In article recommendations concerning purchase and cultivation of ostriches are made. Experience of foreign countries is described.
On site "VIP Ostrich" ostrich farm materials (the VIP the Ostrich an ostrich’s farm)
Ostriches it is possible to plant for the purpose of the subsequent realization of young growth and development of adult herd. Application practically all further finds: meat, egg, skin, fat, feathers, egg shell.
For cultivation in farms, the African ostrich is generally used. Contain the Australian emus and ordinary (shlemonosny) cassowaries less often.
This species of ostriches well got accustomed in our climatic conditions, easily transfers winter, besides the bird is nonaggressive, manageable and quickly adapts for a new place and the person.
Ostrich’s business draws attention of poultry breeders and in Ukraine more and more. The first farm on cultivation of a black African ostrich was constructed more than hundred years ago in the reserve territory Askaniya-Nova.
Ostrich – a bird for the extensive contents. At existence ostriches usually live in an economy of spacious pastures big groups. Each male defines own territory whereas females can pass from one territory to another. Males are rather aggressive, but as their attention is directed on protection of the territory from a male neighbor, they are more indulgent to the service personnel. Thanks to free movement, females can couple with different males therefore the quantity of oosperms increases. A ratio of males and females at the joint contents – 1:2,5. It is thus especially important to pay attention to compatibility of males.
The contents on a small limited sex of one male with two-three females is less technological system. Experience of farmers in Canada shows that ostriches can be contained during winter time in shelters on snow at air temperature at least – 4°S. In shelters they freely leave a room through big shaking doors and as easily enter into it. In a strausyatnik individual stalls in the size of 9×8,6 m (with the area about 78 sq.m) are equipped. By means of special system of heating air temperature indoors is supported at level 18-24°C at relative humidity from 40 to 60 %. In Moldova during the winter period of ostriches contain in the wooden hen houses having extensive vyguly, fenced with a metal grid. Moldavians don’t apply heating devices. On pise-walled floors lay a laying from straw a layer not less than 20 see. In the conditions of Moscow area in the winter ostriches live in wooden hen houses at temperature not below 10°S which for them support by means of electrodevices.
Hen house. In the majority of areas of Ukraine of ostriches in the winter it is necessary to keep in stationary hen houses at plusovy temperatures. The hen house can be wooden, brick or from concrete and block designs at the rate of not less than 10 sq.m on each adult bird. Each family of ostriches should be in separate section of hen house, especially in nesting.
Hen houses build not so high: from the head of an ostrich to a ceiling should be not less than 1 m. At lower ceiling the bird often injures the head. The room should be dry, well shined, to have the windows which total area should make not less 1m2 on 10 sq.m.
Vygul. During the warm period of year of ostriches it is desirable to keep in the spacious shelters fitted on perimeter by a metal grid with a size yachei of no more than 30×30 mm. The grid with larger yacheyami is unsuitable, as ostriches often thrust into them the heads and can be lost from asthma. On perimeter of a shelter it is desirable to make the base of logs and clay on which establish columns for grid fastening. Such protection will prevent penetration into a shelter of vagrant dogs.
Landing density. At the maintenance of ostriches by big groups (about 80 breeding birds) the total fenced area determine at the rate of 8 adult individuals on 1 hectare.
Climatic conditions. According to the farmers planting of ostriches in desert regions, this bird doesn’t love colds, rains, dampness. The French farmers report that ostriches in the conditions of France can be contained out of a room only in the presence of simple shelters from a rain, and the main danger to birds is made not by cold, and high humidity.
Ostrich’s farm. There is some approaching to creation of an ostrich’s farm. It can be production of eggs and young growth, cultivation of birds on slaughter, cultivation of a breeding livestock.
The most expensive way of the organization of a farm – acquisition of eggs and their incubation. The organization of reproduction of a bird in this case will need 2-3 years. An oosperm sell in the world market at the price from 70 to the 120th dale. The USA apiece while approximately at the same price it is possible to buy daily baby birds.
Age category of birds from 6 months to 1 year the most difficult.
Simpler, but a high cost way of the organization of an ostrich’s farm – acquisition of adult manufacturing birds.
In an economy the livestock of ostriches is got at the rate of 16 manufacturing females and 8 males that gives 500 heads of posterity in a year. As a rule, ostrich’s farms specializirovany or on an incubation of eggs and young growth cultivation (for what contain manufacturing birds), or on fatten young ostriches for receiving meat.
On farms which specialize on reproduction, should be grown up healthy strausyata, capable to consume a large number of a grass and hay. On the farms specializing on fatten, ostriches with high live weight and insignificant deposits of hypodermic fat should be made.
The analysis of economic activity of farmers-strausovodov in America and Europe shows that the greatest income is brought by sale of the young growth intended for cultivation on slaughter, at the age from 1 till 6 months.
Costs of creation of a farm develop of the following main articles: construction of rooms and shelters, a territory accomplishment, acquisition of animals or incubatory egg and incubators, the equipment for heating systems, etc., acquisition of fodder concentrates and production of green forages.
Leaving. Considering excellent sight and force of feet of the ostriches, the personnel serving them should move slowly and quietly. Always it is necessary to consider that ostriches react instinctively, being in herd and if one of birds suddenly runs, the others will follow it. On the fenced platforms such reaction can harm to birds.
Upon purchase of an ostrich pay attention to his live weight, proportionality of addition, correctness and rhythm of gait, lack of shortcomings of statement of a neck, the line of a back and in extremities. Positively characterize birds at whom clear eyes, a smooth beak, a trunk in horizontal situation with small adjournment of fat on a breast and the tightened stomach, the dense, smooth, brilliant plumage, symmetrically located wings and feet, a back joint of a finger doesn’t concern the earth gait correct, direct, rhythmical. Healthy ostriches are active, quickly move, are inquisitive, clean feathers, well eat a forage.
On site "VIPOstrich" ostrichfarm materials (VIP Ostrich ostrich’s farm).