Ostrich farming

Feeding ostriches

On farms, the birds are housed in airy barns with an adjoining grass run. Pasture is the basis of the ostrich diet from about the end of april until mid-november. As grazing forage declines, the birds are given alfalfa grass hay, supplemented with a vitamin-mineral premix.

The feed ration also includes, of course, kernels, or grain (wheat and barley) at a daily rate of half to one kilogram per bird, with which, especially after a long winter, farmers compensate for the birds‘ energy deficit. In january, they start adding oats and pelleted feed to the ostriches to support laying. From mid-april onwards, green fodder (alfalfa grass) appears in the ration. The feed, together with the lengthening of the day, will kick-start laying during february and march.

Raising ostriches on farms

Ostriches lay an average of 30 to 40 eggs, with bred lines laying 80 to 120 eggs. The eggs are placed in hatching boxes where they are incubated at 36,3 °c for six weeks. A similar temperature should be maintained for the ostriches during their first days in the nursery.

The hatched ostriches are initially kept in the nursery under an infralamp and on heated mats. Feeding begins after the yolk sac is digested, which is about the fourth or fifth day after incubation. From the age of three months, the chicks are on pasture, where they have a complete feed mixture in addition to the green feed. At night they are confined to a mobile air stable. From the age of six months, the birds can tolerate temperature drops below freezing without any problems.

Ostriches reach sexual maturity at two to three years, with roosters maturing later. Ostriches destined for slaughter end their life journey at about one year of age. A 100 kg ostrich yields approximately 30 kg of meat; the so-called commercial meat comes exclusively from the thighs, while the meat from the other parts of the body is used to make sausages.

In addition to the meat, the skin can also be recovered and used,
For example, to make luxury shoes, handbags, bags, clothing, wallets and other accessories. Ostrich feathers are also of interest as fashion accessories. The shells are used either whole for making lamps, cups, etc., or as fragments in the form of decorative items. Ostrich fat is used to make original natural cosmetics.