Jun 11
21
Defining Nutrient Density For Ostriches
In commercial ostrich farming, it is essential to understand that ostriches require rations that supply adequate nutrients. The Role of Nutrition in Ostrich Farming And Understanding Nutrients And Ingredients and as well as Establishing the Productive Value in ostrich rations referenced “Nutrient Density”.
In livestock nutrition there can be some confusion when discussing “nutrient density” and “concentrates”. The word “concentrates” was introduced some years ago when livestock were fed some additional grains and maybe a few vitamins and/or minerals to help improve the overall nutrient content of their rations to support the forage that they would receive either as grazing, hay or silage.
Today production livestock are fed their rations as a complete mix of all ingredients, including the forage portion of their ration. This ensures balanced intake of all nutrients to optimise their ability to work together.
“Nutrient density” is achieved through the use of quality ingredients from all the ingredient types included in the rations and by adding adequate levels of vitamins and minerals, with some supplementation of certain amino acids, to make the complete rations. Including the supplemented vitamins and minerals in rations is the only way to achieve rations of the correct “nutrient density” and ensure a balanced intake. This is a far superior manner to ensure adequate nutrient intake than simply supplementing vitamins in the water or by other method.
Quality Lucerne is one of the most important ingredients in any production ostrich ration, including Baby Chicks. Quality Lucerne not only provides quality digestible fibre, it also supplies many other nutrients including a valuable source of protein, vitamins and minerals.
Everything an animal consumes carries a number of nutrients – some ingredients more than others. Everything consumed during the day contributes to the overall balance of their rations as well as ensuring adequate nutrients to meet the animals need for good health and adequate production. The less each individual ingredient provides the greater the need for more ingredients to make up those deficiencies, but animals also have an upper limit for daily consumption.
Ostrich’s daily intake of dry matter is relatively low for their size. They therefore they require rations of greater “nutrient density” per gram than maybe required by some other species in order to achieve adequate intake of the required nutrients. Understanding the Moisture Content of Feed in Ostrich Farming discussed the variations in moisture content of different food ingredients
The graphic illustrates various ways to provide forage ingredients. Dry feeds maybe forage provided as hay it may also be grains or protein ingredients. Note the dark areas represent the dry matter, which contains the nutrients. The balance (pale area) is moisture. The greater the moisture, the more total weight the animal has to consume in order to achieve adequate nutrient intak. Then it is important to ensure those ingredients are highly digestible and have optimum nutrients for their ingredient type. Successful commercial ostrich farming depends on understanding these details.
To avoid the mistakes of many past ostrich farmers, and to save you time and money, check out “How to Start A Successful Ostrich Farm“.
