Introduction to Ostrich Livestock Farming

Ostrich farming is an opportunity in Pakistan. At present the ostrich meat ranks highest
among health foods in Europe. Ostrich is a large flightless hardy bird of African origin can survive in
temperatures ranging from two degrees to fifty degrees Celsius. It can be reared on barren land and
mainly consumes Alfa-alfa, Lucerne and water. Male ostriches are black, with white wings and tail.
The white feathers of the male, which are large and soft, are the ostrich plumes of commercial value. The
female is dull grayish brown. The males are polygamous, and move with three or four females or in groups
of four or five males accompanied by mates and young ones. The females lay their yellowish white eggs
together in a single large depression in the sand. The eggs weigh about 1.48 kg. each and
have volume of about 1.4 liters. The male sits on them at night and the female incubates them by day.
The life expectancy is about 60-70 years
.
Our Goals
The primary goal of Ostriches On Line is to put Ostrich meat onto all the food tables of the world. This goal
will be further enhanced and supported by making available to a worldwide clientele a vast array of
products from one of the most remarkable and resourceful animals in the world. Our goals will
be achieved by educating the world to the phenomenal benefits of farming Ostriches to produce Ostrich
meat and the unequalled by-products of this unique animal.
Advantages of Ostrich farming

i. The bird can be reared in paddock along with sheep, goat and cattle.
ii. The birds need no dipping, drenching, milking and shearing.
iii. The adaptability of the bird is equally high on annual and perennial pastures or scrub.
iv. The bird can be reared both in hot and freezing temperatures.
v. The bird has shown high sustainability in irrigated as well as rain fed farming
environments.
vi. There are virtually no waste products in the bird.

vii. The size of the farm is not

a limiting factor.
viii. The added value segments all along
the products is very high.
The limiting factors that can be
prudently managed are:

i. High capital investments for setting up

of the farms.
ii. The markets for meat and
its byproducts are not easily accessible.
iii. The high penalties for slaughtering older birds (20 months and above) in the European
countries.
iv. The birds are potential and vulnerable for avian disorders particularly for
Newcastle disease.

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 (up to 3 months age)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 m

PRODUCTION SYSTEM:
i) Is based on the symbiosis of 2 different rearing technics : poultry and cow farming.
ii) Production is a semi-intensive farming : indoors and outdoors (building and free
space)
Age Indoor Outdoor
1-21 days building 0.5 sq.m./bird according to climate (3-5sq.m/bird)22
90 days building 1.00 sq.m/bird About 10sq.m./bird90 days - 300 days open shelter minimum 50 sq.
m12 months and older* open shelter 500-800 sq.m./bird* Breeders/Selection
Feeding
The natural habitats of Ostriches are dry savannahs and semi-arid plains, where ostriches
live on poor grazing.

They are able to survive where cattle and sheep cannot.

Ostriches eat grass, leaves of dicot yledons (e.g. lucerne),seeds, berries, but also insects
and small rodents.
Ostriches can digest crude fibers much better than other poultry.

Fully grown Ostriches can digest fiber (cellulose, hemicelluloses, lignin) for more than60% of
their diet.
Food consumption & food conversion rate
It is said that Ostriches eat until their energy demands are met. Therefore if the food is richer in
energy they will earless of it. This may be true for chicks, but adults usually eat until their stomach
is full, up to 5kg per day. Ostriches have very few taste buds and select their food mainly forits colour,
texture and general appearance.
Daily consumption table of concentrated food Ostrich products MEAT

Ostrich meat is 100% red meat. It is extraordinary delicious and is served as a main menu item in
some of the finest restaurants in the world.

The meat is so similar to prime beef in color, texture and taste but is lower in fat content than the leanest
cuts of chicken or turkey.

Add to that, its also lower in calories and cholesterol.

LEATHER
Perhaps the finest in the world and the strongest commercially available.
Boot owners take special pride in their favorite pairs, and they pay high prices for those special
boots that provide the comfort, fit and durability. Ostrich leather yields and stretches to provide a very
comfortable fit, but somehow it simply does not wear out. In the past, the superior qualities of Ostrich
leather could only be enjoyed by people who could afford the very best. But in the future, this highly prized
natural material will be appearing in more and more products, from hand-bags to car-seats,
supplanting inferior leathers as it becomes more widely available.
BY-PRODUCTS: feathers
Ostriches have long been known for their fine feathers. They have been used as
adornments for centuries, and are still unsurpassed by anything, natural or man-made. They
are used in costumes worn by show girls, for Ostrich feather dusters and for final paint surface-
preparations. They are naturally oil-free, and anti-static.

BY-PRODUCTS: Oils
Ostrich Oil is now being used extensively around the world in Skin Care Cosmetics. Long recognized as
having tremendous therapeutic values, Ostrich Oil is more and more being used as a natural
Cosmetic alternative.
Empty Egg shells for Decoration
When nature takes its course and the Ostrich egg is infertile, a small hole is drilled into the base - the
inside and outside is then cleaned. When this empty egg shell is put into the hands of a skilled
"egger" the results can be astounding.

FINANCIAL:
Ostrich livestock farming can be termed as the future
of Pakistan in livestock farming. A third world country
where agriculture is the backbone of the economy, where
there is too much poverty this can serve as a vital role in
providing job and business opportunities. The poor can be
encouraged to participate in livestock farming. In the
current Economic crisis, where the commodities/raw materials of
the industry are subject to inflation. This innovative idea provides
an ideal opportunity for investors and entrepreneurs. The decline in foreign
investment due to the current situation of the Pakistan is hampering the
countrys economy. This will boost the confidence level of the investors towards Pakistan.

Capital Requirements:
A virgin market in Pakistan.
Pakistans Government provides land for Ostrich farming on leasing, which is a great
support to this business.
The Government provides duty free import that is a Plus point towards the capital
requirements the business. A veterinary staff to deal with the diagnosis of diseases and
also there injuries. Managerial staff at the farm to oversee the breeding process.

Feeding expenses.
Fencing.
Cost of one trio chick (4 weeks) Rs.36,000
Cost Of one trio chick (6-8 weeks) Rs.45,000
Feed Cost one year for three chicks (Rural areas) Rs.10,000
Feed Cost First Year for three chicks (Urban areas) Rs.15,000
2nd year for Three birds (Rural areas) Rs.18,000
2nd year for three birds (urban areas) Rs.24,000
Related expenses Rs.16,000
Expected income per trip per year Rs.2,00,000

Estimated Earnings:

Can generate 1, 00,000 PKR/hen.

Huge profits.
Low food requirement.
More profitable than any other Livestock farming.
Low feed to weight ratio: This ratio is 2:1
Leather products:
Ostrich leather is thick, soft and durable. It can be manufactured into a number of products. It
is the most expensive part of an ostrich and it can fetch almost 80 % of the total revenue earned from
an ostrich.
Feathers:

Ostrich feathers are used for cleaning fine machinery and equipment as well as for
decorations and in the fashion industry.
Export
Due to low labor costs in Pakistan, Ostriches can be exported at a cost lower than the other ostrich
exporting countries.
Ostrich Oil:
Ostrich oil obtained from fats of the ostrich is highly demanded in the cosmetics,chemical and
pharmaceutical industry.

An ostrich farm of 50 birds can earn minimum 10 million rupees per year y sellingchicks for only 3000
PKR/chick.
Return on Investment:

Improved Hatching rate: During incubation the eggs may break and the ostrich may losesome of the eggs,
the hatching percentage is 60 normally, but it can be improved to 95%by using an incubator.

Good Mortality rate

Supporting Environment Factors.