Detailed Explanation of Key Points of Efficient Ostrich Farming Technology
The ostrich is a huge, flightless but very fast-running bird from Africa. It is also the largest living bird in the world, reaching up to 3 m in height, with black feathers over its whole body, a long bare neck, short wings and long legs. Its usual speed reaches 80 km/h, and at its fastest 140 km/h. The ostrich has strong adaptability and strong disease resistance, can withstand high temperatures of 45°C and endure cold of -40°C. It feeds on grass and other plants, and is the most economical animal for utilizing pasture grass.
Site selection
The site selection must meet epidemic prevention requirements, and it is best to be far from other livestock farms, with convenient transportation and sufficient water and electricity. The most suitable place is sandy grassland, with flat terrain that does not accumulate water.
Pen rearing
The rearing area is divided into pens, each with an area of about 3-5 mu. If breeding ostriches are kept, each pen can hold 1-2 groups (each group being 1 male and 2 females). Wire mesh can be used as the pen material, but care must be taken that there are no sharp points to prevent injury to the ostriches; the upper edge of the net is best wrapped with plastic tubing.
Set up shade shelters
Each pen should have a shade shelter of about 20 sq m, and feed should be given under the shelter to prevent rain from soaking it. Soft aluminum trays can be used for feed trays and water trays, or clean old car tires can be cut open and used. Cement troughs should not be built, to prevent injury to the birds' feet. Sand can be piled 50 cm high under the shelter to make it convenient for breeding birds to lay eggs.
Chick rearing
The first week of the chick is the most critical and requires careful observation. In the first 2-3 days, the chick consumes its own yolk sac and does not need feed. After 3 days, the chick often begins to eat and drink. In the first three days after starting to eat, the chicks should be checked frequently; if diarrhea is found, treatment should be given immediately.
It is very important for chicks to start eating, and this requires care and patience. At the beginning, they must be enticed to eat: keep tapping the feed tray with your fingers and stirring the feed to attract them to eat. Do this again the next day, until days 4-6, when they eat on their own.
For chick feed, chicken pellets can be used, and it is best if the color is bright (red, yellow, green). Feed three times a day, and add an appropriate amount of vitamins; chopped hard-boiled eggs and carrots can also be used. Vitamins should also be added to the drinking water, and it should be colored, so that the young birds will take the initiative to drink.
The first month is a critical period for ostriches; leg disease may occur, and once this period is passed, they grow very well. During this period, attention must be paid to disease prevention; once disease is found, it should be treated immediately, or preventive injections should be given. In addition, one-month-old birds love to eat foreign objects, so do not let them eat too much, and pay attention to the cleanliness and hygiene of the pen. Young birds can also tolerate cold weather, but in the first winter, it is still best to provide infrared lamps for warmth.
Rearing of growing and adult birds
After one month, ostriches are relatively easy to raise and do not need any special methods. The main thing is, each time feed is given, to note whether their feed intake is normal and whether their droppings are normal. If normal, no special care is needed; if not normal, see what disease they have. Treat according to the disease.
Ostrich feed
Ostriches feed mainly on grass and chicken feed. If appropriate amounts of vitamins and minerals are fed at different stages of growth and development, it will promote their growth and development, increase production, and obtain the greatest economic returns.
1. Nutritional levels of the ostrich diet
1 day old to 2 months old (body weight up to 10 kg): This is the early growth stage, and concentrated feed should be used as the main feed, supplemented with a small amount of roughage.
2 months old to 4 months old (body weight up to 35 kg): At this stage, gradually increase the use of roughage. Each kg of diet contains 2868 kcal metabolizable energy, 20% balanced protein, and 1.05% lysine.
4 months old to 6 months old (body weight up to 58 kg): This stage is the diet for middle chicks to the growing period, with metabolizable energy of 2629 kcal/kg, protein content of 15.5%, and lysine content of 0.78%.
6 months old to 10 months old (body weight up to 80 kg): This stage is the diet for the fattening period, with metabolizable energy of 2125 kcal/kg, protein content of 12%-14%, and lysine content of 0.6%.
10 months old to 14 months old (body weight up to 110 kg): This stage is the diet for the late fattening period; high-level pellets can be used, with metabolizable energy of 1792 kcal/kg, protein content of 10%-12%, and lysine content of 0.42%.
Over 14 months old (body weight over 110 kg): A maintenance diet can be used, with metabolizable energy of 1553 kcal/kg, protein of about 10%, and lysine content of 0.3%.
For breeding birds in the non-breeding period, a maintenance diet can also be used to prevent obesity. For breeding birds in the laying period, an appropriate amount of bone meal, vitamins and minerals can be fed in the maintenance diet.
2. Daily feed amount
① Young birds: 0.1-0.3 kg of concentrated feed, plus a small amount of chopped fresh carrots.
② Growing birds: about 0.5-1 kg of concentrated feed plus 1-2 kg of green vegetables or green grass.