Feb 11
7
The objective in successful ostrich farming is to achieve the required amount of ostrich meat as contracted to provide at the least cost possible. Production starts with breeders with the ability to produce as many ostricheggs as possible by optimising their genetic potential.
ostrich eggs are only of value if they hatch chicks, those chicks stay alive and grow quickly. The basic principles to optimising egg production with high hatchability, survivability and growth are the same for any production bird whether chicken, ducks, turkey or ostrich.
The first basic to achieve this is ensuring the breeders have the sufficient nutrient intake appropriate to their specie to ensure the ostrich eggs contain all the nutrients required for successful hatching and chick survivability. These rations must maintain those standards throughout the season. Providing adequate nutrient intake to the breeders also determines the length of the laying season. If the breeders run short of nutrients, breeding will slow down earlier, ostrich eggs become weaker with higher incidence of infertility, poor hatching and chicks more susceptible to disease.
Examples of other problems regularly experienced that are symptoms of nutrient deficiencies in the breeders:
- Low and irregular egg production
- Egg deformities such as chalky eggs, malformed eggs, eggs with extremes of weight
- Chicks that won’t pip out on their own
- Chicks with malformed yolk sacs and/or yolk sac infections
- Yolk sacs with insufficient bile and other essential nutrients
- Chicks with leg problems
- Chicks that go off feed between 10 and 14 days of age
Comparative egg follicles
The illustration shows the egg follicles recovered from two hens of the same age, reared the same way, fed the same diet that died within a week of each other. Example 1 was found dead with a broken leg and humanely killed immediately. Example 2 had a different injury that we attempted to treat, but eventually humanely killed as it was clear she could not eat and would not recover. Whilst extreme, this example illustrates how the hen unable to eat drew on her egg follicles for nutrients to sustain her own body condition during that period.
This illustrates how hens if not nutritionally supported will draw on body reserves to maintain their own life. In a commercial scenario, we need to sustain our stock in optimum condition if they are to be productive to the best of their genetic potential.
The diet of the male is equally important as he has to sustain regular breeding throughout the season and produce quality semen. His semen must be as strong at the start of the breeding season as it is at the end of the season.
Whilst the diet fed the breeder birds is the foundation for quality ostrich egg production, it can only be as good as the management that supports the feeding and management throughout. Correct nutrition and management are fundamental to successful ostrich farming.
