Natural habitat of ostriches. On which continents does the world's largest bird live? ostrich species

The African ostrich is the only member of this family. You can meet him in the wild, but he is also perfectly bred and grows in captivity.

Features and habitat of the African ostrich

The ostrich is one of the largest birds on earth. African ostrich weight in adulthood it reaches 160 kg, and its growth is slightly below 3 meters. The head of an ostrich is small in relation to its body, the neck is long and flexible. The beak is straight and not hard. The mandible has a keratinized outgrowth. The mouth ends right at the eyes. The eyes are bulging with a lot of eyelashes.

The plumage of males is black with white feathers in the tail and at the ends of the wings. The females are colored grey colour with white feathers at the ends of the tail and wing. The head and neck of an ostrich are not feathered.

The ability to fly in an ostrich is absent due to underdeveloped pectoral muscles and underdeveloped wings. Its feathers are curly and loose and do not create strong blades of fans. But the ability of an ostrich to run fast cannot be compared, even with horse speed. The legs differ in length and strength.

Many are interested in the question how many fingers does an african ostrich have? African ostrich paw has two fingers, one of them is keratinized. It is supported when walking and running. The ostrich egg is distinguished by its big size. One such egg is equivalent to 24 chicken eggs.

African ostrich dwells in savanna and desert zones beyond the forests of the equator. Australia is very African ostrich-like bird entitled . Previously, it was considered a relative of ostriches, but recently it has been attributed to the Cassowary order.

African ostrich has two fingers

This one also has huge dimensions: up to 2 meters tall and 50 kg in weight. African ostrich in the photo does not quite resemble a bird, but that is exactly what he is.

The nature and lifestyle of the African ostrich

Ostriches love to be in company with and and move by following them. Because of their good eyesight and large stature, they are the first to notice and give a signal to other animals about the approach of danger.

At this time, they begin to scream loudly, and develop a running speed of more than 70 km per hour, and a step length of 4 m. Little ostriches of a month old up to 50 km per hour. And even when cornering, their speed does not decrease.

When it comes mating season, one black african ostrich covers a certain area of ​​several kilometers. The color of the neck and legs become bright. He does not let males into his chosen place, and treats females kindly.

They huddle in small groups of 3-5 individuals: one male and several females. During mating African ostrich performs an unusual dance. To do this, he spreads his wings, fluffs his feathers and kneels.

Then, throwing back his head and laying it on his back, he makes rubbing movements with it on his back. At this time, he moans loudly and hisses, attracting the attention of the female. Even the wings take on a brighter and more saturated color.

If the female liked the dance and the ostrich itself, she goes to him, lowering her wings, bowing her head. Crouching near him, repeats his movements, attracting other females. This is how a harem is created, where one female will be the main one, and the rest will constantly change.

At this time, ostriches become very bold and aggressive. When dangerous situation they run without fear to the enemy and rush into battle. They fight with their legs. The kick has a very powerful force and capable of killing. Therefore, not every predator decides to meet with this bird.

There is a myth that ostriches hide their heads in the sand when they see danger. Actually it is not. The female sitting on the eggs, during a dangerous situation, puts her head and neck on the ground, trying to hide and be invisible. Ostriches do the same when they meet predators. And if you come close to them at this moment, they rise sharply and run away.

African ostrich food

Ostriches are omnivores. Their usual diet may include flowers, seeds, plants, rodents, small, animal meat, undereaten by predators.

Since ostriches do not have teeth, for favorable digestion, they swallow small stones that help grind and grind food in the stomach. Ostriches are able not to drink water for a long time, since the bulk of the liquid is obtained from the eaten plants.

Reproduction and lifespan of African ostriches

The laying of eggs of all females is made in one nest, which the male independently pulls out before laying, with a depth of 30 to 60 cm. So they can gather up to 30 pieces. IN North Africa a little less (up to 20 pieces), and in East Africa up to 60.

One egg weighs up to 2 kg, and reaches a length of more than 20 cm. African ostrich eggs have a good strength, pale yellow color. The main female lays her eggs in the middle and incubates herself, driving the rest of the females away.

One ostrich egg is equivalent to 20 chicken

The duration of the incubation period is 40 days. The female does this all day, leaving for a while to eat or drive away small pests. At night, the male sits on the eggs.

A chick hatches from an egg for about one hour, breaking the shell first with its beak, and then with the back of its head. From this, abrasions and hematomas form on the head, which heal very quickly.

The female breaks unhatched spoiled eggs so that insects flock to them and the chicks can feed. Chicks have vision and fluff on the body, and are also capable of independent movement. One ostrich weighs about one kg, and by the age of four months they reach up to 20 kg.

Pictured is the nest of an African ostrich

As soon as the chicks are born, they leave the nest and, together with their father, go in search of food. At first, the skin of the chicks is covered with small bristles. Plumage development is very slow.

Only by the age of two do males have black feathers, and before that, in their own way appearance they resemble females. The ability to reproduce appears in the third year of life. The maximum life expectancy is 75 years, and on average they live 30-40 years.

In childhood, some chicks converge and are not separated all their lives. If these chicks are from different families, then their parents begin to fight for them among themselves. And those who were able to win become parents for someone else's chick and are engaged in their upbringing.

Pictured is an ostrich chick

Breeding African ostriches happens in two ways:

1. The female lays eggs and breeds. Eggs, young animals, as well as adult offspring are allowed for sale.
2. Acquisition of young animals for fattening and subsequent sale of adult offspring for the purpose of slaughter.

Ostrich breeding is carried out in order to obtain: meat, skin, egg products, including shells, feathers and claw. It is necessary to breed an ostrich in mild climate zones.

In the summer, you need to keep them in paddocks equipped with paddocks, and in winter in warm rooms with no drafts. A prerequisite the content should be litter in the form of hay, straw or sawdust.

Walking areas should have trees growing nearby where ostriches can hide from the scorching sun. It is very important to observe sanitary and hygienic conditions when breeding an ostrich. To find out African ostrich price consider the price - list of prices of one of the poultry organizations:

• chick, one day old - 7 thousand rubles;
• chick, up to 1 month old - 10 thousand rubles;
• ostrich, 2 months old - 12 thousand rubles;
• ostrich, 6 months old - 18 thousand rubles;
• ostriches 10 - 12 months - 25 thousand rubles;
• ostrich, 2 years old - 45 thousand rubles;
• ostrich, 3 years old - 60 thousand rubles;
• family, aged 4 to 5 years - 200 thousand rubles.

Igor Nikolaev

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Ostriches are long-lived by bird standards. They can live 75 years, but this is ideal. Always pay attention to the environment. If an individual that lives in the wild is considered, then ostriches do not live long, because birds have many enemies, a meeting with which can be fatal. In captivity, on farms, the age of the individual is longer. Here, too, individual situations are considered. How long do ostriches live? What determines their lifespan?

In wild nature

The ostrich is a large bird. She does not know how to fly, but she runs very fast: she can reach speeds of up to 70 km / h. Moreover, the ostrich can withstand the pace for several hours. Birds live in Africa. In the wild, they have mastered semi-deserts, savannahs. The area is open, with little vegetation. There are few corners where they could hide. They have a lot of enemies.

• Adult birds are attacked by lions, cheetahs, leopards. Predators are strong and fast, but they are afraid of ostriches, because they know that they can give a worthy rebuff. As a rule, in the fight against large predators, birds lose. There are cases when kicking an ostrich led animals to lethal outcome.
• Small predators such as hyenas and jackals, vultures and vultures do not risk attacking adult birds. They are destroying the egg clutches. During the day, they are guarded by females, who close the nest with their body and cannot leave it, because instinct tells her that the eggs can get cold. The female protects the clutch without leaving her place. Unfortunately, many hens die in a fight with predators. The male helps her keep the nest from ruin, but he is not omnipotent either.
• In the wild, ostriches can live up to 30-50 years. Individuals that lead a solitary lifestyle die faster. They don't have to wait for outside help.
• Birds rarely die from diseases.
• Living in the wild, they do not develop infectious diseases. This happens for many reasons. Ostriches have good immunity. In the savannah and in the desert, infected animals are rarely found that would be carriers of the pathogen.

The main enemy of ostriches that live in the wild is man. Poachers exterminate birds in herds, often consisting of 100 heads. Recently, foreign hunting tourism has been progressing.

People have fun shooting birds from a helicopter. Local authorities pass laws against poaching. It is prohibited to transport ostrich feathers, down, and other raw materials across the border.

Living in captivity

Living on farms, ostriches live as long as the entrepreneur allows them. If the bird is bred for meat, then it is used as early as 1.5 years. By this age, an individual can reach 100 kg. Growth in young animals after a year and a half slows down. Fattening livestock for a longer time for the entrepreneur may be unprofitable.

Parental families are created from the largest and healthiest individuals. The family consists of 5-6 females and 1 male. Birds are kept for breeding. Puberty in an ostrich comes to 4 years of age. The female has a long period of productivity, up to 30 years. The parent herd is protected from diseases, a special diet is prescribed for individuals. After a decrease in productivity, the parent stock is updated.

Being on a farm, in a limited space, the herd is exposed to pathogens infectious diseases. Ostriches are heat-loving birds. They do not tolerate low temperatures. High humidity is contraindicated for them. Improper bird care and infections shorten the lifespan of ostriches.

Carriers can be other farm birds, domestic animals, operators who care for livestock. How long an ostrich can live in captivity is difficult to determine. Much depends on the epidemiological situation in the region.

If it is wrong to choose an area for organizing an ostrich farm, with high humidity, with low temperatures environment, the bird may experience rhinotracheitis, sinusitis, eye diseases. The veterinarian prescribes antibiotic therapy. This dramatically reduces the immunity of the ostrich, and, of course, reduces life expectancy.

Many diseases lead to death in birds. Among them are bird flu, smallpox, fungal gastritis. Young animals are vaccinated against certain infections. The livestock is fed with antibiotics according to the scheme, other preventive measures are taken.

Ostriches need a lot of space. Birds are free-spirited. In the wild, they have everything at their disposal. African savannah. In a cramped room or aviary, birds experience stress, which affects the immune system of the individual.

Creating favorable conditions will prolong the life of the bird, and bring profit to the entrepreneur. In the summer, the livestock is kept in open pens. The territory is chosen with a flat relief, illuminated by the sun. Groundwater should be no closer than 1 m to the surface of the earth.

For winter maintenance, insulated hangars with high ceilings are built. Be sure to consider the ventilation system and heating. Birds need clean air. Ammonia vapors will cause the development of inflammatory processes in the upper respiratory tract. The litter is made of deep soft hay. It is changed before the bird settles. In poultry houses, the temperature is maintained at 15 C. Optimal Humidity 50%. Operators must ensure personal hygiene.

Sometimes householders acquire several ostriches for decorative purposes. Birds are beautiful and attract attention. They are not used for meat after a year and a half, and will not be culled just because the female has decreased productivity. Ostriches are looked after, they are cleaned, their feathers are sometimes trimmed, and everything necessary is done for them to prolong their lives. Under such conditions, birds can live for a long time, more than 75 years.

Why do you think you can see more and more emus on farms? It's easy to guess if you know how much an ostrich weighs. The maximum weight of poultry reaches 250 kilograms. However, depending on the variety, the mass can vary significantly. To know which bird is the most profitable to raise, let's find out which ostrich is the largest.

Ostriches are strange birds that came to us from the mysterious African continent, from Australia and from the Middle East. It is logical that the names of subspecies reflect their place of residence.

The most big bird planets - ostrich

The height of the Australian flightless bird is 1 meter 50 centimeters, and the weight of the ostrich reaches 55 kg. Males have a larger mass than female ones, and can reach 100 kg. During the laying of eggs, the male loses a third of his weight, because it is he who incubates the chicks. The mother at this time produces food.

Emus live in grassy and shrubby areas and feed on pasture and insects. They eat cereal plants with pleasure, so the Australian authorities decided to partially shoot ostriches if they harm agriculture.

The emu can be recognized by its plumage, which contains all shades of brown. The head and neck have deeper dark colors, gradually lightening at the bottom of the body. Emus have three toes on their feet, which are used for defense. Male and female look the same. You can distinguish them by raising the tail and pressing down the cloaca. If a sexual organ appears, then you have a “boy” in front of you. Otherwise, you looked under the tail of the "lady". However, not everyone will decide on such peeking - an ostrich can easily kill a person with one kick. Thanks to their strong lower limbs, emus can run at speeds up to 51 km/h and can swim excellently.

Newborn chicks of the Australian flightless bird are very tiny - up to 400 g. Up to 25 eggs are included in the clutch, which means that more than two dozen babies hatch at a time. The weight of one egg is 700 - 900 g, which corresponds to 10 - 12 chicken eggs in terms of mass and volume.

The ostrich is an ancient animal. However, at some stage it mental development stalled. The tiny head contains the same tiny brain. Ostriches are very shy and even afraid of their own shadow, and as food they can easily eat bottle caps or anything that fits in their beak.

Emu - birds weighing 160 kg

African

These are the tallest and heaviest birds among their fellows. Their height is 2.5 meters, the weight of the female ostrich is 120 kg, and the male is 150 kg. It is not surprising that farmers noticed a bird with such dimensions. Huge eggs weighing 2.5 - 3.5 kg are eaten. From such a testicle you can cook an omelet for the whole family.

The average weight of a newborn chick is up to two kilograms. Chicks develop quite quickly. For a year, a pair of African ostriches hatch up to 40 ostriches. In adulthood, such a number of birds gives up to two tons of easily digestible dietary meat. Ostrich feathers are also in use. They are used in jewelry and for souvenirs. From one ostrich get up to 2 kg of feathers! The plumage on the body of males is black, the feathers of the wings and tail are white. But the females are not so beautifully painted - in dirty brown tones, wings and tails have dirty white feathers.

The stride length of the African ostrich, thanks to its long legs, is 3 meters, and it runs at a speed of 50 km / h. Unlike the emu, it has only two toes on its feet, with which it fends off predators. In nature, "Africans" live in dry, rocky areas; to improve the digestion of food, they swallow small pebbles. The African bird has a well-developed herd instinct. There are up to 50 individuals in a herd.

Strong legs are a serious defense against large predators. With one kick, an ostrich can easily kill or seriously injure a lion or tiger.

The weight of an African ostrich is more than 200 kg

Somali mountains

The East African state of Somalia has its own species of ostrich, which is a subspecies of the African. The female gorayo has a brighter brown plumage, unlike other species. The head, neck and thighs of the birds are not feathered, like those of their counterparts. Long eyelashes, huge eyes and a straight flat beak are hallmarks gorayo.

Males and females hatch their chicks in pairs: females during the day, and males at night. Newborn birds have a weight of 1 - 1.3 kg, while growing very quickly. During the season, ostriches increase their mass to 18 - 20 kg. Adults reach their maximum weight after the fourth year of keeping. The height of an ostrich after 3 years is 250 cm, and the weight ranges from 100 to 170 kg, while females are much more massive than males.

They feed on gorayo plants, and not only grass, but also shrubs and leaves are eaten. However, with equal pleasure they feast on small rodents and insects. In the absence of food, an ostrich can live without water and food for up to two days.

Average weight Gorayo - 170 kg

How fast do ostriches grow

At birth, the growth of the chick is about 25 cm, and every month it increases by 25-30 cm. And at maturity, its height will be about 2.5 meters.

At home, ostriches reach their maximum weight and height by the age of three, but on farms, birds are slaughtered, as a rule, by one and a half years. But you can get eggs after two years of maintenance. An ostrich carries an average of 80 to 120 eggs per year.

Summary

Growing a domestic ostrich is a profitable business. From one carcass you get:

• tasty meat that tastes like beef;
• eggs for food;
• feathers for souvenirs;
• leather, from which handbags, belts and other leather goods are made.

Domestic ostriches are no longer exclusive, and ostrich farms have firmly taken their place in domestic agriculture.

Since childhood, everyone has known the fastest and flightless bird - the ostrich. And even now, children, watching funny cartoons with the participation of these birds, ask adults questions: “What kind of bird is this and where does it live?” And to answer the question: "Where do ostriches live?" We invite readers to read this article.

This wonderful bird lives where there are open spaces and greenery. Ostriches cannot fly, although they have large feathers. Their speed can reach 70 km / h, but on average no more than 50 km / h. Therefore, birds live only in the savannah and are almost never found in any other natural zone.

Savannah

Africa has always been considered the historical homeland of ostriches, there are also Australian species of this bird, but in Australia the runner lives in the savannah. Why this particular habitat? It's so simple, ostriches are birds that love to run, and from enemies that are larger than them, all that remains is how to run away. And based on this, we can say with confidence that in the forest they will not be able to pick up the speed that an ostrich can develop on a plain.

It is also easy for birds to hide in the savannah. They fall to the ground and stretch their necks, hence the well-known proverb about hiding their heads in the sand. Also, thanks to the gray plumage, female ostriches are perfectly camouflaged when hatching eggs. But runners do not live in dense thickets and swampy places, they try to avoid such places.

The climate in the savannah is dry, there is no rain for a long time, and then for several months it will pour without ceasing. During the day the air temperature rises quite high, but the nights can be cold. Long-legged birds coped with these quite well. During the day, they fan themselves with large wings, thereby lowering their body temperature, and at night they lower their wings below the body, on their legs, warming the bare parts of the body.

Vegetation in the savannah is sparse. It is in this zone that low-growing grasses with narrow leaves grow, belonging to the cereal family, and sometimes they are covered with a special waxy coating that retains life-giving moisture in plants. There are also undersized shrubs, but they are not interesting for birds, on the contrary, runners avoid them, they are afraid to damage their eyes.

Water in the savannah in dry times is under the crust of the dried layer of the earth. Thanks to powerful paws, ostriches break the dried layer and pull out a small hole in which the necessary water is collected. The whole family drinks from it - a male and several females with chicks.

Do ostriches live in the desert?

One can unequivocally answer that ostriches do not live in the desert. It's a real inconvenience for them. Unsteady sand does not allow the runner to gain normal speed, so this natural area they avoid. Although it was noticed by naturalists that during the period of incubation of eggs, families of ostriches, on the contrary, live on the outskirts of deserts, where solid soil is still found and there is at least some vegetation.

Photo gallery

Today it is difficult to find a business as promising as commercial ostrich farming. Breeding ostriches- one of the most profitable types of modern poultry farming. Before our eyes, from an exotic business for the CIS, ostrich breeding is being transformed into an independent branch of agriculture. Due to its high taste and dietary qualities and "precocity", ostrich meat successfully competes with beef in the world.

From one adult bird, when slaughtered, you can get 36-44 kg of pure meat, 1.8-2.5 kg of beautiful ostrich feathers used to make fashionable things and jewelry, 1.2-2.0 m 2 of skin, which is used for making the thinnest and most durable skin, 4.5 kg of offal and 1-2 kg of fat used in the manufacture of cosmetics.

At the same time, world prices for ostrich products are consistently high. On the world market, the cost of 1 hatching egg (according to various sources) is $70-120, a daily ostrich - up to $400, one pair of breeding birds-producers - $2000-4000 US. The cost of 1 kg of ostrich meat currently ranges from $15 to $28. Not surprisingly, in recent years, many farmers in the US and Western Europe have changed their specialization, switching from traditional livestock and crop production to breeding African ostriches, which is much more profitable and interesting.

In Ukraine, there is practically no market for ostrich products, so its producers can work in a field of minimal competition.

Breeding an ostrich is no more difficult than any other poultry. With reasonable management and knowledge technological processes breeding ostriches can achieve a profitability of production in the range of 40-120%. However, if some of the biological and technological features that distinguish ostriches from other poultry species are not taken into account in economic activity, then the expected profits can turn into large financial losses and disappointment.

Ostriches classification

ostriches (Struthiones or Struthioniformes) belong to the subclass of running birds (Ratitae), also called flat-chested or keelless.

In the order of ostriches (Struthiones) there is only one family (Struthionidae) - ostriches, with one genus Struthio Linne 1758 and one species Struthio camelus Linne 1758, in which 6 subspecies are distinguished:

-S.s. camelus Linne - North African or common ostrich;

— S.c. spatzi Stresemann - Senegalese ostrich;

— S.c. massaicus Neumann - Masai ostrich;

— S.c. molybdophanes Reichenov - Somali ostrich;

— S.c. australis Gurney - South African ostrich

— S.c. cyriacus Rothschild - Syrian ostrich.

The first five subspecies of ostriches live in Africa, in its various regions. The Syrian ostrich is now apparently extirpated.

In everyday life, there is also a classification of ostriches according to the color of the neck: with a pink or red neck - these include ostriches of the North African, Masai, Senegalese and Syrian subspecies, blue neck - ostriches of the Somali subspecies, black neck - South African subspecies A.

South American th rhea and australian emu, which are often referred to as ostriches in the literature, in fact, ingo to separate teams.

Biological features of ostriches

African black ostrich(Struthio camelus domesticus) or african blacks appeared as a result of crossing the North African ostrich with the South African. Males reach a height of 2.4-2.5 m with a body weight of about 120 kg, and females - 2.2-2.3 m with a weight of 105-115 kg (see Fig. 2.). This is the most numerous and widespread population grown on farms. As a result of many years of workyou they are easier to grow in captivity and have a mild character. The live weight of emus is 40-50 kg, female nandu - 23-28 kg, males - 30-35 kg.

Features of the structure of the body strouses and the biological characteristics of the organism provide them with the ability to have a good overview of the terrain, travel long distances in search of food, survive in anhydrous sandy desert at high temperatures, quickly run away from enemies.

Ostriches have excellent eyesight, they believe that they see at a distance of 3 km. Blagodarya high-set head and big eyes- an eyeball with a diameter of about 5 cm weighs about 60 g - ostriches have a deep and wide field of vision.

Smell and taste are relatively poorly developed.

The ears of an ostrich are in the form of holes, located on the back of the head and closed with valves. The head is flat on top, with a bald head, in comparison with the size of the body is very small, the neck is long, the beak is smooth, in males during the period of sexual activity it is red. The nostrils of the beak are also covered with a membrane.

The life expectancy of an ostrich is from 30 to 75 years. The reproductive period of the African ostrich begins at the age of 3 and lasts 4 decades. With intensive technology, an ostrich is usually used up to 15-17 years. When kept in captivity, puberty can occur in males at the age of 24-30, in females at 24 months.

The productive life of females can last 30-40 years, the sexual activity of males - 20 years or more.

Distinctive features The digestive tract of an ostrich is: the absence of goiter and gallbladder, a powerful muscular stomach, in which food is crushed, relatively long and paired cecum, in which plant fibers are mainly split, and a long rectum, in which further digestion and absorption of food occurs.

The keelless birds are not able to fly, which is due to the lack of a keel bone, poorly developed pectoral muscles and underdeveloped wings. The wings, however, perform many important functions and serve, in particular, for protection or weathering in the heat, and in males they play an important role during mating dances. The intestines of ostriches end in a cloaca, into which the ducts of the urinary and reproductive systems open.

Ostriches do not have a coccygeal gland, the secretions of which other birds lubricate the feather.

The most pronounced feature of the ostrich is its unusual strong legs, which are an excellent support for the body. Each foot of an ostrich has only two fingers - the third and fourth. The emus have three, the nandu have four fingers. Thumb ostrich ends with a large claw about 7 cm long. Thanks to strong limbs, ostriches can reach speeds of up to 70 km / h.

The bones of the skull are thin, spongy, filled with air and very weak. Ostriches are very sensitive to blows to the head. Even a small blow to the head can cause death. These features should be taken into account when building a fence, installing and choosing the type of feeders and other equipment.

The brain of an ostrich weighs an average of 30-40 g and is approximately equal in size chicken egg. It is believed that the ostrich is practically unable to retain information in memory for a long time.

The location and sensitivity of the membranes that cover the nostrils are important in ostrich assessment of water and feed quality. This feature must be taken into account when organizing the feeding of ostriches in captivity. Feed particles should be moderately large, better granulated, as crumbly, powdery, dusty feed can disrupt the function. respiratory system ostrich.

The African ostrich has pronounced sexual dimorphism, especially in adulthood: in live weight and plumage. The adult male is much larger in size than the female and is distinguished by the black color of the feathers on the body, as well as the white feathers of the hanging edges of the wings. Gray-brown female. More precisely, the sex is determined by the presence of a fairly pronounced elastic outgrowth (penis) in males, in young birds - by palpation and eversion of the cloaca, in grown replacement young animals (when completing the parent flock) - by probing the outgrowth in the cloaca (see Fig.)

Rice. Sexual dimorphism in the development of the genital tubercle in ostriches.

Duration incubation period(incubation) for nandu 33-36 days, for African ostriches - 39-41 days, for emus - 52-56 days (in some cases, incubation lasts 57-59 days). The productive season for African ostriches in central Russia and Ukraine continues from March to October. The egg production of females is 40-80 eggs per season. The eggs are white and weigh from 1300 to 1800 grams, on average - 1400 g. The weight of eggs in nandu averages 620 g, in emu - 650 g.

The adaptive abilities of ostriches are very high. In the desert, African ostriches can withstand temperatures up to +50 0 С, in the northern regions of Europe and Russia at temperatures down to -12 0 С they feel completely normal, while walking freely withstand 15-16-degree frosts.

Technology of keeping and rearing ostriches

In modern ostrich breeding, there are three main systems for keeping ostriches: extensive, semi-intensive and intensive. The choice of the type of content depends, as a rule, on the availability of cheap land, the availability of cheap fodder and labor.

With an intensive type of content (usually used in northern countries, incl. in Russia, Ukraine), ostriches are kept in limited areas on full ration feeding, sometimes with the opportunity to graze. Egg incubation is only artificial. The required land area rarely exceeds 20 hectares, divided into plots of 1-2 hectares. Due to the low cost of land, this housing system is the most popular. With this type of keeping, special attention should be paid to the correct choice of terrain for the construction of farms, as well as the competent construction and operation of premises for keeping ostriches in cold period. This system has two significant shortcomings: the first is the high cost of feed and high requirements for the usefulness of the diet; the second is serious capital expenditures for fences and buildings (especially in the Nordic countries). However, this system has more pros than cons. The main advantage is full control over the reproduction of livestock and the ability to conduct breeding work.

Choosing a place for an ostrich farm. The site should be dry, somewhat elevated, not flooded by flood and storm water.

moisture and cold wind- the main enemies of ostriches.

Soils should be coarse-grained, with good air permeability, low capillary capacity, suitable for breeding trees and shrubs. Groundwater at the site should lie at a depth of at least 5 meters below the base of the foundation.

As with farms for housing other types of poultry, certain veterinary and sanitary requirements are imposed on ostrich farms. According to these requirements, the distance from the ostrich farm to other livestock farms and residential areas should be at least 500 m, other poultry farms - 1000 m, manure storages, livestock waste processing plants - 1500 m.

When creating large ostrich-breeding complexes, it is planned to divide the territory of the complex into separate zones and subzones with the placement of various technological groups of birds (parent stock, replacement young stock, young stock grown for meat), administrative and economic facilities. The distance between zones should be at least 500 m, subzones - 200 m, between individual buildings in subzones - at least 20 m.

In small farms, it is allowed to build livestock and poultry farms on the same site with a sanitary gap between them of at least 200 m. buildings of the subzone with birds of different ages should be at least 100 m, and those of the same age at least 15-20 m.

Premises and buildings. The size of the building depends on the size of the herd and the expected production volume. At the same time, it should be remembered that it is necessary to comply with the minimum room area per bird, taking into account their age (see Table 1). The building intended for ostriches should be divided into sectors in which birds of different ages will be kept.

Table 1 - Standards for the minimum area of ​​\u200b\u200bpremises for ostriches according to the Polish Union of Ostrich Breeders.

The height of the room must exceed the height adult(2.5-2.7 m) by 50 cm, i.e. be 3.0-3.2 m (for emu - 2.5 m). All internal elements - walls, floors and ceiling - must be smooth, allowing thorough disinfection. Illumination in the room should be at least 25 lux. When using natural light, the ratio of window area to floor area should be approximately 1:10.

Dry, hygienic conditions must be provided at all times and required level ventilation. In rooms for young and adult birds, the floor can be concrete, covered with a layer of bedding (for example, straw), although some researchers believe that the floors for chicks should not be covered at all, since they have a highly developed pecking reflex and they collect literally everything in their path . Straw bedding, swallowed in large quantities, can lead to dyspepsia in the still undeveloped digestive tract, and even cause the death of chicks. If ostrich chicks are kept on such bedding as sawdust, cereal husks or washed building sand, then the bedding should be covered with sacking on top for the first 7-10 days to prevent eating the bedding material. After the burlap has been removed, the bedding should be loosened daily to improve drying and prevent compaction. Slippery surfaces cause "legs wide apart", which is always fatal. Never cover the litter with newspaper, cardboard, plastic or other smooth material and do not place ostrich chicks on such material.

The chick housing should be planned in such a way that it can be divided into smaller compartments for the simultaneous keeping of three groups of ostrich chicks - fast, medium and slow growing.

Natural lighting is sufficient during the warm season. The rest of the time you need to use additional lighting for several hours daily.

During the period of rearing chicks, drafts should be avoided. The speed of air movement in summer should not exceed 0.3-0.4 m / s, and the relative humidity in the room should be in the range of 60-70%. A special room should be allocated - an isolation room - for sick birds or those feeling unwell, which is especially true for chicks during the rearing period. Before entering the building, and especially in the incubation room, it is necessary to arrange a disinfection barrier. Birds delivered to the farm must be quarantined, preferably outside the farm, for a period of at least 4 weeks.

Corrals should be adjacent to the building. Each room should have its own access to a separate paddock. The minimum area of ​​pens for birds until the third month of life must be at least 5 square meters, from the third to the sixth month - 50 square meters, and from the sixth to the fourteenth month - 100 square meters. For adult birds - at least 200 square meters. The pens should be separated from each other by security passages 1.5-2 meters wide, which ensures the safety of the attendants, and also prevents males from contacting each other.

The main requirement for paddocks is the length, which must be sufficient for the ostrich to accelerate to top speed and slow down. This distance is usually 40-60 m. In order for the bird to turn around at high speed, the width of the aviary must be at least 20 m. Thus, the walking area for 1 family (male and two females) is about 800 m 2.

In winter, the conditions for keeping ostriches of the parent herd are changed: 2-3 families are kept in one pen. This is done so that the birds can bask when gathering in large groups and to reduce the need for heating poultry houses.

When considering the principles of rearing ostriches, special attention should be paid to the chicks. It is known that the mortality of birds during the first three months of life reaches several tens of percent. The maintenance of birds older than three months of age, with a well-developed body resistance does not cause great difficulties, the mortality during this period is much lower.

Raising chicks.

After hatching, ostrich chicks should be provided with a temperature of 32 to 35°C, and then lower it by 2-3°C every week until reaching 22-25°C. After 6 weeks of rearing indoors, it is advisable to maintain a constant temperature of 20-24 degrees, especially at night and in cold weather, as chicks are prone to lung infections.

Ostriches have very high requirements for air humidity and bedding. The relative humidity of the air in the room is closely related to the intensity of ventilation, the number of birds per 1 m 2 and the moisture content of the litter (litter, for example, from straw is used only after the birds have reached the 30th day of life). Relative humidity in rooms where ostriches are kept should be 55-70%.

Ostriches are very demanding on light. After being transferred from the hatcher for the first two days, the room is illuminated for 24 hours a day. On the third and fourth days, the number of light hours is reduced to 18, on the fifth and sixth day - to 16 hours of light per day. At the same time, the light intensity also decreases: in the first days of cultivation, the light intensity is 90-100 lux, after the 7th day - 40, after the 14th day and until the end of cultivation - 20-25 lux.

The floor area per chick (until the end of the 2nd month of life) should be 0.25-1 m 2, and in the corral - 5 m 2, then the bird density in the room and on the walk decreases to 0 by the age of 3 months, 5 heads / m 2 (2 m 2 / heads). For ostriches up to 14 days of age, it is recommended to use a room with a concrete floor, and for older ones, enclosures with sand and grass.

For rearing and fattening, ostriches after 8-10 weeks of age are placed in pens with a stocking density of 1 bird / m 2 (1m 2 / head) under a canopy (shelter) and 0.3 head / m 2 (3m 2 / head) open space (walk). From 3 to 6 months of age, the stocking density decreases to 0.1 head / m 2 / head.). The indoor area should be at least 9-10% (ratio 1:10) of the total area allocated for housing birds aged 3-6 months. Older than 6 months, the area of ​​\u200b\u200ba closed room can be 1.5-1.2% of the total area.(10 m

Ostrich chicks are transferred to a fattening diet at 5-6 weeks of age in summer and 6-7 weeks of age in autumn and spring. Fattening lasts up to 40 weeks.

feeding ostriches

The ostrich is a unique herbivore. The ostrich digestive system is characterized by an elongated posterior part of the intestine (especially the large cecum), which increases the path of plant fiber in the digestive tract, as a result of which the intestinal microflora effectively decomposes food.

The large intestine has a length of about 8.6 m. In addition to absorbing water, here, as in the caecum, the breakdown of fiber occurs due to the rich microflora.

The final segment of the colon passes into one of the three chambers (parts) of the cloaca. Unlike other types of poultry, ostriches excrete feces and urine separately.

The total average length of the gastrointestinal tract of adult ostriches with a body weight of 105 to 131 kg is, together with a meter-long esophagus and two caecum, about 16 m. The longest part of the gastrointestinal tract is the large intestine - about 50% of its entire length (see Fig. Table 2).

Table 2 - The average length of different segments of the intestines of an ostrich, emu and chicken

The digestibility of food largely depends on the presence of fiber in it. The digestibility of coarse feed elements is: cell membranes - 47%, semi-fiber - 66%, fiber - 39%. Absorption and oxidative metabolism of fiber-derived end products provide up to 76% of the energy needed for a growing ostrich.

In ostriches, the energy conversion of feed, which contains a lot of fiber, is twice as high as in chickens.

An adult bird consumes about 2.5% of concentrated feed per day from its own body weight. Daily consumption food for growing ostriches is 3-4% of their mass. The ratio of feed intake and growth (feed conversion) in ostriches reaches 1.4-2.1 to 1 at an early age, 2.6-3.0 to 1 for birds aged 3-6 months, and at the final stage of growth (7 -12 months) reaches a ratio of 4.1-15.0 to 1.

Feeding ostriches and zoohygienic conditions of poultry are the two main factors affecting the safety of ostriches, which subsequently determines the viability and survival of the entire ostrich farm.

For the first 3-4 days of life, ostriches feed only on substances coming from the yolk sac, and practically do not need additional food and water. However, during this period, there is a drop in body weight of birds by 20-30%.

In the first few weeks, in no case should ostriches be released to pasture until the dew has disappeared, as this often leads to death. During this rearing period, ostrich chicks should be regularly monitored for litter composition. The feces of healthy ostriches should be soft, not very dry or stony, like sheep, and the urine should be thin, but not sticky. If signs of diarrhea are found, a course of antibiotic treatment is carried out.

At first, ostriches are fed 4 times a day, preferably always at the same time (for example, at 7.00, 11.00, 15.00 and 19.00). At the end of 30 minutes after feeding, the remains of the feed are removed.

From the age of three weeks, the chicks can already be given a mixture of oatmeal, finely chopped alfalfa and starter food in a 1: 1: 1 ratio.

To provide proper development skeleton it is important to maintain an appropriate ratio between calcium and phosphorus in the feed ration. The recommended amounts of calcium and phosphorus in the diet are 1.4 to 2.5 and 0.7 to 1.5%, respectively. The optimal ratio of these elements is from 1:0.5 to 1:0.6.

Ostriches willingly eat grated shells or pebbles the size of a grain of rice, which they can eat in plenty from the 4-5th day of life. Some ostrich breeders recommend giving small pebbles or pebbles only after three weeks of age.

Of essential importance is the content of crude fiber in the diet for chicks. At the age of up to 3 weeks, it should not exceed 5-6%, 6-week-old - 27.9%, 2.5-month-old - 51.2%, and in adult birds it should not exceed 60% of the feed weight.

For feeding young birds, you can use various mixtures - growth, finish and post-finish - differing in protein levels, essential amino acids and energy and based on herbal alfalfa meal (see Table 5) .

Table 5 - Composition of diets for ostriches (dry weight 90%), g/kg diet (according to Smith et al.).

In the rearing of young birds, two feeding systems are distinguished - plenty and a controlled (metered) way.

Birds fed in a controlled way have been shown to be healthier and have better chick survival. Such a feeding system should be accompanied by an assessment of the degree of development of the chicks by control weighing: the first 3 months - weekly, and then - ten days (see Table 6).

Table 6 - Live weight, daily gains and feed consumption by ostriches during the first year of life (according to Nikerk and Müller).

It has also been established that for every kilogram of dry mass of food consumed, a young ostrich drinks about 2.3 liters of water.

Feeding ostriches during reproduction.

Feeding during the reproductive period of ostriches significantly affects their reproductive properties, and hence the quantity and quality of eggs laid, as well as their fertility.

Silage can account for up to 70% of total feed intake and range from 4.5-5.5 kg per bird per day.

After the union of breeding birds, they are transferred to feeding enough. The usual rate of feed intake during the first few weeks of the breeding season ranges from 2.5-3.0 kg per bird per day, but higher rates are possible - up to 3.5 kg. Feed intake normalizes after 2-3 weeks and is set at 2.5 kg per day. The norms of feed consumption in blue-necked and red-necked ostrich species are 10-20% higher. It is extremely important that the diet does not change throughout the entire period of reproduction. Failure to comply with this condition leads to large losses due to the cessation of oviposition or a decrease in the fertility of eggs. If laying hens stop laying due to a change or deterioration in feeding, it will take about 4 weeks to restore the previous level of production.

Most ostriches are kept in small paddocks, so pasture feeding can be considered negligible. Under these conditions, it is recommended to use a complete breeding ration with a dry feed intake of 2.0 to 2.5 kg per bird.

The dose of roughage should not exceed 2 kg per bird daily. A large role in this period is played by green fodder from alfalfa and clover. If birds have limited access to green forage walks, they should be given mowed green forage at least three times a day. Fresh green fodder should be cut into pieces 2-3 cm long. 8 is the recommended content nutrients in the diet of the breeding stock of ostriches with pastureless content, when the bird has free access to food ...

Table 8. Nutrient content of a balanced diet for ostrich breeding stock without grazing.

The optimal amount of feed consumed by a breeding ostrich during the reproduction period is 2.5 kg per day. Ostrich farmers need to regularly check the feed intake of ostriches. In situations where it is less than 2.5 kg per day, you need to identify the cause and correct the situation.

Pastures are known to play an important role in the nutrition of ostriches. When ostriches are grazing, it is recommended to feed them with dry feed, which should be about 1.5-1.8 kg per bird (see Table 9).

Birds should be fed rationally, without overfeeding, in order to avoid excessive obesity, which reduces reproductive performance (egg production, egg fertility).

During this period, the presence of phosphorus and calcium in the diet of ostriches is of great importance, since these components play an important role, primarily in the formation of eggshells. The need for calcium to a large extent depends on the level and phase of oviposition. At the peak of oviposition, i.e. in May and June, the share of this component in the diet can even be over 3.0%, and in the remaining productive months - 2.5 - 3% or even less. However, the proportion of calcium cannot be too high, as calcium reduces intestinal absorption of manganese and zinc. An additional complication is the fact that males and females eat the feed at the same time, which, of course, require much more calcium.

In the male body, excess calcium reduces the absorption of zinc, which has a negative effect on spermatogenesis and, as a result, reduces the percentage of fertilized eggs. At the same time, when there is a lack of calcium (feeding exclusively with grains), the egg shell is too thin and the eggs often break. Only with the use of complete diets can a significant improvement in the quality of the shell occur.

Feeding at the end of the breeding season. After 14 days after the last egg is laid, you should switch to the winter feeding system. Roughage is given with less protein, essential amino acids, metabolizable energy and calcium, and a higher fiber content. The new diet should be introduced gradually over 7-10 days.

The feeding period after the breeding season lasts until mid-January. At this time, the basis of the feed is roughage. Adult birds eat at this time approximately 1 kg of a granular mixture containing 13% crude protein and 8.5 MJ of metabolic energy per kg, as well as 1 kg of oats or barley. Some ostrich breeders, in an effort to limit the cost of winter feeding, refuse to mix at all and feed ostriches with grains, for example, oats and barley, in the amount of 2-2.5 kg daily, adding crushed shells of mollusks. In addition, vitamin and mineral preparations, in particular aminovitazole, are added to drinking water 2-3 times a week. Grains, which are primarily a source of carbohydrates, are very low in protein, so a high protein diet must be added, such as dried alfalfa, which can be bulked and served alongside grains. Usually grains are mixed with dried alfalfa in a ratio of 60:40, although in some countries (for example, in South Africa) the proportion of dried alfalfa in a mixture for ostriches can reach 90%.

An addition to the winter diet for ostriches is a salad of raw vegetables, for example, the following composition: steamed barley - 30%, soybean meal -10%, apples, carrots, onions, cabbage - 60%.

Factors affecting the productive qualities of ostriches

Taking into account the constant demand for ostrich products in many countries, there is a desire to both obtain maximum number eggs from one female, and to achieve accelerated puberty of birds. Significant progress is already being made in this area. Under natural conditions, ostriches mature at the age of 4-5 years. As a result of more than a century of purposeful work with birds in a farm, they begin to rush already at the age of 2-2.5 years, while males reach sexual maturity at the age of 3 years. However, there have been cases of laying the first egg as early as 18 months of age. Under natural conditions, the female lays 12-18 eggs annually, while on ostrich farms - from 40 to 100 and even more. There is evidence that some ostriches kept on American farms laid up to 130 eggs per season, although most birds - from 40 to 60. The highest egg production was recorded in the USA, where even 167 eggs were received from one female per season .

The large variation in ostrich egg production is due to many genetic and environmental factors. One of them is the age of the birds. Young females in the first year of productivity lay 1-20 eggs weighing from 1100 to 1600 g. The number and weight of eggs laid increase in subsequent years. The weight of the egg already in the second year is approaching the average weight - 1500 g. The subspecies of ostriches is also of some importance. African black ostriches are the most egg-laying, laying an average of 50 eggs annually. In addition, these birds reach sexual maturity earlier than blue- and red-necked birds.

Climatic conditions are also of great importance. South Africa are considered optimal for breeding ostriches (warm and dry). There egg production is 30-35% higher than in Europe. The average number of eggs produced per season by a female in South Africa is over 60, while in Western Europe it is around 40.

The egg production of ostriches also depends on the length daylight hours. The course of biological processes in the body of a bird during the breeding season is largely stimulated by the sun's rays. They play a particularly important role in the processes of puberty and egg formation. Light stimulates the secretion of estrogens, the level of which in the blood serum of ostriches increases with the length of the day. At the same time, the amount of protein in the feed increases, which to a certain extent brings the onset of the reproductive period in birds closer. Perhaps, during the breeding season, it would be necessary to maintain the maximum length of daylight hours (16 hours) and artificially maintain this position until the end of the productive period, i.e. until mid-September, since a noticeable drop in egg production is observed already from the end of July, i.e. from the time when daylight hours begin to shorten. However, the implementation of such a concept can be very difficult, since ostriches spend most of their time in pens (also at night). It is possible, in principle, to mount lighting outside buildings. Another solution would be a lighting program that matches the natural conditions of South Africa. On the other hand, the very high egg production seen on some farms in the northern US may indicate that the problem has been at least partially solved there. According to some researchers, the effect of lighting intensity on ostrich egg-laying has not yet been studied. This problem requires integrated research. Their successful completion would make it possible to achieve a further increase in the economic efficiency of ostrich breeding.

The productive period of ostriches begins in different months and seasons, depending on the climatic zone, and lasts 6-8, and sometimes 9 months. In South Africa, it starts in June and ends at the turn of February and March, while in Europe it usually lasts from March to September. On the other hand, in Austria and Germany individual cases ovipositions were observed even in December.

Peak egg production occurs in May-June, i.e. in conditions of the greatest duration of daylight hours, which is more than 16 hours. During these months, ostriches lay 40-50% of the total annual egg production, and in September only 4-5%; together with the reduction of daylight hours - from July 25 - egg production drops sharply.

When keeping ostriches, it is important to avoid stressful situations that drastically reduce the productivity of the bird. At least 30 days before the start of the breeding season, it is necessary to place the bird in the place where it will be kept during the breeding season, in order to allow males and females to adapt to new conditions and not to move them from place to place in the future, which will require additional time for adaptation . Birds should not be transported from farm to farm during the breeding season, as this may stop laying for a long time.

High results in egg fertility are achieved when the ratio of males and females is 1:1. However, on ostrich farms, keeping ostriches in small groups (threes) is common. Sometimes these proportions change - one male and three females. There are still conflicting opinions on issues related to the optimal ratio of females and males and the advisability of their separate rearing during the rest period.

It is very important to monitor the availability of fresh water for drinking in the places where males and females are kept. If there is no water for a long time, then the bird can enter someone else's territory in search of water, which increases the risk of fights, and thus can lead to a decrease in productivity. Noise is also a stress factor. Construction work on the farm and other noisy activities should be avoided during the mating season. It is better if the bird is assigned permanent attendants, since the frequent introduction of new people on the farm can also lead to undesirable results.

It is necessary to collect laid eggs constantly and as quickly as possible, leaving a few eggs in the nest, as this stimulates the continuation of laying. However, it is necessary to choose the moment and collect eggs with minimal attention of the bird. It is better if the bird does not see the human intrusion into its territory at all.

During the productive period, the intensity of oviposition is not the same. At first, the female can lay one or two eggs per week, then the peak of egg production occurs, at which three or four eggs are received from the female per week, and at the end of the period, the intensity of egg laying decreases again, and, finally, it stops completely.

The first oviposition is usually characterized by lower reproductive rates (20-30 eggs with a fertilization of eggs - 50-70%), in subsequent ovipositions, 40-70 eggs can be obtained with a fertility of 70 - 80%.

Ostriches lay their eggs during the whole daylight hours, but in most cases in the afternoon. After laying 10-12 eggs, incubation begins. However, if eggs are systematically removed from the nest, oviposition continues, and up to 80-120 eggs can be obtained from one female per season.

Given that African ostriches often experience a decrease in egg fertility during the reproductive period, males in semi-intensive and intensive systems are often used according to a certain rotational pattern. Males are assigned to certain females, and after a certain period of time males are exchanged between groups of females. At the same time, it must be borne in mind that this technique can also lead to a decrease in the reproductive performance of males and females.

In semi-intensive and intensive systems, using proven males, the sex ratio can be extended to 1:3-4. However, when grouped in large flocks, egg fertility may decrease. Therefore, groups should not be too large, as this leads to fights between males, which, accordingly, interferes with the mating process and leads to a decrease in the fertility of eggs. The owner must form a herd for breeding, taking into account his own conditions and the current situation. If the mating pens are too large, then you can increase the number of adult males in the herd to a ratio of 1:1. Big square, in this case, will reduce the likelihood of fights between males and increase the fertility of eggs.

Males must also be carefully prepared for the mating season and from the beginning to the end of the productive period, it is necessary to maintain their breeding conditions with the help of the correct technology of keeping, a stable level of feeding, preventing deterioration in feed quality, but at the same time, obesity of the bird.

Thus, the following factors affecting the productive qualities of ostriches can be distinguished: selection pressure, genetic factors such as age and subspecies of the ostrich, and environmental factors, the main of which are climate, duration and intensity of light, season of the year, stress and food factor. .

List of used literature

1. Bondarenko S.N. Complete Encyclopedia of Poultry // LLC AST Stalker Publishing House, Moscow, 2002. - P. 405-419.

2. Bondarenko S.N. Breeding and cultivation of ostriches // LLC AST Stalker Publishing House, Moscow, 2003. - 76 p.

3. Rakhmanov A.I. Breeding ostriches // "Aquarium", Moscow, 2001. -62 p.

4. Breeding ostriches in captivity // "Askania-Nova", 2000. - 78 p.

5. Ostrich breeding // Agro-Soyuz Corporation, Dnepropetrovsk, 2005. — 15 p.

6. Demesh M., O. Belash. Reference book of an ostrich farmer // INTISH of Slovakia, Nitra, VNITIP, Moscow, 1995. -100 p.

7. Voronov M.B., Bendas M.V., Balyukov I.D. Ostrich business // Russian-Moldovan joint venture "Anatex Investagro S.R.L. Moldova, 2004. - 150 p.

8. Snitinsky V.V., Kruzhel B.B., Vovk S.O. Biology of the ostrich and technologies for the production of ostrich products // VC LDAU, Lviv, 2006, -288 p.

9. Bevolskaya M.V. Sraus breeding. Nesting, oviposition, incubation // "Logos", Kyiv, 2004, -239 p.

10. Gorbanchuk Ya.O. Breeding ostriches // - Ed. 3rd, - Warsaw, 2002. - 208 p.

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