May 11
31
How to Buy Fertile Ostrich Eggs
Many when starting ostrich farming send us enquiries for the purchase of a small number of ostrich eggs. The problem encountered is a lack of understanding on the requirements for shipping eggs across international borders and how this influences costs.
When purchasing eggs from within one’s own country, it is possible to go to another farm and purchase a few eggs. Depending on the country there may be some regulations regarding crossing county, state or provincial boundaries, but these are usually minimal by comparison to the regulations required for shipping across international borders.
Importing eggs from a foreign country requires strict veterinary protocols. These protocols usually include certain testing of the breeder birds and meeting quarantine regulations. Any handling of breeders is stressful for those birds and can impact on their breeding activity. Therefore ostrich farmers can only undertake such activity when there is sufficient volume involved supported by a contract for regular supply and guaranteed payment to justify that disruption and costs.
As exporting ostrich eggs is minimal today, there is another issue. That is the local state veterinarian departments are unwilling to undertake the work when numbers are very low – it is simply not worth their while. The photos illustrate the work required of a state veterinarian in the export process. This is a major operation. Each importing country has different criteria and different forms to complete.
The minimum number of eggs a supplier is interested can be as low as 108 per shipment, but more usually 250 is the minimum and for many unless there is a longer term contract in place for regular deliveries, farms are not interested or able in a position to supply.
The next issue to consider is that of the viability of the eggs. Eggs need to be handled carefully, maintained within certain temperature ranges and ideally incubated within 10 days of the date they were laid. For export they require specialist packaging (see illustration). During shipping you are dependent on the airline looking after the boxes correctly. If they have to undergo a change of plan en route or schedule delays, airlines will not guarantee that the boxes may not spend time on the hot tarmac at the airport.
Many countries require specialist quarantine facilities when incubating and hatching imported eggs. For this reason it is simply not viable for any farmer in any country to import just a few eggs. These economics and practicalities of importing eggs also apply to importing day old chicks.
The best advice is that small farmers collaborate to put together an ostrich farming business plan. Developing a structured business plan will enable all participants to gain a more complete understanding of the business they are entering. Your future in ostrich farming depends on doing this ground work before investing in the purchase just a few ostrich eggs, whether they are imported or purchased within your country.
