Mar 11
7
Monitoring Ostrich Body Condition
With many new to ostrich farming, experience remains limited to form judgements on what is good condition and what is not.. Monitoring ostrich body condition is a basic requirement of good stockmanship and forms one element of the Veterinary Health Plan. To date there are no official guidelines on understanding ostrich body condition.
The condition of any bird will be evaluated using the normal criteria of judging good health of which body condition is just one component. Signs to look for with ostrich are:
- General Alertness: At all ages the birds should look bright and alert. Ostrich are extremely good at camouflaging poor health so as not to alert predators.
- Bright eyes
- Good health
- Glossy ostrich feathers
- Good feather cover: Free from feather pecking but some mating wear is normal during the breeding season
- Rounded well muscled body [as seen here]
- Well muscled thighs
- Strong legs
- Freedom from any defects: bowed legs, twisted legs
- Good appetite
Apart from visual inspection, the following describes the way to physically assess the body condition of ostrich:
Optimum Condition: The backbone at the highest point on their back is perfectly even with the surrounding flesh.
Too Thin: The backbone at the highest place on the bird’s back is protruding above the surrounding flesh.
Too Fat: The backbone at the highest place on the bird’s back is indented below the surrounding flesh.
These basic criteria are relevant at all ages and stages of growth. The chicks illustrated are 28 days of age. Note the very strong legs. Good width across the back and length behind the leg. These are indicators of good development and plenty of length to build the good sized muscles. For slaughter birds this means ostrich meat revenue.
Over the years ostrich farmers have witnessed significantly variable growth rates from hatch to maturity. Weight for age is another key indicator when assessing body condition. Significantly variable growth rates in the early months are experienced. Currently a minimum target live weights to achieve should be at least 28 days no less than 5kgs, 90 days no less than 35kgs, 180 days no less than 75kgs and no less than 95kgs by 300 days. If these live weights not achieved management should look for reasons why. Genetics do play a part in live weight but these are minimum guideline live weights to cover good health. If chicks of any current genetics are not achieving these weights, then management need to look for reasons regardless of whether the birds are destined as future breeders or for slaughter.
Beware of excess fat at cost of muscle in association with live weight. The future of ostrich farming depends on understanding how to identify birds in good condition and those that are failing to thrive as this is essential to optimizing production potential.
