The African ostrich is the only representative of this family. You can meet it in the wild, but it also breeds and grows well in captivity.
Features and habitat of the African ostrich
The ostrich is one of the largest birds on earth. African ostrich weight in adulthood it reaches 160 kg, and its height is slightly less than 3 meters. An ostrich's head is small in relation to its body, and its neck is long and flexible. The beak is straight and not hard. The mandible has a keratinized growth. The mouth ends right at the eyes. The eyes are bulging with many eyelashes.
The plumage of males is black with white feathers in the tail and at the ends of the wings. Females are gray in color with white feathers at the ends of the tail and wings. The head and neck of an ostrich have no feathers.
The ostrich lacks the ability to fly due to underdeveloped pectoral muscles and underdeveloped wings. Its feathers are curly and loose and do not create strong vane plates. But the ostrich's ability to run fast cannot be compared, even with the speed of a horse. The legs vary in length and strength.
Many people are interested in the question how many fingers does an African ostrich have?? African ostrich paw has two fingers, one of them is keratinized. It provides support when walking and running. The ostrich egg is distinguished by its large size. One such egg is equivalent to 24 chicken eggs.
African ostrich lives in savannah and desert areas beyond the forests of the equator. In Australia there are very African ostrich-like bird entitled . Previously, it was considered a relative of ostriches, but recently it has been classified as a member of the Cassowary order.
The African ostrich has two fingers
This one is also huge: up to 2 meters tall and 50 kg in weight. African ostrich in the photo doesn't exactly look like a bird, but that's exactly what he is.
Character and lifestyle of the African ostrich
Ostriches love to be in company with and move around by following them. Due to their good eyesight and large growth, they are the first to notice and give a signal to other animals about approaching danger.
At this time, they begin to scream loudly and develop a running speed of more than 70 km per hour, and a step length of 4 m. Small ostrich chicks, one month old, reach up to 50 km per hour. And even when turning, their speed does not decrease.
When mating season arrives, one black african ostrich covers a certain territory of several kilometers. The color of the neck and legs become bright. He does not allow males to enter his chosen place, but treats females kindly.
They gather in small groups of 3–5 individuals: one male and several females. During mating African ostrich performs an unusual dance. To do this, he spreads his wings, fluffs his feathers and kneels.
Then, throwing back his head and placing it on his back, he makes rubbing movements against his back. At this time, he moans loudly and hisses, attracting the attention of the female. Even the wings acquire a brighter and more saturated color.
If the female likes the dance and the ostrich itself, she heads towards him, lowering her wings, and bows with her head. Crouching near him, she repeats his movements, attracting other females. This creates a harem, where one female will be the main one, and the rest will constantly change.
At this time, ostriches become very bold and aggressive. When a dangerous situation arises, they run towards the enemy without fear and rush into battle. They fight with their legs. The kick has a very powerful force and can kill to death. Therefore, not every predator decides to meet this bird.
There is a myth that ostriches hide their heads in the sand when they see danger. Actually this is not true. A female sitting on eggs during a dangerous situation puts her head and neck on the ground, trying to hide and be unnoticed. Ostriches do the same when meeting predators. And if you come close to them at this moment, they rise sharply and run away.
African ostrich nutrition
Ostriches are omnivorous birds. Their regular diet may include flowers, seeds, plants, rodents, small animals, and animal meat that has not been eaten by predators.
Since ostriches do not have teeth, for favorable digestion they swallow small stones, which help grind and grind food in the stomach. Ostriches are capable of not drinking water for a long time, since the bulk of the liquid is obtained from the plants they eat.
Reproduction and lifespan of African ostriches
The eggs of all females are laid in one nest, which the male independently tears out before laying, with a depth of 30 to 60 cm. In this way, up to 30 of them can be collected. In northern Africa there are slightly fewer (up to 20 pieces), and in East Africa up to 60.
One egg weighs up to 2 kg and reaches a length of more than 20 cm. African ostrich eggs have good strength, pale yellow color. The main female lays her eggs in the middle and does the incubation herself, driving away the other females.
One ostrich egg is equivalent to 20 chicken eggs
The duration of the incubation period is 40 days. The female does this all day, leaving for a while to eat or drive away small pests. At night, the male sits on the eggs.
The chick hatches from the egg in about one hour, breaking the shell first with its beak and then with the back of its head. This causes abrasions and hematomas to form on the head, which heal very quickly.
The female breaks the unhatched spoiled eggs so that insects can flock to them and the chicks can feed. The chicks have vision and fluff on their bodies, and are also capable of independent movement. One baby ostrich weighs about one kg, and by the age of four months they reach up to 20 kg.
The photo shows an African ostrich nest
As soon as the chicks are born, they leave the nest and, together with their father, go in search of food. At first, the skin of the chicks is covered with small bristles. Plumage development occurs very slowly.
Only by the age of two do males develop black feathers, and before that, in their own way appearance they resemble females. The ability to reproduce appears in the third year of life. The maximum life expectancy is 75 years, and on average they live 30 – 40 years.
In childhood, some chicks come together and do not separate throughout their lives. If these chicks are from different families, then their parents begin to fight among themselves for them. And those who were able to win become parents for someone else’s chick and raise them.
In the photo there is an ostrich chick
Breeding African ostriches happens in two ways:
- The female lays eggs and hatches offspring. Eggs, young animals, as well as adult offspring are allowed for sale.
- Purchase of young animals for fattening and subsequent sale of adult offspring for slaughter.
Ostrich breeding is carried out in order to obtain: meat, skin, egg products, including shells, feathers and claws. It is necessary to breed ostriches in mild climate zones.
In the summer, they need to be kept in pens equipped with paddocks, and in winter in warm rooms with no drafts. A mandatory condition of maintenance must be bedding in the form of hay, straw or sawdust.
Walking areas should have nearby trees where ostriches can hide from the scorching sun. It is very important to observe sanitary and hygienic conditions when breeding ostriches. To find out African ostrich price Let's look at the price list of one of the poultry farming organizations:
- chick, one day old - 7 thousand rubles;
- chick, up to 1 month old - 10 thousand rubles;
- ostrich, 2 months old – 12 thousand rubles;
- ostrich, 6 months old – 18 thousand rubles;
- ostriches 10 – 12 months – 25 thousand rubles;
- ostrich, 2 years old – 45 thousand rubles;
- ostrich, 3 years old – 60 thousand rubles;
- family, aged 4 to 5 years – 200 thousand rubles.
Despite the fact that this bird naturally runs through the desert and hot areas of Africa, Australia, and America, it very easily takes root in the temperate climate zone. Moreover, they can withstand harsh Russian winters, since their plumage can protect them from frosts of -20 degrees. Of course, they are not left outside during the winter and are kept in the poultry house, since their feet may freeze.
For an ostrich farm, you must choose a dry area that will be located far from flood waters. It is advisable that the site be located in a secluded, warm place, which will be sheltered from cold winds - this is the bird’s main enemy, since it can get sick in drafts. When it comes to sanitation, there are several mandatory requirements.
- The site must be located at a distance of at least 1 km from the manure storage facility, other farms, and also at a distance of 2 km from the place of processing of meat and poultry waste. This is due to the fact that one of the most painful types of pets is the ostrich; it is a bird that picks up any infection. In its native environment, in the shroud, in desert areas, the hot air kills most diseases, which is why they live so long. It is difficult to say how long ostriches live in our conditions, since it depends on the species, but at least 15 years ( Australian) and no more than 90 years ( African)
- There should be no ponds or other bodies of water on the territory; pets should drink water only from drinking bowls specially designated for this purpose. They do not like moisture and dirt at all.
- The soil should be loose, preferably clay-sand, possibly with the addition of shells. This is so that the bird does not get injured when running, is unable to gain high speed, and also does not pick out its inhabitants (worms, beetles, etc.) from the soil.
It is not recommended to make enclosures more than 50 meters in length, as there will be a risk of injury. If you don't limit the space, they accelerate to 80 km/h, and very often forget to brake and do it against a fence. It's best to break large territory in several areas so that your pets can run correctly and safely.
In winter it should be kept in the poultry house. An ordinary dry room, not necessarily heated, is suitable for this; the main thing is to make a dry, loose floor, on which to throw a lot of straw or hay. Under such conditions, the exotic “little animal” will easily survive the winter.
Is an ostrich a bird or an animal that eats everything?
There is a very common myth that Emu, Nandu and other breeds eat mainly meat, that is, they eat not only herbaceous plants, but also meat, like animals. In fact, this myth is just as wrong as the popular belief that ostriches bury their heads in the ground when startled.
This is the most common bird that simply lives in warmer climates. Its diet is not much different from that of ducks, except that there is only one difference - they really eat a lot. To feed one such “hut on legs”, you need to give it up to 3.5 kg of food per day. The large intestine is very long (9 meters), fiber and fats are successfully broken down in it, and water is absorbed. The cloaca consists of 3 chambers, which is why this bird is unique in its kind: they excrete feces and urine separately, like animals, and not like all the inhabitants of the house. Total length intestinal tract– 18 meters, any greens are perfectly digested in it, even very heavy foods.
The ostrich is a very voracious bird, it eats up to 2.5% of its weight in adulthood, and young animals eat 3.9-4.1% of its own weight. The only advantage is that it gains weight quickly, the feed does not go down the drain. In one year they grow 70% of their maximum weight. That is African an ostrich will gain 100-120 kg in 1 year, and Australian up to 50-70 kg. You can feed grains and herbs, millet, cake, fish, fruits, including apples, apricots, mulberries and pears. They eat vegetables: pumpkin, cucumbers, watermelons, beets (regular and sugar). You can give exactly the same feed as for pigs.
If you don’t know what an ostrich looks like when it’s eaten enough, look at its behavior. Hungry individuals can be aggressive; they approach the feeding area, become active, flap their wings, and make various sounds. If they have eaten a hearty meal, they stand half asleep on the side, they can sit down in the sun and doze off. You should not overfeed adults; you need to give them exactly as many vitamins and minerals as their body requires. Your attention daily norm for feeding:
Many people are afraid to start a business because they fear that they won’t be able to figure out ostrich breeding on their own. In fact, this process is not difficult at all; it is much simpler than breeding horses or geese. In order for everything to work out, you need to know several important points, which we will describe below.
- Places for building nests must be immediately allocated, or better yet, done independently, since they can dig them out in very inconvenient places, for example, under the hedge itself, in stones and the like. It won’t be difficult for you to dig a small hole and throw hay in there.
- It is necessary to maintain feeding during laying, not to change portions or products. Any innovations can stop laying. It is advisable to get used to calcified food even before laying, since the shell of eggs removes almost all calcium from the body.
- It is necessary to keep males and females in different rooms or pens, then mating, when you place them in the same area, will be much more productive and faster. If you keep them in the same territory, they begin to mate ahead of time, this process is delayed, and has an adverse effect on the laying of eggs - there are much fewer of them.
- During mating and laying eggs, the bird must not be frightened; it must be calm. It is also not recommended to go into their enclosure and irritate them with unpleasant sounds and actions. They are not aggressive, but can attack if their offspring are in danger.
- Females will reach sexual maturity in 2.5 years, males approximately in 3-3.5 years, but this depends not only on age, but also on weight and quality of feeding. If the body has enough of everything, they begin to mate much faster, perhaps even after 2 years.
- First, the female lays 20 eggs, fertilization is 65%, then this figure increases.
- The sexual potential of a male is often determined by the color of his beak and legs - the red color indicates his maturity, readiness for the sexual process, then he can mate.
- The ratio of males and females is almost equal to 1:1 or 1:2, if you already have some breeding experience and know how to correctly determine sexual maturity.
- To increase the period of laying eggs, they are taken from the nest, leaving 3-4 pieces, since if there are 15-20 of them, the female will immediately sit on the nest and stop laying eggs.
If you follow these recommendations and take into account all the features of reproduction, your business will become profitable, and your “pets” will bring a lot of pleasure from their breeding. And remember that the ostrich is an ordinary bird, which can also be raised on a Russian farm without fear.
Where can I sell an ostrich or what can I get from it?
Many people believe that profit can only be obtained from the sale of meat, but, in fact, it is the cheapest product. The skin from which leather products are made is most valued; it has excellent strength characteristics and satisfies the requirements of even the most demanding customers. One square meter of skin will cost at least $350, so the larger the bird, the more profit it will make.
It is very profitable to sell eggs, since one costs approximately 400-500 rubles, depending on its weight and the place where you will deliver it. They can be most profitably sold in restaurants, as well as for souvenirs. They are used to make lamps, room decoration elements, vases, and dishes.
The liver has a separate value. Its cost is at least 2,000 rubles per kilogram in a restaurant and is considered a delicacy. 1 individual produces up to 2-2.5 kg of liver, which is very profitable. If successfully implemented, you can get +5000 rubles from one ostrich.
Beak and nails are bought by pharmaceutical companies for production medicines against cardiovascular diseases. They are used to make expensive face masks, as well as skin lifting creams. Brisket fat is also used as an anti-aging cream.
Feathers are an equally expensive product; they make high-quality pillows, linings for winter clothes, and stuffing for blankets. They have hypoallergenic properties, retain heat well, and at the same time allow air to pass through. In such clothes, the body constantly breathes and feels comfortable.
Ostriches are amazing birds of our planet. According to zoological taxonomy, they are classified as running birds, also called flat-chested or ratite. They have a small head on a long neck, but their wings are underdeveloped and have no flight feathers. The article discusses their habitats, and also provides information about how much an ostrich weighs, how tall it is, and what speed it develops when running.
Although the ostrich is considered a bird, it cannot fly. Eat different kinds these birds, but they all live in warm climates such as Australia and Africa. These birds prefer savannas or semi-desert areas.
African
The largest birds on Earth are African ostriches. They are widespread throughout Africa. They live mainly in dry open areas with sandy, sometimes rocky soil. In order to grind food in the stomach, they swallow small pebbles that are found on the ground.
Ostriches are among the best runners. When running, their speed can reach 50 kilometers per hour. The stride length due to height is approximately 3 meters. Their wings are undeveloped, as they are flightless birds. They have 2 toes on their feet, which they can use as weapons. They lead a herd lifestyle, the number of individuals in a herd can be from 10 to 50. Males are 3 meters tall and weigh about 150 kilograms.
Emu (Australian)
Australian emus are the second largest birds living in the world after African ostriches. Their homeland is the shrubby and grassy areas of Northern and Southwestern Australia. The number of emus in Australia decreased sharply when people from Europe arrived in the country. This is due to shooting and hunting them. Therefore, since 1865, measures have been taken to conserve Emu.
Emus eat a variety of foods, most often depending on the time of year. In summer, birds eat grass, leaves, fruits, and in winter, various insects. Sometimes, out of curiosity, Emu can swallow keys, coins, and jar lids. They happily eat grain crops, so in some areas of Australia the state allows them to be shot.
The weight of an Emu can reach 150 kg, and its height is 150 cm. It has 3 toes on its feet. The feathers have matte brown shades. The head is located in the center of the back and neck, it may be a little darker, and the lower body, on the contrary, is lighter. Outwardly, it is impossible to distinguish a female from a male. To determine sex, you need to raise the tail, press down the cloaca and see if the genital organ appears. Females don't have this. Emus can run at speeds of up to 51 km/h. In addition, birds are excellent swimmers. The female lays up to 25 eggs in the nest, which are incubated by the male.
Gorayo (Somali)
Gorayo ostriches are native to Somalia. These birds are the largest subspecies of African ostriches. Some scientists distinguish Gorayo as a separate species, since studies of these birds revealed reproductive isolation from other species of ostriches.
An adult Gorayo is 2.5 m tall. Its weight can be from 105 to 175 kg. Males are always smaller and thinner than females. Distinctive features of the family are long eyelashes, large eyes, bare ears, flat straight beak and well-defined mouth. There are spurs on the wings, and under the beak there is a horny claw.
The plumage of females and males is different: the color of the feathers of males is gray with shades of blue on the neck, while those of females are brown.
The traditional food for Gorayo is various plants, however, not only herbs, but also fruits, leaves, tree branches and shrubs. However, such nutrition does not prevent birds from sometimes eating various rodents, insects and small animals. Gorayo agrees to eat whatever he can eat whole. It happens that he wanders into deserted places where he is unable to find anything edible. In such conditions, he can easily do without water or food for a couple of days.
Birds live in flocks with 5 females and 1 male. They can live with other animals, such as zebras. The inhabitants of the steppes are often close to them in order to notify each other of the onset of danger.
Since ostriches have good eyesight, height and a long neck, they are the first to see the enemy and run away. Other animals, observing such a reaction, try to escape on their own or run after them.
Up to a dozen chicks can appear in an ostrich nest at one time. It takes 50 days for a chick to emerge from an egg. During this period, the female and male periodically change while incubating the eggs. What is the weight of the chick at birth? He is born weighing more than 1 kg, but after 4 months the weight increases to 20 kg and his height increases significantly. In the second month of life, young ostrich chicks develop plumage on their body and head. Distinctive features of Gorayo: black and brown feathers, which are noticeable only a year after birth.
Useful facts
By eating locusts, ostriches can gain a lot of weight, which reduces their running speed. Asphodyl roots, in the absence of water, can serve as a thirst quencher for them. Ostriches can drink not only fresh water, but also salty, but they prefer fresh water.
Today it is difficult to find a business as promising as commercial ostrich farming. Ostrich breeding- one of the most profitable types modern poultry farming. Before our eyes, from an exotic business for the CIS, ostrich farming is transforming into an independent industry Agriculture. Due to its high taste and dietary qualities and “precocity”, ostrich meat successfully competes with beef in the world.
From one adult bird, when slaughtered, you can get 36-44 kg of pure meat, 1.8-2.5 kg of beautiful ostrich feathers, used for making fashionable items and jewelry, 1.2-2.0 m 2 of skin, which is used for making the thinnest and most durable leather, 4.5 kg of offal and 1-2 kg of fat used in the production of cosmetics.
At the same time, world prices for ostrich products are consistently high. On the world market, the cost of 1 hatching egg (according to various sources) is $70-120, a day-old baby ostrich - up to $400, one pair of breeding birds - $2000-4000 US. The cost of 1 kg of ostrich meat currently ranges from $15 to $28. It is not surprising that in recent years many farmers in the United States and Western European countries have changed their specialization, switching from traditional livestock and crop farming to breeding African ostriches, which is much more profitable and interesting.
In Ukraine, the market for ostrich products is practically absent, so its producers can work in a field of minimal competition.
Breeding an ostrich is no more difficult than any other domestic poultry. With reasonable management and knowledge of the technological processes of ostrich breeding, production profitability can be achieved in the range of 40-120%. However, if you do not take into account economic activity Some biological and technological features that distinguish ostriches from other species of poultry, then the expected profits may result in large financial losses and disappointment.
Classification of ostriches
Ostriches (Struthiones or Struthioniformes) belong to the subclass of running birds (Ratitae), also called flat-chested or ratite.
In the order of ostriches (Struthiones) there is only one family (Struthionidae) - ostriches, with one genus Struthio Linne 1758 and one species Struthio camelus Linne 1758, in which 6 subspecies are distinguished:
-S.s. camelus Linne - North African or common ostrich;
— S.c. spatzi Stresemann - Senegalese ostrich;
— S.c. massaicus Neumann - Masai ostrich;
— S.c. molybdophanes Reichenov - Somali ostrich;
— S.c. australis Gurney - South African ostrich
— S.c. cyriacus Rothschild - Syrian ostrich.
The first five subspecies of ostriches live in Africa, in its various regions. The Syrian ostrich is now apparently extinct.
In economic use, there is also a classification of ostriches according to the color of the neck: with a pink or red neck - these include ostriches of the North African, Masai, Senegalese and Syrian subspecies, blue necks - ostriches of the Somali subspecies, black necks - the South African subspecies A.
South American th rhea and australian emu, which are often referred to as ostriches in the literature, are actuallybelong to separate detachments.
Biological features of ostriches
African black ostrich(Struthio camelus domesticus) or African blacks appeared as a result of crossing a North African ostrich with a South African one. Males reach a height of 2.4-2.5 m with a body weight of about 120 kg, and females - 2.2-2.3 m with a weight of 105-115 kg (see Fig. 2.). This is the most numerous and widespread farmed population. As a result of many years of workThey are easier to grow in captivity and have a gentle character. The live weight of emus is 40-50 kg, female rheas - 23-28 kg, males - 30-35 kg.
Features of the body structureRausov and biological features organisms provide them with the ability to have a good overview of the area, move long distances in search of food, survive in a waterless sandy desert at high temperatures, and quickly run away to escape enemies.
Ostriches have excellent eyesight; they believe that they can see at a distance of 3 km. BlagodBecause of their high-set head and large eyes - an eyeball with a diameter of about 5 cm weighs approximately 60 g - ostriches have a deep and wide field of vision.
Smell and taste are relatively poorly developed.
Ostrich ears have the shape of holes, are located on the back of the head and are closed with valves. The head is flat on top, with a bald spot, very small in comparison with the size of the body, the neck is long, the beak is smooth, and in males it is red during sexual activity. The nostrils of the beak are also closed with a membrane.
The lifespan of an ostrich is from 30 to 75 years. The reproductive period of the African ostrich begins at 3 years of age and lasts 4 decades. With intensive technology, the ostrich is usually used for up to 15-17 years. When kept in captivity, sexual maturity can occur in males at the age of 24-30, in females at 24 months.
The productive life of females can last 30-40 years, the sexual activity of males can last 20 or more years.
Distinctive Features The digestive tract of the ostrich is: the absence of a crop and gall bladder, a powerful muscular stomach in which food is crushed, relatively long and paired cecum, in which plant fibers are mainly broken down, and a long rectum, in which further digestion and absorption of food occurs.
Ratites are unable to fly due to the absence of a keel bone, poorly developed pectoral muscles and underdeveloped wings. The wings, however, perform many important functions and serve, in particular, for protection or ventilation in the heat, and in males they play an important role during mating dances. The intestines of ostriches end in a cloaca, into which the ducts of the urinary and reproductive systems open.
Ostriches do not have a coccygeal gland, the secretions of which other birds lubricate their feathers.
The most pronounced feature of the ostrich is its unusually strong legs, which provide excellent support for the body. Each ostrich foot has only two toes - the third and fourth. Emu have three, rhea has four fingers. The ostrich's thumb ends in a large claw about 7 cm long. Thanks to their strong limbs, ostriches can reach speeds of up to 70 km/h.
The bones of the skull are thin, spongy, filled with air and very weak. Ostriches are very sensitive to blows to the head. Even a small blow to the head can cause death. These features should be taken into account when building a fence, installing and choosing the type of feeders and other equipment.
The ostrich brain weighs on average 30-40 g and is approximately the size of a chicken egg. It is believed that the ostrich is practically incapable of retaining information in memory for a long time.
The location and sensitivity of the membranes covering the nostrils are important when ostriches assess the quality of water and food. This feature must be taken into account when organizing feeding of ostriches in captivity. The food particles should be moderately large, preferably granulated, since crumbly, powdery, dusty food can disrupt the functions of the ostrich’s respiratory system.
The African ostrich has pronounced sexual dimorphism, especially at maturity: in live weight and plumage. The adult male is significantly larger in size than the female and is distinguished by the black coloration of the feathers on the body, as well as the white feathers of the hanging edges of the wings. The female is gray-brown. More precisely, sex is determined by the presence of a fairly clearly defined elastic outgrowth (penis) in males, in young birds - by palpation and eversion of the cloaca, in mature replacement young birds (when recruiting a parent flock) - by palpating the outgrowth in the cloaca (see Fig.)
Rice. Sexual dimorphism in the development of the genital tubercle in ostrich chicks.
The duration of the incubation period (incubation) for rheas is 33-36 days, for African ostriches - 39-41 days, for emus - 52-56 days (in some cases, incubation lasts 57-59 days). The productive season for African ostriches is in middle lane Russia and Ukraine lasts from March to October. The egg production of females is 40-80 eggs per season. Eggs white and weigh from 1300 to 1800 grams, on average - 1400 g. The mass of rhea eggs is on average 620 g, for emu - 650 g.
The adaptive abilities of ostriches are very high. In the desert, African ostriches can withstand temperatures up to +50 0 C; in the northern regions of Europe and Russia, at temperatures down to -12 0 C, they feel completely normal; when walking, they can easily withstand 15-16 degree frosts.
Technology of keeping and raising ostriches
In modern ostrich farming, there are three main systems for keeping ostriches: extensive, semi-intensive and intensive. The choice of type of maintenance depends, as a rule, on the availability of cheap land, the provision of cheap fodder and labor.
With the intensive type of housing (usually used in northern countries, including Russia and Ukraine), ostriches are kept in limited areas on full rations, sometimes with the opportunity to graze. Egg incubation is only artificial. The required land area rarely exceeds 20 hectares, divided into plots of 1-2 hectares. Due to low land costs, this maintenance system is the most popular. With this type of content Special attention should be given to the correct choice of terrain for the construction of farms, as well as the competent construction and operation of premises for keeping ostriches in cold period. This system has two significant drawbacks: the first is the high cost of feed and high requirements for the completeness of the diet; the second is serious capital costs for fences and buildings (especially in northern countries). However, this system has more advantages than disadvantages. The main advantage is complete control over the reproduction of livestock and the ability to conduct breeding work.
Choosing a site for an ostrich farm. The site should be dry, somewhat elevated, not flooded by flood and storm water.
Moisture and cold wind are the main enemies of ostriches.
The soils should be coarse-grained, with good air permeability, low capillary capacity, and suitable for growing trees and shrubs. Groundwater on the site must lie at a depth of at least 5 meters below the base of the foundation.
Like farms for housing other types of farm birds, ostrich farms are subject to certain veterinary and sanitary requirements. According to these requirements, the distance from the ostrich farm to other livestock farms and residential areas must be at least 500 m, other poultry farms - 1000 m, manure storage facilities, livestock waste processing workshops - 1500 m.
When creating large ostrich breeding complexes, it is necessary to divide the territory of the complex into separate zones and subzones with the placement in them of various technological groups of poultry (parent flock, replacement young stock, young stock raised for meat), administrative and economic facilities. The distance between zones must be at least 500 m, between subzones - 200 m, between individual buildings in subzones - at least 20 m.
In small farms, it is allowed to build livestock and poultry farms on the same site with a sanitary gap between them of at least 200 m. At the same time, the poultry farming zone must be separated from the livestock farming area by a fence and planted around the perimeter with broad-leaved trees with a planting width of at least 10 m. The distance between individual subzone buildings with birds of different ages should be at least 100 m, and birds of the same age should be at least 15-20 m.
Premises and buildings. The size of the building depends on the size of the herd and the expected production volume. At the same time, one should remember the need to comply with the minimum standards of room area per bird, taking into account their age (see Table 1). A building intended for ostriches should be divided into sectors in which birds of different ages will be kept.
Table 1 - Standards for the minimum area of premises for ostriches according to the Polish Union of Ostrich Breeders.
|
Birds |
Minimum area (m2) |
|
|
per bird |
the entire room |
|
| Up to 3 months of life |
0,3-1,5 |
|
| From 3rd to 6th month of life |
2-2,5 |
|
| From 6th to 14th month of life |
3,5-4 |
|
| Adults (over 14 months of age) | ||
The height of the room must exceed the height adult(2.5-2.7 m) by 50 cm, i.e. be 3.0-3.2 m (for emus - 2.5 m). All internal elements- walls, floors and ceilings must be smooth, allowing for thorough disinfection. The illumination in the room should be at least 25 lux. When using natural light, the ratio of window area to floor area should be approximately 1:10.
Dry, hygienic conditions and adequate ventilation must be maintained at all times. In rooms for young and adult birds, the floor can be concrete, covered with a layer of bedding (for example, straw), although some researchers believe that floors for chicks should not be covered at all, since they have a highly developed pecking reflex and they collect literally everything in their path . Straw bedding, consumed in large quantities, can lead to dyspepsia in the still undeveloped digestive tract, and even cause the death of chicks. If ostrich chicks are kept on bedding such as sawdust, cereal husks or washed construction sand, then the litter should be covered with burlap on top for the first 7-10 days to prevent eating the litter material. After removing the burlap, the litter should be loosened daily to improve drying and prevent compaction. Slippery surfaces cause "wide-legged" feet, which is always fatal. You should never cover bedding with newspaper, cardboard, plastic or other smooth material or place baby ostriches on such material.
The chick house should be designed in such a way that it can be divided into smaller compartments to simultaneously support three groups of ostrich chicks - fast, medium and slow growing.
Natural light is sufficient in the warm season. The rest of the time you need to use additional lighting for several hours daily.
During the period of raising chicks, drafts should be avoided. The speed of air movement in summer should not exceed 0.3-0.4 m/sec, and the relative humidity in the room should be within 60-70%. A special room should be allocated - an isolation ward - for sick birds or those feeling unwell, which especially applies to chicks during the rearing period. Before entering the building, and especially in the incubation room, it is necessary to arrange a disinfection barrier. Birds delivered to the farm must undergo quarantine, preferably outside the farm, for a period of at least 4 weeks.
The pens must be adjacent directly to the building. Each room must have its own access to a separate paddock. The minimum area of pens for birds up to the third month of life must be at least 5 square meters, from the third to the sixth month - 50 square meters, and from the sixth to the fourteenth month - 100 square meters. For adult birds - at least 200 square meters. The pens should be separated from each other by security passages 1.5-2 meters wide, which ensures the safety of the staff and also prevents males from contacting each other.
The main requirement for walking is the length, which must be sufficient for the ostrich to accelerate at maximum speed and slow down. This distance is usually 40-60 m. In order for the bird to turn around at high speed, the width of the enclosure must be at least 20 m. Thus, the walking area for 1 family (a male and two females) is about 800 m2.
In winter, the conditions for keeping the ostriches of the parent flock change: 2-3 families are kept in one pen. This is done so that the birds can warm themselves by gathering in large groups and to reduce the need for heating the poultry houses.
When considering the principles of raising ostriches, special attention should be paid to chicks. It is known that the mortality rate of birds during the first three months of life reaches several tens of percent. Keeping birds older than three months of age with well-developed body resistance does not cause any great difficulties; mortality during this period is much lower.
Raising chicks.
After hatching, ostrich chicks should be provided with a temperature of 32 to 35°C, and then lower it by 2-3°C every week until it reaches 22-25°C. After 6 weeks of rearing indoors, it is advisable to maintain a constant temperature of 20-24 degrees, especially at night and in cold weather, as the chicks are prone to lung infections.
Ostrich chicks have very high requirements for air and bedding humidity. The relative air humidity in the room is closely related to the intensity of ventilation, the number of birds per 1 m2 and the moisture content of the litter (litter, for example, made of straw, is used only after the birds reach the 30th day of life). The relative humidity in the premises where ostrich chicks are kept should be 55-70%.
Ostrich chicks are very demanding of light. After transfer from the hatcher, the room is illuminated 24 hours a day for the first two days. On the third and fourth days, the number of light hours is reduced to 18, on the fifth and sixth days - to 16 light hours per day. At the same time, the light intensity decreases: in the first days of cultivation, the light intensity is 90-100 lux, after the 7th day - 40, after the 14th day and until the end of cultivation - 20-25 lux.
The floor area per chick (until the end of the 2nd month of life) should be 0.25-1 m2, and in the pen - 5 m2, then the bird stocking density indoors and on the run by 3 months of age is reduced to 0. 5 heads/m2 (2 m2/head). For ostrich chicks up to 14 days of age, it is recommended to use a room with a concrete floor, and for older ones, use enclosures with sand and grass.
For rearing and fattening, ostrich chicks after 8-10 weeks of age are placed in pens with a stocking density of 1 bird/m2 (1m2/bird) under a canopy (shelter) and 0.3 birds/m2 (3m2/bird) open space (walk). From 3 to 6 months of age, the stocking density decreases to 0.1 birds/m 2 2/bird). The area of the enclosed space should be at least 9-10% (ratio 1:10) of the total area allocated for housing birds aged 3-6 months. Over 6 months, the area of the enclosed space can be 1.5-1.2% of the total area.(10 m
Ostrich chicks are transferred to a fattening diet at 5-6 weeks of age in the summer and 6-7 weeks of age in the fall and spring. Fattening lasts up to 40 weeks.
Feeding ostriches
The ostrich is a unique herbivorous bird. The ostrich digestive system is characterized by an elongated posterior part of the intestine (especially the large cecum), which increases the path of plant fiber in the digestive tract, resulting in intestinal microflora efficiently decomposing food.
The large intestine is about 8.6 m long. In addition to the absorption of water, here, as in the cecum, fiber is broken down thanks to the rich microflora.
The final segment of the large intestine passes into one of the three chambers (parts) of the cloaca. Unlike other poultry species, ostriches excrete feces and urine separately.
The total average length of the gastrointestinal tract of adult ostriches with a body weight of 105 to 131 kg, together with a meter-long esophagus and two cecums, is about 16 m. The longest part of the gastrointestinal tract is the large intestine - about 50% of its total length (see Fig. Table 2).
Table 2 - Average length of different segments of the intestines of ostrich, emu and chicken
|
Intestinal section |
Ostrich |
Chicken |
||||
|
(cm) |
(cm) |
(cm) |
||||
| Small intestine |
88,5 |
|||||
| Cecum | ||||||
| Colon | ||||||
The digestibility of feed largely depends on the presence of fiber in it. The digestibility of rough feed elements is: cell membranes- 47%, semi-fiber - 66%, fiber - 39%. Absorption and oxidative metabolism of the end products obtained from fiber provide up to 76% of the required energy for the growing ostrich body.
In ostriches, the energy conversion of feed, which contains a lot of fiber, is twice as high as in chickens.
An adult bird consumes about 2.5% of concentrated feed from its own body weight per day. The daily food consumption of growing ostriches is 3-4% of their weight. The ratio of feed consumed to growth (feed conversion) in ostrich chicks reaches early age 1.4 - 2.1 to 1, for birds aged 3-6 months - 2.6-3.0 to 1 and at final stage growth (7-12 months) reaches a ratio of 4.1-15.0 to 1.
Feeding ostrich chicks and zoohygienic conditions for keeping poultry are two main factors influencing the safety of ostrich chicks, which subsequently determines the viability and survival of the entire ostrich farm.
For the first 3-4 days of life, ostrich chicks feed only on substances coming from the yolk sac, and practically do not need additional food and water. However, during this period there is a drop in body weight of birds by 20-30%.
In the first few weeks, under no circumstances should ostrich chicks be released to pasture until the dew has cleared, as this often leads to death. During this period of raising ostrich chicks, the composition of the litter should be regularly monitored. The feces of healthy ostrich chicks should be soft, not very dry or rocky, like sheep's, and the urine should be liquid, but not sticky. If signs of diarrhea are detected, a course of antibiotic treatment is carried out.
At first, ostrich chicks are fed 4 times a day, preferably always at the same time (for example, at 7.00, 11.00, 15.00 and 19.00). After 30 minutes after feeding the food, the remaining food is removed.
From three weeks of age, chicks can already be given a mixture of oatmeal, finely chopped alfalfa and starter feed in a 1:1:1 ratio.
To ensure proper bone development, it is important to maintain an appropriate ratio between calcium and phosphorus in the feed ration. Recommended amounts of calcium and phosphorus in the diet are from 1.4 to 2.5, and from 0.7 to 1.5%, respectively. The optimal ratio of these elements is from 1:0.5 to 1:0.6.
Ostrich chicks willingly eat grated shells or pebbles the size of a grain of rice, which they can eat to their heart's content from the 4th-5th day of life. Some ostrich breeders recommend giving small pebbles or pebbles only after three weeks of age.
The content of crude fiber in the diet for chicks is essential. At the age of up to 3 weeks, it should not exceed 5-6%, 6-week-old - 27.9%, 2.5-month-old - 51.2%, and in adult birds it exceeds 60% of the feed weight.
To feed young birds, you can use various mixtures - growth, finishing and post-finishing - differing in the level of protein, essential amino acids and energy and based on grass-based alfalfa meal (see Table 5).
Table 5 - Composition of ostrich diets (90% dry weight), g/kg diet (according to Smith et al.).
| Component | Prestarter (up to 2 months) | Starter (from 2 to 4 months) | Rostova (from 4 to 6 months) | Final (from 6 to 10 months) | Fattening from 10 to 14 months. | Supportive (from 14 months) |
| Dried alfalfa |
22,7 |
260,0 |
428,0 |
812,0 |
884,0 |
420,0 |
| Corn |
577,0 |
501,0 |
463,5 |
172,7 |
100,0 |
|
| Corn oil |
20,0 |
20,0 |
||||
| Soybean cake |
232,0 |
86,0 |
30,0 |
|||
| Fish flour |
120,0 |
106,0 |
59,0 |
|||
| Dicalcium phosphate |
11,0 |
11,0 |
11,2 |
15,0 |
||
| Feed chalk |
17,0 |
12,3 |
||||
| Methionine | ||||||
| Vitamin-mineral premix | ||||||
| Zinc-bacitracin | ||||||
| Alfalfa straw |
552,0 |
In raising young birds, there are two feeding systems - plenty and a controlled (dosed) method.
It has been shown that birds fed in a controlled manner are healthier and the survival rate of their chicks is higher. Such a feeding system should be accompanied by an assessment of the degree of development of the chicks by means of control weighings: for the first 3 months - weekly, and then - ten days (see Table 6).
Table 6 - Live weight, daily gains and feed consumption of ostriches during the first year of life (according to data from Niekerk and Müller).
| Age, days | Live weight, kg | Daily gain, g |
Daily feed consumption, g |
Feed costs, kg/kg gain | |
| 1 | — | ||||
| 30 | 105 |
2,10 |
|||
| 60 |
11,0 |
233 |
1,89 |
||
| 90 |
19,5 |
283 |
2,40 |
||
| 120 |
28,5 |
300 |
2,73 |
||
| 150 |
39,5 |
367 |
1220 |
3,34 |
|
| 180 |
52,1 |
420 |
1490 |
3,55 |
|
| 210 |
63,4 |
375 |
1630 |
4,35 |
|
| 240 |
73,3 |
330 |
1710 |
5,18 |
|
| 270 |
82,4 |
305 |
1760 |
5,77 |
|
| 300 |
91,0 |
287 |
1800 |
6,27 |
|
| 330 |
96,3 |
177 |
2160 |
11,90 |
|
| 360 |
99,9 |
120 |
2210 |
18,41 |
|
It has also been established that for every kilogram of dry weight of food consumed, a young ostrich drinks about 2.3 liters of water.
Feeding ostriches during the reproductive period.
Feeding during the reproduction period of ostriches significantly affects their reproductive properties, and therefore the quantity and quality of eggs laid, as well as their fertilization.
Silage can account for up to 70% of total feed consumption and range from 4.5-5.5 kg per bird per day.
After the breeding birds are united, they are transferred to plenty of feeding. The usual rate of feed consumption during the first few weeks of the breeding period ranges from 2.5-3.0 kg per bird per day, but higher rates are possible - up to 3.5 kg. Feed consumption normalizes after 2-3 weeks and is set at 2.5 kg per day. Feed consumption rates for blue-necked and red-necked ostrich species are 10-20% higher. It is extremely important that the diet does not change throughout the entire reproduction period. Failure to comply with this condition leads to large losses due to the cessation of oviposition or a decrease in egg fertilization. If laying hens stop laying eggs due to a change or deterioration in feeding, it will take about 4 weeks to restore their previous level of productivity.
Most ostriches are kept in small pens, so the proportion of pasture feeding can be considered insignificant. Under such conditions, it is recommended to use a complete breeding diet with a dry feed consumption rate of 2.0 to 2.5 kg per bird.
The dose of roughage should not exceed 2 kg per bird daily. Green food from alfalfa and clover plays a major role during this period. If birds have limited access to pastures seeded with green food, they should be given mowed green food at least three times a day. Fresh green food should be cut into pieces 2-3 cm long. In the table. 8 shows the recommended nutrient content in the diet of ostrich breeding stock when kept without pasture, when the bird has free access to feed...
Table 8. Nutrient content in a balanced diet for ostrich breeding stock kept without pasture.
The optimal amount of feed consumed by a breeding ostrich during the reproduction period is 2.5 kg per day. Ostrich breeders need to regularly check their ostriches' feed intake. In situations where it is less than 2.5 kg per day, you need to identify the cause and correct the situation.
It is known that pastures play an important role in the nutrition of ostriches. When keeping ostriches on pasture, it is recommended to feed them with dry food, which should be about 1.5-1.8 kg per bird (see Table 9).
Birds should be fed rationally, without overfeeding, in order to avoid excessive obesity, which reduces reproductive performance (egg production, egg fertilization).
During this period, the presence of phosphorus and calcium in the diet of ostriches is of great importance, since these components play an important role, primarily in the formation of eggshells. Calcium requirements largely depend on the level and phase of egg laying. At the peak of oviposition, i.e. in May and June, the share of this component in the diet can even be over 3.0%, and in other productive months - 2.5 - 3% or even less. However, the proportion of calcium cannot be too high, since calcium reduces the absorption of manganese and zinc in the intestines. An additional complication is the fact that the food supplied is eaten simultaneously by males and females, who, of course, require significantly more calcium.
In the male body, excess calcium reduces the absorption of zinc, which has a bad influence on spermatogenesis and as a result reduces the percentage of fertilized eggs. At the same time, with a lack of calcium (feeding exclusively grains), the egg shells are too thin and the eggs often break. Only with the use of complete diets can a significant improvement in shell quality occur.
Feeding at the end of the breeding season. After 14 days after the last egg is laid, you should switch to the winter feeding system. Roughage is given with less protein, essential amino acids, metabolizable energy and calcium, and higher fiber content. New diet should be introduced gradually over 7-10 days.
The feeding period after the reproductive season lasts until mid-January. At this time, the basis of the feed is roughage. At this time, adult birds eat approximately 1 kg of a granulated mixture containing 13% crude protein and 8.5 MJ of metabolizable energy per kg, as well as 1 kg of oats or barley. Some ostrich breeders, in an effort to limit the cost of winter feeding, abandon mixtures altogether and feed ostriches with grain, for example, oats and barley, in an amount of 2-2.5 kg daily, adding crushed mollusk shells. In addition, in drinking water Vitamin and mineral preparations, in particular aminovitazole, are added 2-3 times a week. Grains, which are primarily a source of carbohydrates, contain very little protein, so it is necessary to add high-protein feeds such as dried alfalfa, which can be bulked and served along with the grains. Typically, grains are mixed with dried alfalfa in a ratio of 60:40, although in some countries (for example, South Africa) the proportion of dried alfalfa in the mixture for ostriches can reach 90%.
A supplement to the winter diet for ostriches is a salad of raw vegetables, for example, the following composition: steamed barley - 30%, soybean meal -10%, apples, carrots, onions, cabbage - 60%.
Factors influencing the productive qualities of ostriches
Taking into account the constant demand for ostrich products in many countries, there is a desire to both obtain the maximum number of eggs from one female and to achieve accelerated sexual maturation of birds. Significant progress has already been made in this area. Under natural conditions, ostriches mature at the age of 4-5 years. As a result of more than a century of targeted work with poultry in farm conditions, they begin to lay eggs at the age of 2-2.5 years, while males reach sexual maturity at the age of 3 years. However, there have been cases of laying the first egg as early as 18 months. Under natural conditions, the female lays 12-18 eggs annually, while on ostrich farms - from 40 to 100 or even more. There is evidence that some ostriches kept on American farms laid up to 130 eggs per season, although most birds laid from 40 to 60. The highest egg production was recorded in the USA, where even 167 eggs were received from one female per season .
The wide variation in the level of egg production of ostriches is due to many genetic and environmental factors. One of them is the age of the birds. In the first year of productivity, young females lay 1-20 eggs weighing from 1100 to 1600 g. The number and weight of eggs laid increase in subsequent years. The weight of the egg already in the second year approaches the average weight - 1500 g. The subspecies of ostriches is also of certain importance. African black ostriches have the highest egg production, laying an average of 50 eggs annually. In addition, these birds reach sexual maturity earlier than blue- and red-necked birds.
Climatic conditions are also of great importance, which in South Africa are considered optimal for breeding ostriches (warm and dry). There, egg production is 30-35% higher than in Europe. The average number of eggs produced per season from a female in South Africa exceeds 60, while in Western Europe it stays at 40.
The egg production of ostriches also depends on the length of daylight hours. The flow of biological processes in the bird’s body during the breeding season is greatly stimulated sun rays. They play a particularly important role in the processes of puberty and egg formation. Light stimulates the secretion of estrogens, the level of which in the blood serum of ostriches increases as the day length increases. At the same time, the amount of protein in the feed increases, which to a certain extent brings the onset of the reproductive period in birds closer. Perhaps, during the breeding season, it would be necessary to maintain the maximum duration of daylight hours (16 hours) and maintain this situation artificially until the end of the productive period, i.e. until mid-September, since a noticeable drop in egg production has been observed since the end of July, i.e. from the time daylight hours begin to shorten. However, implementing such a concept can be very difficult since ostriches spend most of their time in pens (also at night). It is possible, in principle, to install lighting outside buildings. Another solution would be a lighting program that relates to the natural conditions of South Africa. On the other hand, the very high egg production observed on some farms in the northern United States may indicate that this problem has at least partially been resolved there. According to some researchers, the effect of light intensity on egg production of ostriches has not yet been studied. This problem requires comprehensive research. Their successful completion would make it possible to achieve a further increase in the economic efficiency of ostrich breeding.
The productive period for ostriches begins in different months and seasons depending on the climate zone and lasts 6-8, and sometimes 9 months. In South Africa it begins in June and ends at the turn of February and March, while in Europe it usually lasts from March to September. On the other hand, in Austria and Germany, isolated cases of egg laying were observed even in December.
Peak egg production occurs in May-June, i.e. in conditions of the longest daylight hours, over 16 hours. During these months, ostriches lay 40-50% of the total annual egg production, and in September only 4-5%; along with the reduction in daylight hours - from July 25 - egg production drops sharply.
When keeping ostriches, it is important to avoid stressful situations that sharply reduce the productivity of the bird. At least 30 days before the start of the breeding season, it is necessary to place the bird in the place where it will be kept during the breeding season to allow males and females to adapt to new conditions and not to move them from place to place in the future, which will require additional time for adaptation . Birds should not be transported from farm to farm during the breeding season as this may stop egg laying for a long time.
High results in egg fertilization are achieved when the ratio of males to females is 1:1. However, on ostrich farms it is common to keep ostriches in small groups (threes). Sometimes these proportions change - one male and three females. There are still conflicting opinions on issues related to the optimal ratio of females and males and the advisability of raising them separately during the resting period.
It is very important to ensure that there is fresh water for drinking in the areas where males and females are kept. If there is no water for a long time, then the bird may enter someone else's territory in search of water, which increases the risk of fights and thus can lead to a decrease in productivity. Noise is also a stress factor. Construction work on the farm and other noisy activities should be avoided during mating season. It is better if the poultry has a permanent attendant, since the frequent appearance of new people on the farm can also lead to undesirable results.
It is necessary to collect laid eggs constantly and as quickly as possible, leaving a few eggs in the nest, as this stimulates the continuation of egg laying. However, you need to choose the moment and collect the eggs with minimal attraction of the bird’s attention. It is better if the bird does not see human intrusion into its territory at all.
During the productive period, the intensity of oviposition is not the same. At first, the female can lay one or two eggs per week, then a peak in egg production occurs, at which three to four eggs per week are received from the female, and at the end of the period the intensity of egg laying decreases again, and finally it stops completely.
The first laying is usually characterized by lower reproductive rates (20-30 eggs with egg fertilization of 50-70%), in subsequent layings you can get 40-70 eggs with a fertilization of 70-80%.
Ostriches lay eggs throughout the day, but in most cases in the afternoon. After laying 10-12 eggs, incubation begins. However, if eggs are systematically removed from the nest, oviposition continues, and up to 80-120 eggs can be obtained from one female per season.
Considering that African ostriches often experience a decrease in egg fertilization during the reproductive period, males in semi-intensive and intensive systems are often used according to a certain rotation pattern. Males are assigned to specific females, and after a period of time, males are exchanged between groups of females. At the same time, it must be borne in mind that this technique can also lead to a decrease in the reproductive performance of males and females.
In semi-intensive and intensive systems, using proven males, the sex ratio can be expanded to 1:3-4. However, when kept in groups in large flocks, egg fertility may decrease. Therefore, groups should not be too large, as this leads to fights between males, which, accordingly, interferes with the mating process and leads to a decrease in the fertility of eggs. The owner must form a herd for breeding, taking into account his own conditions and the current situation. If the mating pens are too large, the number of adult males in the herd can be increased to a 1:1 ratio. Big square, in this case, will reduce the likelihood of fights between males and increase the fertility of eggs.
Males must also be carefully prepared for the mating season and, from the beginning to the end of the productive period, their breeding conditions must be maintained with the help of the right technology maintenance, a stable level of feeding, preventing deterioration in the quality of feed, but, at the same time, obesity of the bird.
Thus, the following factors can be identified that influence the productive qualities of ostriches: selection pressure, genetic factors, such as age and subspecies of the ostrich, and environmental factors, the main of which are climate, duration and intensity of light, season of the year, stress and food factor .
List of used literature
1. Bondarenko S.N. Complete encyclopedia of poultry farming // LLC Publishing House AST Stalker, Moscow, 2002. - pp. 405-419.
2. Bondarenko S.N. Breeding and raising ostriches // LLC Publishing House AST Stalker, Moscow, 2003. - 76 p.
3. Rakhmanov A.I. Breeding ostriches//"Aquarium", Moscow, 2001. -62 p.
4. Breeding ostriches in captivity // “Askania-Nova”, 2000. - 78 p.
5. Ostrich farming // Agro-Soyuz Corporation, Dnepropetrovsk, 2005. - 15 p.
6. Demes M., O. Belash. Ostrich farmer's directory // INTISKH of Slovakia, Nitra, VNITIP, Moscow, 1995. -100 p.
7. Voronov M.B., Bendas M.V., Balyukov I.D. Ostrich business // Russian-Moldavian joint venture "Anatex Investagro S.R.L. Moldova, 2004. - 150 p.
8. Snitinsky V.V., Kruzhel B.B., Vovk S.O. Biology of the ostrich and technologies for the production of ostrich products // CC LDAU, Lviv, 2006, -288 p.
9. Bevolskaya M.V. Reproduction of sraus. Nesting, egg-laying, incubation // “Logos”, Kyiv, 2004, -239 p.
10. Gorbanchuk Ya.O. Breeding ostriches // - Ed. 3rd, - Warsaw, 2002. - 208 p.
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African ostrich(lat. Struthio camelus) is a ratite flightless bird, the only representative of the ostrich family (Struthinodae).
Its scientific name translated from Greek means “ camel sparrow».
The ostrich is the only modern bird that has a bladder.
common feature
The African ostrich is the largest of the modern birds, its height reaches 270 cm; it weighs up to 175 kg. “A very principled bird” - the ostrich has a dense build, a long neck and a small flattened head. The beak is straight, thin, with a horny “claw” on the upper beak, and quite soft. The eyes are huge - the largest among terrestrial animals, with thick eyelashes on the upper eyelid. The mouth slit reaches the eyes.
Ostriches are flightless birds. They are typically characterized by a complete absence and underdeveloped pectoral muscles; the skeleton is not pneumatic, except for the femurs. The wings of ostriches are underdeveloped; two fingers on them end with claws or spurs. The hind limbs are long and strong, with only 2 toes. One of the fingers ends in the semblance of a horn - the bird leans on it when running. When running, an ostrich can reach speeds of up to 60-70 km/h.
The ostrich's plumage is loose and curly. Feathers grow more or less moderately throughout the body, so there are no pterilia. The structure of the feather is primitive: the barbs are practically not interlocked together, therefore the feather does not appear dense plates. The head, neck and hips are not feathered. There is also a bare area of skin on the chest, the pectoral callus, on which the ostrich rests when it lies down. The plumage color of an adult male is black, and the feathers of the tail and wings are snow-white. The female ostrich is smaller than the male and is colored monotonously - in grayish-brown tones; the feathers of the wings and tail are dirty white.
The ostrich forms several subspecies, which differ in size, skin color on the neck, and certain biological features - the number of eggs in a clutch, the presence of bedding in the nest, and the structure of the egg shell.
Distribution and subspecies
The ostrich's habitat covers the dry, treeless areas of Africa and the Middle East, including Iraq (Mesopotamia), Iran (Persia) and Arabia. But due to intense hunting, their population has greatly decreased. Middle Eastern subspecies, S. c. syriacus, considered since 1966. Even earlier, in the Pleistocene and Pliocene, different types of ostriches were widespread in Frontal Asia, in the south of Eastern Europe, in Central Asia and India.
There are two basic classes of African ostrich: East African ostriches with reddish necks and legs, and two subspecies with bluish-gray necks and legs. Subspecies S. c. molybdophanes, found in Ethiopia, northern Kenya and Somalia, is from time to time isolated as a separate species - the Somali ostrich. Another subspecies of grayish-necked ostriches (S. c. australis) lives in southwestern Africa, where its range is very mosaic. In the subspecies S. c. massaicus, or Masai ostriches, have a bright red neck and legs during the mating season. Another subspecies is distinguished - S. c. camelus in North Africa. Its natural range extends from Ethiopia and Kenya to Senegal, and in the north to eastern Mauritania and southern Morocco.
Ostriches with reddish necks, found in southern Africa, for example, in the Kruger State Park (South Africa), are imported individuals.
Lifestyle and nutrition
The ostrich lives in open savannas and semi-deserts, north and south of the zone equatorial forests. Outside the mating season, ostriches usually live in small packs or families. The family consists of an adult male, four to five females and chicks. Often ostriches graze together with herds of zebras and antelopes, and together with them they make long migrations across the African plains. Thanks to their own height and beautiful vision, ostriches are the first to notice danger. If threatened, they rush to flight, developing speeds of up to 60-70 km/h and making steps 3.5-4 m wide, and, as necessary, abruptly change the direction of running without reducing speed. Young ostriches, already a month old, can run at speeds of up to 50 km/h.
The usual food of ostriches are plants - shoots, flowers, seeds, fruits, but on occasion they also eat small animals - insects (locusts), reptiles, mice and leftovers from predators' meals. In captivity, an ostrich requires about 3.5 kg of food per day. Because ostriches have no teeth, to grind food in the stomach, they swallow small stones, and often everything they come across: nails, pieces of wood, iron, plastic, etc. Ostriches can survive for a long time in the absence of water, obtaining water from the plants they eat, but In any case, they drink readily and love to swim.
Ostrich eggs, left unattended by adult birds, often become the prey of predators (jackals, hyenas), as well as carrion birds. Vultures, for example, take a stone in their beaks and throw it at the egg until it breaks. From time to time, lions catch chicks. But adult ostriches are unsafe even for large predators - the first blow of their strong leg, armed with a hard claw, is enough to seriously injure or destroy a lion. There are cases when males, defending their area, attacked people.
The legend that a frightened ostrich buries its head in the sand may stem from the fact that a female ostrich sitting on a nest, when threatened, spreads her neck and head on the ground, trying to become inconspicuous against the background of the surrounding savanna. Ostriches do the same thing when they see predators. If such a hidden bird approaches, it immediately jumps up and runs away.
Ostrich on the farm
The beautiful flight and control feathers of ostriches have long enjoyed consumer interest - they were used to make fans, fans and plumes of headdresses. The strong shells of ostrich eggs were used by African tribes as vessels for water, and in Europe beautiful goblets were made from these eggs.
Because of the feathers that were used to decorate ladies' hats and fans, ostriches were practically exterminated in the 18th and early 19th centuries. If in the middle of the 19th century. ostriches were not bred on farms, then by the present time, perhaps, they could have been completely exterminated, just as the Middle Eastern subspecies of ostrich was exterminated. At the moment, ostriches are bred in more than 50 countries around the world (including countries with cool climates, for example, Sweden), but most of their farms are still concentrated in South Africa.
Currently, ostriches are bred mainly for their expensive leather and meat. Ostrich meat is similar to lean beef - it is lean and does not contain enough cholesterol. Additional products include eggs and feathers.
Most of the coats of arms of Poland have ostrich feathers in the crest. The coat of arms of Australia is a shield supported by a kangaroo and an emu, animals that live exclusively in this country.
Reproduction
The ostrich is a polygamous bird. In most cases, it is possible to meet ostriches in groups of 3-5 birds - one male and a few females. Only during non-nesting time, ostriches from time to time gather in flocks of up to 20-30 birds, and immature birds in southern Africa - up to 50-100 individuals. During the mating season, male ostriches occupy an area of 2 to 15 km2, driving away rivals.
When the time comes for breeding, male ostriches display in a peculiar way, attracting females. The male kneels down, beats his wings rhythmically, throws his head back and rubs the back of his head against his back. During this period, the neck and legs of the male acquire colorful colors. When competing for females, males make hissing and other sounds. They can trumpet: to do this, they take in a full crop of air and forcefully push it through the digestive tract - with all this, a semblance of a dull roar is heard.
The dominant male covers all the females in the harem, but forms a pair only with the dominant female and hatches the chicks together with her. All females lay eggs in a common nesting hole, which the male scrapes out in the ground or sand. Its depth is only 30-60 cm. The eggs of ostriches are the largest in the bird world, although relative to the size of the bird itself they are small: testicle length - 15-21 cm,weight - from 1.5 to 2 kg(this is approximately 25-36 chicken eggs). The shell of ostrich eggs is very thick - 0.6 cm, its color is usually straw yellow, less often darker or snow-white. In North Africa, the total clutch usually consists of 15-20 eggs, in the south of the continent - 30, in East Africa the number of eggs reaches 50-60. Females lay eggs apparently once every 2 days.
The eggs are incubated alternately by females during the day (due to their protective colors, blending into the landscape), and by the male at night. Often during the day the eggs are left unattended and warmed by the rays of the sun. Incubation lasts 35-45 days. Nevertheless, often many testicles, and from time to time all, die due to lack of hatching. The chick breaks the strong shell of an ostrich egg for about an hour, sometimes more. An ostrich egg is 24 times larger than a chicken egg.
A newly hatched baby ostrich weighs approx. 1.2 kg, and by four months it reaches 18-19 kg. The next day after hatching, the chicks leave the nest and travel with their father in search of food. During the first 2 months of life, the chicks are covered with brownish, hard bristles, then they dress in an outfit similar in color to the female’s outfit. True feathers appear in the second month, and dark feathers in males appear only in the second year of life. Capable of reproduction ostriches become at 2-4 years. Ostriches live up to 30-40 years.
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