How to Improve Hatchability in Ostrich Farming

(1) Scientific feeding and management

1. Full-price balanced nutrition. The nutritional level of ostriches is a fundamental factor affecting hatchability. During the breeding period, the metabolizable energy requirement in ostrich feed is 11.3 kJ/kg, crude fat should be limited to 6%-8%; protein should be 18%-24%, while paying attention to the supply of several amino acids (%): arginine 1.04, lysine 0.86, methionine + cystine 0.73, phenylalanine 0.95, valine 1.02; the suitable crude fiber content is 10%, calcium 4%-4.5%, available phosphorus 0.4%, sodium 0.3%, magnesium 0.25%, vitamin E 80 IU/kg. Attention should be paid to the quality of green feed, with appropriate supplementation of pantothenic acid and other trace elements. Research has found that during the breeding season, adult ostriches fed a diet with low energy, high protein and high fiber, and with meat-and-bone meal and blood meal replacing fish meal, can achieve higher hatchability.

2. Healthy management. First, adequate exercise should be ensured and body weight controlled. During the laying period, ostriches should be prevented from becoming too fat or too thin, otherwise reproduction will be affected. Second, the ratio of males to females should be reasonably matched, generally 1:2; if the male bird is truly outstanding, it can be increased to 1:3-4. Finally, daily management should be strengthened, with reasonable setting of laying nests for ostriches, timely removal of manure and egg collection, keeping the bird house dry and clean, and preventing bacterial contamination. Male birds that are infertile or lack the ability to "mount" should be culled. At the same time, during the breeding period of ostriches, do not casually move them between pens, change keepers or suddenly drive the ostriches, so as to avoid stress such as frightening. Regularly disinfect the environment such as the chicken house and exercise yard, carry out quarantine and epidemic prevention for the ostriches, and keep the flock healthy.

(2) Strict selection of breeding eggs

Breeding eggs must come from excellent, healthy flocks. When selecting breeding eggs, first remove thin-shelled, sandy-shelled and steel-skinned eggs, as well as eggs that are too large, too small, too flat, too round, or have an excessively large contaminated area. Newly laid breeding eggs should not be incubated immediately; they should be stored for more than 24 hours, but preferably no more than 6 days, with a storage temperature of 15 degrees C. If the storage period exceeds 6 days, the temperature needs to be lowered. The relatively suitable humidity for storing breeding eggs should be 70%-80%, and attention should be paid to ventilation of the storage room. When storing breeding eggs, the large end should face down, and they should be turned once a day.

(3) Improving hygiene and disinfection measures

1. Disinfection of the storage room for ostrich eggs. Wipe the floor once a day with disinfectant, carry out comprehensive cleaning and disinfection every 2 weeks, and fumigate with formalin solution.

2. Disinfection of breeding eggs. When an ostrich lays an egg, the keeper should catch it with disinfected gauze, then send it to the incubation room for disinfection. The disinfection dose is 42 ml of 37% formalin and 21 g of potassium permanganate per square meter, fumigated for 30 minutes. If it is not caught, wipe off surface dirt with gauze soaked in disinfectant and immediately send it to the incubation room for disinfection. Before incubation, soak in disinfectant (temperature not exceeding 40 degrees C) for 20-30 seconds, then wipe the breeding eggs dry with sterilized dry gauze and they can be incubated.

3. Disinfection of the incubation room. The floor of the incubation room should be mopped once every 2 days with disinfectant, the walls and ceiling should be sprayed once every half month with disinfectant, and a comprehensive cleaning should be carried out once a month.

4. Disinfection of the incubator. Before each incubation, the inside, outside and surface of the incubator should be wiped with disinfectant and fumigated with formalin.

(4) Suitable incubation conditions

1. Suitable temperature. Experience has found that when the room temperature is 18-25 degrees C, if the constant-temperature incubation method is used, the best effect is achieved when the incubation temperature is controlled at 37 degrees C. As the room temperature rises, the incubation temperature can be appropriately lowered. The variable-temperature incubation method can also be used, dividing the incubation period into early, middle and late stages, with temperatures controlled at 36.5 degrees C, 36 degrees C and 35.5 degrees C respectively, and the corresponding relative humidities of 22%, 23% and 25%. In addition, breeding eggs can be divided into three grades - large, medium and small, or heavy, medium and light - and incubated in separate machines, which can improve hatchability and the rate of healthy chicks.

2. Appropriate humidity. For the constant-temperature incubation method, the humidity in the early incubation period can be controlled at 20%-25%. When transferred to the hatcher, the humidity should be relatively increased, usually to 30%-40%. Relatively higher humidity in the late stage is beneficial for the chicks to peck through the shell.

3. Reasonable ventilation and cooling of eggs. Embryonic development requires fresh air and sufficient oxygen, and carbon dioxide and various harmful gases should not exceed standards; therefore, regular ventilation should be carried out. Ostrich eggs are relatively large in volume and thick-shelled, and especially in the late stage produce more heat, so attention should be paid to cooling the eggs.

(5) Correct incubation operation process

When placing eggs for incubation, be sure to make the large end of the ostrich egg face up. Clearly distinguish batches according to storage period and laying period, and keep careful records. Try not to incubate mixed batches, so as to avoid confusion at hatching. Eggs must be turned during the incubation process. The incubation procedure is: egg selection, disinfection, storage room, incubation room, placing for incubation, disinfection, chick emergence, chick dispatch, avoiding cross-infection.