Liberalised economic policies adopted in 1991 and GATT agreement has given boost to Indian agriculture. After the success of poultry industry during last two decades ostrich farming has opened new vistas for development. The temperate climate of India with zero temperatures of sub Himalayan ranges and 45+ temperatures of Rajasthan desert are found congenial for setting up ostrich farms in the country.
Contacts: Greater Mysore, Chamber of Industry (GMCI),
Karnataka Agro Industries Corporation (KAIC),
Global Ostrich (India) Pvt. Ltd., a joint venture company of Australia.
Forum on Technology for Ostriches (FOTO) has been formed which will act as an umbrella group to bring together farmers and entrepreneurs interested in ostrich farming and to act as a nodal agency to collaborate and negotiate with worldwide ostrich agencies like Auxavia France, South Ostrich Farmers Association and CCI Global Ostrich Group, Australia and also to develop and establish a network with similar agencies at Singapore, Hongkong, South Africa, China and New Zealand.
As to the new farming activity, the Karnataka Government has announced to allot government lands to those interested in taking up ostrich farming in the state. Some of the interested entrepreneurs from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have approached banks to extend financial support for setting up of ostrich farms and also for taking up research on ostriches.
Brief information on Ostriches:
TABLE - 1 GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS FOR OSTRICHES
A. FAMILY Running birds Place of Origin
Ostrich Africa
Emu Australia
Rnea South America
Cassowary New-Guinea
Kiwi New-Zealand
B. General Identification Male Female
Colour black grey
Sexual Maturity 30 months 24 months
Height 2.60 m 2.40 m
Weight 150 kg 130 kg
Speed 70 km/h 70 km/h
C. Breeding specifications
Social Life 1 male for 2 females
Duration of life 70 years
Breeding years 30 years
Laying 60 eggs average per breeding
Fattening birds 30 (12 months)
Egg weight 1.6 kg (24 hen eggs weight)
Mortality Nil (upto 3 months age)
Food secial diet and fresh food
Particular nature growth of 1 cm/day during the 1st 6 months
Slaughtering age 12 months
Meat Output 30-35 kg fillet and steak
Skin output 1.40 m2
D. PRODUCTS UTILITIES
Products
Characteristics
Outlets
Leather Pearl or grain Suppleness, Rusticity Luxury Moroco-Leather Goods Baggage, High Fashion Shoes
Meat Red, Tender, Tasty Dietic Roasted, Grilled, Panful, Nature
Feather Tourism
Suppleness, Anti-Static
Decoration, Brushes, Festivals Show-Farm, Natural or Painted Egg Shells
E. DISTRIBUTION FOR INDUSTRY
Leather
Meat
Feather
Finished skin
Raw skin
--
Natural, Bleached,
Dyed
HERMES
Tannery specialised in Luxury & exotic products
Restaurant, Butchery
Delicacies, Supermarkets
Festivals, Fashion Show and
Theatre show, brush industry
F. PRODUCTION SYSTEM :
i) Is based on the symbosis of 2 different rearing technics : poultry and cow farming.
ii) Production is a semi-intensive farming : indoors and outdoors (building and free space)
G. PRODUCTION CYCLE (4 STEPS)
Particulars
Age
Housing
Starters (Chicks)
Fatterens (Ostriches)
Selection (Ostriches)
Breeders (Ostriches)
1 day to 3 months
4 to 12 months
12 to 24 months
+ 24 months
Poultry Building - adjoining 3 free space
Cow Building or sheep fold + adjoining free space
In free space (Building is optional_
In camps at the ratio of 1 trio to 5 trio per run (Building is optional)
The general practice is one male for two females (trio) for an average output of 60 eggs per female for breeding season, with good rearing condition one can get 30 fatterning birds (12 months period).
H. Technical specifications for an ostrich farm
Age
Indoor
Outdoor
1-21 days
22-90 days
90 days - 300 days
Breeders/Selection
12 months and older
building 0.5 sq.m./bird
building
1.00 sq.m/bird
open shelter
1 sq.m./bird
open shelter
5 sq.m./bird
according to the climate 3-5 sq.m./bird
required 10 sq.m./bird
minimum 50 sq.m
100 sq.m./bird (slaughtering) minimum space 1000 sq.m
500-800 sq.m./bird
minimum space 1000 sq.m.
Note : (i) The open shelter should offer protection on 3 sides with a door on the 4th side.
The opening will be minimum 1.50 wide. The shelter will be minimum 2.50 m high.
(ii) The fence will be minimum 1.50 m high for the birds and breeders (according to the farm and objectives) with a post for every 4 meters.
Source: Ostrich farming : Paper presented by Mt. Laurent Simon, Managing Director, Auxavia, France in the Indo French Seminar on Advanced Food Technologies and Ostrich Farming, Bangalore, India on 26.02.1997
Productivity of Ostriches varies widely but even a conservative estimate of 30 offspring a year compares favourably to cattle productivity. This comparison considers conservative market prices.
Sr.No.
Particulars
Beef Cattle
Ostrich
1
2
3
4
A.
i)
ii)
iii)
iv)
v)
vi)
vii)
viii)
ix)
x)
B.
i)
ii)
iii)
Costs
Level required
Gestation
Offspring per year
Meat Production Time Frame
Meat Production per annum (3)
Square Feet of Hide (3)
Number of hides
Cost of Feed per day
Breeding years
Meat Price per pond
Income per annum
Hide value (1)
Slaughter (meat) value (2)
Plumage value (3)
10,000 sq.m. per pair
280 days
1
10 months
550
50 to 60
1
$ 1.00 - 1.50
10 to 11
$ 1.00
--
$ 550
--
1,600 sq.m. per pair
42 days
30
12 months
1,800
420
30
30 Cents
40 to 45
$ 10.00
$ 10500
$18000
$1500
Total Economic Value (3)
550
30,000
(1) 14 sq.ft.x$25 sq.ft.x30 offspring per year
(2) 60 lbs (choice cuts)x$1000 lbs x 30 offspring
(3) Assumes an average of 30 birds per year
Source: Ostrich farming : Paper presented by Mt. Laurent Simon, Managing Director, Auxavia, France in the Indo French Seminar on Advanced Food Technologies and Ostrich Farming, Bangalore, India on 26.02.1997
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