STRICHESVT270-Production Animals 9/15/10 By Holly Mozdin

Ostrich History and Facts

Ostriches belong to the ratite family, a family of birds that cannot fly and have a flat breastbone

They are the largest bird in the world, standing 7-9 feet tall and weighing 250-350#

They can live 70-80 years and reproduce for more than 40 years!

There are 3 recognized subspecies of ostriches in the USA: the red neck, the blue neck, and a hybrid African black.

They are the only bird with 2 toes and have sharp toenails that can severely injure or even kill a person or predator They flail their legs

and kick when defending themselves

They do NOT bury their heads in sand as depicted in cartoons and comics

The normal body temperature range of the ostrich is between 103 and 104 F. During hot weather, ostriches lift and fan their wings, while during cold weather they cover their thighs with their wings.

Ostrich Facts Cont.

US- More than 2,000 members of American Ostrich Association More than 500,000 ostriches on their farms/ranches Over ½ in Texas, California, and Arizona

Breeding pair sell for $2000-5000 Average year, hen will lay 40 eggs, 95% fertile, 75% will

hatch Hatching to full grown slaughter weight of 250# takes 9-12

months Hen has single left ovary and oviduct Males have 2 intraabdominal testicles near kidneys One ostrich egg=24 chicken eggs!!!

Ostrich Identification

Adult Male- Black and White

Adult Female- Brown

The Ostrich Industry

The ostrich industry started more than 100 years ago in South Africa, but gained popularity in the US in the 1980s

They are raised for their hide, meat, eggs, feathers, and oil Hide can produce as

much as 14 sq ft of leather The carcass yields

about 70# of meat About 3-4# of feathers

per bird

Ostrich Hide

Ostrich hide is one of the toughest yet most pliable skins available, and considered one of the finest in the world

You can find leather upholstery, shoes, automotive products, accessories such as handbags, and clothing. It has a characteristic texture in which the leather appears to have “goose

bumps.” This is due to the placement of the feathers on the original hide. “Quill” leather comes from the back, neck, and upper and lower belly. Leather may be made from both body and leg skin. Leg Skin leather will sport a “scaly” appearance, and is very recognizable.

Ostrich leather is among the most popular of exotic leathers. It's been on the market since the mid 1970s, when ostrich farmers began to sell it as a by product of ostrich meat production

Only 40% of hide has a quill pattern. The other 60% of the body produces leather called “plain.” Unblemished leather is referred to as “first grade.” Leather that's blemished will be graded between two and five. The most valuable part of the skin is the Crown Quill area.

Ostrich Meat

A 250# bird yields a 100-130# carcass

It is much more like beef than chicken or turkey Lean red meat, high protein,

low fat A live 250# bird selling for

slaughter purposes usually brings in at least $400-500

Even though Ostrich meat tastes like beef, the Ostrich does not have fat marbling in the meat like beef.

Four million birds would need to be slaughtered yearly to produce 1% of the total pounds of meat consumed yearly in the U.S.

Ostrich Eggs Eating

Each egg weighs about three to four pounds (1.2 to 2.2 Kg) and is about 6 inches (15cm) in diameter.

An Ostrich Egg is the largest edible egg in existence.

The inside of an Ostrich Egg is equivalent in volume to approximately two dozen chicken eggs!

To Cook: To soft boil it takes approximately 50 minutes. To hard boil, over 1 hour - but beware, the shell stays hot for over 2 hours afterwards!

To make omelets or scrambled eggs for all the family, simply drill one hole in the shell and shake the contents out.

Ostrich Eggs Decorating

The ostrich egg is by far the most popular egg for decorating for several reasons. First and foremost, the egg has a shell that is so strong and study, that ostrich chicks rely on their mother to help them hatch from them rather than being able to do it on their own.

Secondly, ostrich eggs are a popular egg for decoration because of the size of the shell. Generally when the egg shell is larger, more detail can be put into the design. This egg is typically 7 inches in length and 4 ½ inches in width, weighing in at more than 3# before removing the insides.

Ostrich Feathers

The full quill area (where feathers are stuck into the skin) brings in about $400-450 tanned and $200 green

The plumage of the male is quite attractive and is used for a variety of purposes in home decoration and sometimes in clothing

Feathers are used as household feather dusters, shoes, clothes, plumed headpieces, and more recently computer dusters Feathers leave no dust and eliminate static electricity

Feathers harvested from ostriches today can be taken with no harm to the bird itself. During molting season, when birds lose and replace their feathers, domestic ostriches are herded into a pen and then blindfolded to calm them down. Experienced pickers will walk among the birds and gently dislodge loose feathers before the birds are released once again. This painless harvesting provides enough ostrich feathers to use in terms of household products and decorations.

Ostrich Oil

ostrich oil is made from the fat of the bird. The fat is in layers between the hide and the flesh. The meat is not marbled with fat like beef. All of the fat is together in layers.

Throughout history, many people have used the oil from ratites for the purpose of alleviating rash on the skin. conditions included burns, dry skin, etc.

This oil is found to have many important nutrients for the skin that aid in the skin’s overall moisture.

To date, this oil is a highly recommended treatment method among individuals who are looking for ways to benefit the ailments that they may be experiencing with their skin.

This oil is not considered toxic or dangerous in any way. one of the reasons that many individuals suggest using it is because it

is a natural oil that does not clog pores. Ostrich oil is helpful in the relief of pain in muscles and joints.

Ostrich Living Environment

Ostriches need at least 250-300 sq ft per bird up until 6-8 months of age, when the growth rate starts slowing down

Ostriches are hardy animals that readily adapt to a variety of climatic conditions. adequate shelter is available in pasture plots and pens to

protect adults and older juveniles form extreme conditions such as snow, ice, heavy winds, cold rain, and sleet.

In summer, shade must be available. Chicks and juveniles younger than 1 year must, of course, be well protected against bad weather.

The shelter should be designed so that birds must enter through a confinement pen making it easier to catch them.

Ostrich Living Environment Cont. Feed and water should be located inside shelters in order to

condition birds to enter the shelters freely, as well as to protect feed from the weather. Feeders should be positioned so that caretakers can fill them without being

exposed to aggressive males. Both feeders and waterers should be the open type and should be

adjustable so that they can be kept at chest height of the birds. Fences for older juveniles and adults should be at least 5 feet high

and constructed of 5 to 7 strands of smooth, barbless wire. The bottom wire should be high enough above the ground so that the

caretaker can escape from aggressive males. Mesh wire is sometimes used for outside fencing to keep out predators, but

should not be used in pens because the birds can injure themselves on it. Fence posts should be on the outside of pen areas.

Loading chutes and catch pens should be at least 8 ft high and of solid construction to prevent frightened birds from seeing beyond the pen and attempting to escape by jumping or climbing out.

Ostrich Nutrition

Ostriches are grazers (hind gut fermentors), that consume grass, leaves, and other forbs in addition to insects and arthropods

Important to maintain high fiber content in their diet Young: from 6-9% Adults: minimum of 15-18%

Young ostriches tend to become obese on reduced-fiber rations

Obesity is one of the major causes of decreased production

Ostriches need free-choice water to prevent impaction

Also need grit. In the wild they pick up pebbles and other hard objects which retain in their gizzard to help grind consumed food, i.e. Oyster Shells

Protein level: 15-24% Ca-P ratio no greater than

2.25 Average energy value of

2,100-2,300 Kilocalories of metabolizable energy per Kg of diet should be fed

Ostrich Restraint

If an ostrich cannot see, it will usually stand calmly without tranquilization for PE, venipuncture, sample collection for cultures, radiographs, and ultrasound.

Ostriches are curious by nature and can frequently be hooded when approached while carrying a feed bucket. A hood is placed on the restrainer’s arm. The beak is grasped with the

hand wearing the hood, and the head is pulled to chest level as the hood is slipped over the bird’s head with the free hand. It is helpful to have someone step behind the bird to lift up on the pelvis if the bird is backing away.

Juvenile birds from 4 mo to yearlings are best handled by slowly and calmly herding them into an enclosed barn. If they cannot see out and are crowded into a corner, they will sit and

can then be easily handled. If there is no enclosed area, portable panels can be used to crowd the birds into a small area.

Ostrich Restraint

For young chicks: grasp the birds by the legs and pick them off the ground.

At least four experienced people are necessary to handle mature birds.

A bicycle handlebar attached to a rake handle works well to fend off ostriches. A sheet of plywood, with holes for the arms to pass through, protects the handler who is placing a hood over the ostrich's head.

Ostrich Restraint- Hoods

Above: Step 1 of restraint technique

Right: Step 3 of restraint technique

Above: Step 2 of restraint technique

Ostrich Diseases

Poor sanitation in incubators, hatching rooms, chick rooms, and brooders is the leading cause of health related problems in ostriches. Overcrowding is also a major problem

Many Ostrich breeders vaccinate for salmonella, Escherichia coli, and the various clostridial diseases as an additional preventative measure

3 main conditions are Diarrhea, Egg binding, and Oviduct Infections

Diarrhea

Most common clinical sign in young ostrich chicks

Causes: sudden change in diet, new diet, or pathogenic reasons

Dx: Culture and antibiotic sensitivity tests to determine tx of bacterial diarrhea

Tx: bismuth subsalicylate or allowing adjustment to new or changed diets

Ostrich chicks are coprophagic, thus transmission of many bacterial infections is quite rapid The most common

bacterial causes include: E. Coli, Salmonella spp, Pseudomonas spp, Campylobacter jejani, Klebsiella spp. Clostridium Perfringens, C. colinum, Mycobacterium spp, Strep, and Staph.

Egg Binding

Hens can become egg bound Causes: genetic predisposition to egg binding,

or complications from poor nutrition, obesity, metritis, or environmental factors

Dx: Ultrasound, Radiology Tx: Injections of Vitamins A, D, and E, along with

calcium and oxytocin Increasing the bird’s ambient temperature seems to

help as well Breaking the egg in the uterus should be avoided,

because there is a high risk of lacerations from shell fragments

Oviduct Infections

Metritis can cause abnormal shell development to no egg production at all

Salpingitis is also a common bacterial infection in the hen

Common isolates on culture that cause pneumonia, air sacculitis, and/or peritonitis include E. coli, Pseudomonas spp., and Acinitibacter spp

Papilloma viruses have also been isolated Signs: malformed eggs,

sudden stop in egg production, and/or odoriferous eggs. May also have discharge below cloaca with peculiar odor

Dx: ultrasounds and X-rays (helpful in assessing the amount and consistency of exudates in the oviduct of the hen), culture/sensitivity testes

Tx: based on isolate culture and sensitivity tests

The End…

Resources

http://www.best-ostrich-info-online.com/ http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/i

ndex.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/171101.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ostrich http://www.ostrich-products.co.uk/meat&

eggs.htm

Introduction to Animal Science. Leland S. Sharpiro