Hostname: page-component-669899f699-vbsjw Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-04-24T12:14:03.145Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Critical factors in ostrich (Struthio camelus australis) production: a focus on southern Africa

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2007

Ross G. Cooper
Ross G. Cooper
Affiliation:
Department of Physiology, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box MP 167, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe
Get access

Abstract

Ostrich production is highly management intensive. The ability to sustain long term profitability is dependent upon the use of strict management techniques by the producer and his workforce. Important factors include those favouring maximisation of production, elimination of disease, reduction in transport and abattoir damage, and minimising feed costs. Given the rise in the global competitiveness of the ostrich industry, the implementation of best practices on the farm is vital if the producer is to remain viable.

Keywords

critical factorsdiseasemanagementostrich
Type
Regional Report
Information
World's Poultry Science Journal , Volume 56 , Issue 3 , September 2000 , pp. 248 - 265
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2000

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

Allwright, D., Burger, W.P., Geyer, A. and Terblanche, A.W. (1993) Isolation of an influenza A virus from ostriches (Struthio camelus). Avian Pathology 22: 59–65CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
ANONYMOUS (1995) Ostriches. Not yet too late to make hay. Effective Farming 10(September): 448Google Scholar
Ar, A. and Rahn, H. (1985) Pores in avian eggshells: gas conductance, gas exchange and embryonic growth rate. Respiratory Physiology 61: 1–20Google ScholarPubMed
Blood, J.R., Van Schalkwyk, S.J., Cloete, S.W.P. and Brand, Z. (1998) Embryonic deaths in relation to water loss of artificially incubated ostrich eggs. Proceedings of the 2nd International Ratite Conference21–23 September,Oudtshoorn, South Africa, pp. 148–151Google Scholar
Bolte, A.L., Voelckel, K. and Kaleta, E.F. (1999) Vaccination of ostriches (Struthio cumelus, Linnaeus, 1758) against Newcastle disease: evidence for vaccine compatibility and seroconversion after vaccinations using hemagglutination inhibition and virus neutralization tests. DTW Deutsche Tierarztliche Wochenschrift 106: 62–65Google ScholarPubMed
Brown, C.R. and Prior, S.A. (1999) Development of body temperature regulation in ostrich chicks. British Poultry Science 40: 529–535CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bray, S. and Sales, J. (1998) The influence of litter type on the behaviour of ostrich chicks. The Ostrich News April, pp. 28 and 31Google Scholar
Bubier, N.E., Lambert, M.S., Deeming, D.C., Ayres, L.L. and Sibly, R.M. (1996) Time budget and colour preferences (with specific reference to feeding) of ostrich (Struthio camelus) chicks in captivity. British Poultry Science 37: 547–551CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Christensen, V.L., Davis, G.S. and Lucore, L.A. (1996) Eggshell conductance and other functional qualities of ostrich eggs. Poultry Science 75: 1404–1410CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cilliers, S.C. (1998) Feedstuff evaluation, metabolisable energy and amino acid requirements for maintenance and growth in ostriches. Proceedings of the 2nd International Rutite Conference,21–23 September,Oudtshoorn, South Africa, pp.12–23Google Scholar
Cooper, R.G. (1999a) Ostriches: heads out of the sand. The Farmer 69: 25Google Scholar
Cooper, R.G. (1999b) Zimbabwean ostrich industry strategies into the 21st century. Ostrich Farmer Forum 3(17): 4–5Google Scholar
Cooper, R.G. (1999c) A study to assess the critical success factors of ostrich farming in Zimbabwe. Ostrich Farmer Forum 3(14): 2; 3(15): 4–5; 3(16): 4–5Google Scholar
Cooper, R.G. (1999d) Environmental analysis of the Zimbabwean ostrich industry. The Farmer 69: 16–17Google Scholar
Cooper, R.G. (1999e) Challenges facing local ostrich industry. Independent Farming 22–28 October, p.25Google Scholar
Cooper, R.G. (1999f) Zimbabwean management of ostrich breeding birds. World Poultry 16: 29–31Google Scholar
Cooper, R.G. (1999g) Treat ostrich eggs with extra care. World Poultry 16: 33Google Scholar
Cooper, R.G. (1999h) A discussion on ostrich chicks. Ostrich News 3: 1, 3–9Google Scholar
Cooper, R.G. (1999i) Struisvogelkuikens: een mini overzicht. N.S.O. Nieuwsbrief 31: 8–12Google Scholar
Cooper, R.G. (1999j) Critical success factors for the Zimbabwean ostrich industry. MBA dissertation, Nottingham-Trent University: NottinghamGoogle Scholar
Cooper, R.G. (1999k) Ostrich meat, an important product of the ostrich industry. A southern African perspective. World's Poultry Science Journal 55: 389–402CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cooper, R.G. (1999l) Meat from the ostrich. Slaughtering, meat inspection and health risks. Fleischwirtschuft International 1: 31–36.Google Scholar
Cooper, R.G. (1999m) Producer assessment of the service quality provision in the Zimbabwean ostrich industry. The Farmer 69: 27Google Scholar
Cooper, R.G. (2000a) Zimbabwean ostrich production. Zimbabwe Science News 33: 73–78Google Scholar
Cooper, R.G. (2000b) Technical and management issues in Zimbabwean ostrich production. Australian Ostrich Association Journal (in press)Google Scholar
Cooper, R.G. (2000c) The management of ostrich (Struthio camelus) chicks. World's Poultry Science Journal 56: 33–44CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cooper, R.G. and Benson, F.V. (2000) Soyabean meal, an important component of ostrich diets. Feed Mix 8: 25–26Google Scholar
Deeming, D.C. (1993) The incubation requirements of ostrich (Struthio camelus) eggs and embryos. In: Ostrich Odyssey (Bryden, D.I., Ed.), Proceedings of the Australian Ostrich Association Inc. (Vic.)University of Sydney,Sydney, pp. 85–92Google Scholar
Deeming, D.C. (1995a) Factors affecting the hatchability during commercial incubation of ostrich (Struthio camelus) eggs. British Poultry Science 36: 51–65CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Deeming, D.C. (1995b) The hatching sequence of ostrich (Struthio camelus) embryos with notes on development as observed by candling. British Poultry Science 36: 67–78CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Deeming, D.C. (1996) Microbial spoilage of ostrich (Struthio camelus) eggs. British Poultry Science 37: 689–693CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Deeming, D.C. and Ayres, L. (1994) Factors affecting the rate of growth of ostrich (Struthio camelus) chicks in captivity. Veterinary Record 135: 617–622Google ScholarPubMed
Deeming, D.C., Ayres, L. and Ayres, F.J. (1993) Observations on the commercial production of ostrich (Struthio camelus) in the United Kingdom: incubation. Veterinary Record 132: 602–607CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Degen, A.A., Weil, S., Rosenstrauch, A., Kam, M. and Dawson, A. (1994) Seasonal plasma levels of luteinising and steroid hormones in male and female domestic ostriches (Struthio camelus). General and Comparative Endocrinology 93: 21–27CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dzama, K., Mungate, F. and Topps, J.H. (1995) Ostrich production in Zimbabwe: summary of survey results. Journal of Applied Science in Southern Africa 1: 142–147Google Scholar
Els, H.J. and Josling, D. (1998) Viruses and virus-like particles identified in ostrich gut contents. Journal of the South African Veterinary Association 69: 74–80CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Errington, A. (1992) Developing talents and team building. Farm Management 8: 101–110Google Scholar
Foggin, C.M. and Honywill, J. (1992) Observations on the artificial incubation of ostrich (Struthio camelus var. domesticus) eggs with special reference to water loss. Zimbabwe Veterinary Journal 23: 81–89Google Scholar
Gandini, G.C., Burroughs, R.E. and Ebedes, H. (1986) Preliminary investigation into the nutrition of ostrich chicks (Struthio camelus) under intensive conditions. Journal of the South African Veterinary Association 57: 39–42Google ScholarPubMed
Gelis, S. (2000) Heritability of traits associated with ostrich production. Australian Ostrich Association Journal 55: 6Google Scholar
Giles, A.K. and Renborg, U. (1990) Farm management: what's it all about? Farm Management 7: 399–411Google Scholar
Gillespie, J.M. and Schupp, A.R. (1998) Ratite production as an agricultural enterprise. Veterinary Clinics of North America – Food Animal Practice 14: 373–386CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gonzalez, A., Satterlee, D.G., Moharer, F. and Cadd, G.G. (1999) Factors affecting ostrich egg hatchability. Poultry Science 78: 1257–1262CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Green, S., Bertrand, S.L., Duron, M.J. and Maillard, R. (1987) Digestibilities of amino acids in soyabean, sunflower and ground nut meals, determined with intact and caecectomised cockerels. British Poultry Science 28: 643–652CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hafez, H.M. (1995) Structural changes in the poultry production industry and in the tasks of veterinarians (in German). Deutsche Tierarztliche Wochenschriff 102: 265–268Google Scholar
Hallam, M.G. (1992) The Topaz Introduction to Practical Ostrich Farming. Topaz Superior Print and Packaging, HarareGoogle Scholar
Hicks-Alldredge, K. (1998) Ratite reproduction. Veterinary Clinics of North America – Food Animal Practice 14: 437–453CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Holle, D. (1997) Effects of good nutrition on ostriches. Blue Mountain Feeds Bulletin 4: 1Google Scholar
Huchzermeyer, F.W. (1996) High mortality in ostrich eggs and hatchlings due to egg washing. Journal of the Southern African Veterinary Association 67: 3Google ScholarPubMed
Huchzermeyer, F.W. (1997) Animal health risks associated with ostrich products. Revue Scientifique et Technique de L'Office International Des Epizooties 16: 111–116CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kettlewell, R.J. and Mitchell, M.A. (1994) Catching, handling and loading of poultry for road transportation. World's Poultry Science Journal 50: 54–55CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lambrechts, H., Huchzermeyer, F.W. and Swart, D. (1998) Integrating ostrich behaviour in commercial farming systems. Proceedings of the 2nd International Ratite Conference,21–25 September,Oudsthoorn, South Africa, pp. 177–179Google Scholar
Ley, D.H., Morris, R.E., Smallwood, J.E. and Loomis, M.R. (1986) Mortality of chicks and decreased fertility and hatchability of eggs from a captive breeding pair of ostriches. Journal of the American Vetcrina ry Medical Association 189: 1124–1126Google ScholarPubMed
March, L. (1995) Ostriches – a curious bird indeed. Pet Column for the Week 9(October): 1–2Google Scholar
McKeegan, D.E.F. and Deeming, D.C. (1997) Time budget analysis for breeding ostriches in a farming environment. Applied Animal Behauiour Science 51: 159–1 77CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Meeker, D.L. (1999) What are the livestock industries doing, and what do they need from us? Journal of Animal Science 77: 361–366CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Meir, M., Nir, A. and Ar, A. (1984) Increasing hatchability of turkey eggs by matching incubator humidity to shell conductance of individual eggs. Poultry Science 63: 1489–1496CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Orvad, B. (1996) Stress-free transport of ostriches. Ostrich News May/June: 1–2Google Scholar
Paleari, M.A., Corsico, P. and Beretta, G. (1995) The ostrich: breeding, reproduction, slaughtering and nutritional value of the meat. Fleischwirtschaft 75: 1120–1123Google Scholar
Payne, H. (1993) Welfare of ostriches and other ratites during transport. State Veterinary Journal 3: 8–12Google Scholar
Payne, W.J.A. (1990) An lntroduction to Animal Husbandry in the Tropics. 4th edition, Longman Scientific and Technical, EssexGoogle Scholar
Perelman, B. (1998) Veterinary aspects of preventative medicine in ostriches. Proceedings of the 2nd International Ratite Conference,21–25 September,Oudsthoorn, South Africa, pp. 181–186Google Scholar
Perelman, B. and Kuttin, E.S. (1992) Aspergillosis in ostriches. Avian Pathology 21: 159–163CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Perelman, B., Gur-Lavie, A. and Samberg, Y. (1988) Pox in ostriches. Avian Pathology 17: 735–739CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pierson, E.E., Porter, L.M. and Brown, R.D. Jr (1980) Amino acid digestibility of dehulled soybean meal by adult turkeys. Poultry Science 59: 845–848CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rahn, H., Paganelli, C.V. and Ar, A. (1987) Pores and gas exchange of avian eggs: a review. Journal of Experimental Zoology l(Supp1ement): 165–172Google ScholarPubMed
Raines, A.M. (1998) Restraint and housing of ratites. Veterinary Clinics of North America – Food Animal Practice 14: 387–399CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Randall, J.M., Streader, W.V. and Meehan, A.M. (1994) Vibration on poultry transporters. World's Poultry Science Journal 50: 64–65CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reiner, G. and Dzapo, V. (1995) The oxygen consumption of ostrich embryos during incubation. DTW Deutsche Tierarztliche Wochenschrift 102: 93–96Google ScholarPubMed
Rogers, M. (1998) Ostrich farming. Farming World 24: 59–64Google Scholar
Sales, J. and Horbanczuk, J. (1998) Ratite meat. World's Poultry Science Journal 54: 59–67CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sales, J. and Mellet, F.D. (1996) Post-mortem pH decline in different ostrich muscles. Meat Science 42: 235–238CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Samson, J. (1996) Behavioural problems of farmed ostriches in Canada. Canadian Veterinary Journal 37: 412–414Google Scholar
Schmitt, J. (1997) Maximum growth of ostrich for slaughter. Australian Ostrich Association Journal January, pp. 1–2Google Scholar
Shanawany, M.M. (1984) Inter-relationship between egg weight, parental age and embryonic development. British Poultry Science 25: 449–455CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Shanawany, M.M. (1996) Ostrich farming is an ancient business. World Poultry 12: 59–63Google Scholar
Sibley, C.G. and Ahlquiste, J.E. (1990) Ratites and Tinamous in Phylogeny and Classification of Birds, Yale University Press, London, pp. 272–288Google Scholar
Smith, W.A. and Sales, J. (1995) Feeding and Feed Management. In: Practical Guide for Ostrich Management and Ostrich Products (Smith, W.A., Ed.), Allentec Inc. Publication, Stellenbosch, pp. 8–19Google Scholar
Swan, R.A. and Sicouri, O. (1999) Evidence of sperm storage in the female ostrich. Australian Veterinary Journal 77: 649–650CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Swanepoel, R., Leman, P.A., Burt, F.J., Jardine, J., Vervoerd, D.J., Capua, I., Bruckmer, G.K. and Burrger, W.P. (1998) Experimental infection of ostriches with Crimean- Congo haemorragic fever virus. Epidemiology and Infection 12: 427–432CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Swart, D., Rahn, H. and De Kock, J. (1987) Nest microclimate and incubation water loss of eggs of the African ostrich (Struthio camelus vur. domesticus). Journal of Experimental Zoology 1(Supplement): 239–246Google Scholar
Toien, O., Paganelli, C.V., Rahn, H. and Johnson, R.R. (1988) Diffusive resistance of avian eggshell pores. Respiratory Physiology 74: 345–354CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tullett, S.G. (1990) Science and the art of incubation. Poultry Science 69: 1–15CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tully, T.N. Jr (1998) Health examinations and clinical diagnostic procedures of ratites. Veterinary Clinics of North America – Food Animal Practice 14: 401–420CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tully, T.N. Jr and Shane, S.M. (1996) Husbandry practices as related to infectious and parasitic diseases of farmed ratites. Revue Scientifique et Technique de l'Office International Des Epizooties 15: 73–89CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Van Schalkwyk, S.J., Cloete, S.W.P. and De Kock, J.A. (1996) Repeatability and phenotypic correlations for body weight and reproduction in commercial ostrich breeding pairs. British Poultry Science 37: 953–962CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Verwoerd, D.J. (1998) Newcastle disease in ostriches: a review of experimental data. Proceedings of the 2nd International Ratite Conference,21–23 September,Oudtshoorn, South Africa, pp. 107–109Google Scholar
Verwoerd, D.J., Olivier, A., Gummow, B., Gerdes, G.H. and Williams, R. (1999) Experimental infection of vaccinated slaughter ostriches in a natural, open-air feedlot facility with virulent Newcastle disease virus. Avian Diseases 43: 442–452CrossRefGoogle Scholar