How to Raise Emus? A Detailed Guide to Australian Ostrich Farming Techniques
The emu is a bird genus animal of the family Dromaiidae, native to Australia, and is the second largest bird in the world, after the African ostrich. The emu has very strong adaptability, and basically every part of the emu is valuable: its meat is delicious, low in high-calorie substances such as fat, its skin has good breathability and a supple, beautiful feel, and its eggs can also be carved into handicrafts for collection. Below is an introduction to the farming techniques for the “Australian ostrich” emu!
I. Site Construction
Emus have very strong athletic ability and, like ostriches, are birds that rather enjoy moving around. Therefore, when building a farm, make sure there is sufficient space for the emus to exercise, and there must be good drainage and irrigation measures to ensure no water accumulates. Plant some larger trees, flowers and grass around the farm for appropriate shade and to improve air quality, and also ensure the farm is well ventilated. Emus are fairly large in build, so the stocking density must not be too high; each emu needs enough room to grow, avoiding overcrowding and mutual interference with growth.
II. Feeding Management
The feed requirements of emus change with their growth stage. For example, for young emus aged 7-10 months, the feed is mainly green feed such as corn. Feeding should be done at fixed times and in fixed amounts, at least three times a day, and the green feed should be chopped fairly small to prevent indigestion in the emus. Control the drinking water well: do not feed spoiled or contaminated drinking water, and do not feed water sources that have been directly exposed to sunlight, otherwise the emus are prone to indigestion and some gastrointestinal diseases. In summer, with high temperatures and drought, the emus' water requirement increases greatly, so at this time sufficient clean drinking water must be ensured.
III. Incubation Management
Mating of emus is relatively important. One male emu can mate with multiple female emus. During the breeding period, male emus will fight over courtship, so it is best to separate them into pens in time. Artificially raised emus generally reach sexual maturity at around 2 years. After the female emu lays eggs, she will incubate them immediately. The incubation period is about 50 days. During incubation, the temperature should be controlled at 35 degrees and the humidity at around 45%, ensuring the breeding house is well ventilated to improve air quality. Newly hatched emus need artificial warmth, and by around two months they can be taken off heat.
IV. Epidemic Prevention and Sterilization
Although emus have relatively strong disease resistance, epidemic prevention and sterilization work still must not be neglected. First, before feeding green feed and chopping it up, disinfect it for 8-10 minutes first, then rinse off the disinfectant with clean water. Before each feeding, also clean the indoor area and the feeding utensils, then regularly carry out comprehensive and thorough disinfection of the emu house, about once every half month. Try to avoid visits by outsiders; the feeding staff must also disinfect before entering the house, to isolate all germ carriers, cut off sources of infection, and control the incidence of disease.
The above is a brief introduction to emu farming techniques from Tuliu.com. Emus have a fat band in their bodies, and the oil content in this fat band is relatively high and its permeability is very strong. It is now widely used in the cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries, and the economic value of raising emus is considerable.