brooding 189 Growing to slaughter 190 Nutrition and feeding 190 Facilities and handling 190 Slaughter and processing 191 Diseases and quarantine 192 Diseases 192 Quarantine 192 Economics 193 Chapter 3 ZIMBABWE 195 Background 195 The history of ostrich farming in Zimbabwe 196 Factors affecting the distribution of ostriches 197 Current situation of the ostrich industry 198 Future development 198 Subspecies and strains 199 Management systems 199 Breeding and reproduction 200 Incubation and hatching 200 Brooding 201 X Growing to slaughter 201 Nutrition and feeding 201 Facilities and handling 202 Slaughter and processing 202 Diseases and veterinary services 203 Intestinal diseases 203 Nervous diseases 203 Respiratory diseases 203 Nutritional deficiencies 203 Physical problems 204 Veterinary services 204 Economics 204 Chapter 4 KENYA 207 Background 207 The history of ostrich farming in Kenya 208 Current situation of the ostrich industry 208 Future development 209 Subspecies and strains 209 Management systems 210 Breeding and reproduction 211 Incubation and hatching 211 Brooding 212 Growing to slaughter 212 Nutrition and feeding 213 Facilities and handling 213 Slaughter and processing 214 Diseases 215 Chapter 5 ETHIOPIA 217 Background 217 The history of ostrich farming in Ethiopia 218 Current situation of the ostrich industry 219 Future development 219 Subspecies and strains 220 Breeding and reproduction 221 Incubation, hatching and brooding 221 Nutrition and feeding 222 Slaughter and processing 222 Diseases 222 xi Chapter 6 UNITED ARAB EIVITRATES 225 Background 225 The history of ostrich farming in UAE 226 Current situation of the ostrich industry 226 Future development 227 Subspecies and strains 227 Environmental effects 227 Breeding, incubation, hatching and brooding 228 Management, nutrition and diseases 228 Yards and handling 228 Nutrition 229 Diseases 229 Chapter 7 AUSTRALIA 231 Background 231 The history of ostrich farming in Australia 231 Current status of the ostrich industry 232 Future development 232 Short-term 232 Long-teita 233 Subspecies and strains 233 Breeding and reproduction 234 Incubation and hatching 224 Brooding 235 Growing to adult 236 Nutrition and feeding 236 Facilities and handling 237 Slaughter and processing 237 Diseases 238 Up to three months 238 Over three months 238 Economics 239 BIBLIOGRAPHY 241 OSTRICH PRODUCTION SYSTEMS Part I-A review