Ostrich Farming Techniques: Key Points for the Feeding and Management of Breeding Ostriches

(1) Feed: Artificially raised breeding ostriches should be given a balanced daily ration according to the nutritional requirements of breeding ostriches. Feed is usually formulated according to the breeding ostrich's requirements for calcium and phosphorus (female ostriches have very high calcium and phosphorus requirements during the laying period). Breeding ostriches are most prone to deficiencies in fat-soluble vitamins and trace elements such as iodine, iron and zinc. However, feed high in fat should not be given in excess, because ostriches have no gallbladder and therefore a poor ability to absorb fat. In particular, the energy supply must not be too much, to prevent breeding ostriches from becoming obese and gaining weight, which leads to a drop in the laying rate or even a stop in laying.

(2) Feeding and management methods: The feeding and management of breeding ostriches should aim to increase egg production so as to breed more high-quality young ostriches. For raising African ostriches, one male can be kept and fed together with several females. The floor area of the breeding ostrich house should preferably be 10-12 sq m per bird. The area of the bird pen should generally be 250-300 sq m per breeding ostrich, and the length-to-width ratio of the bird pen should generally be 7:3. The feeding and drinking utensils used for breeding ostriches should be made of cement as sturdy concrete troughs, to prevent them from being trampled over and broken while the breeding ostriches are eating or drinking, thereby injuring the birds' feet or wetting their abdomens and causing illness. Breeding ostriches are usually fed 4 times a day; the first feeding of the day is at 6:30-7:30, the intervals between feedings should be basically equal, the feeding order is green roughage first and then concentrate, or a mixture of concentrate and green roughage, the feeding amount is about 1.5 kg, and clean drinking water should always be available (in winter, warm water at 25°C). In order to give the breeding ostriches regular exercise, they should be driven to move for at least 1-2 hours each in the morning and afternoon. In addition, the breeding bird house and pen should be cleaned frequently to keep them clean and hygienic, and the droppings in the house and pen should be removed at any time. The feeding and drinking utensils and the bird pen should preferably be disinfected once a week.