The emu, a large flightless bird native to Australia, is notable for its size, speed, and unique breeding behaviors, with males incubating eggs and caring for young. Emus require specific housing and nutritional standards for optimal growth and reproduction, and significant care is needed to manage their health and diseases. The commercial viability of emu farming lies in the marketing of various products like emu oil, skin, and meat, although it requires proper processing and market exploration.

1. EMU(Dromaius
novaehollandiae)
Presented By,
NISHAD
SULTANA
ALB7121

2. INTRODUCTIO
N
The emu is the second-largest living bird by height, after its ratite relative,
the ostrich. It is endemic to Australia where it is the largest native bird and
the only extant member of the genus Dromaius.
Emus are soft-feathered, brown, flightless birds with long necks and legs,
and can reach up to 1.9 meters (6.2 ft) in height. Emus can travel great
distances, and when necessary can sprint at 50 km/h (31 mph); they forage
for a variety of plants and insects, but have been known to go for weeks
without eating. They drink infrequently, but take in copious amounts of water
when the opportunity arises. They are long lived up to 30years.
Breeding takes place in May and June . Emu attains sexual maturity in
18months of age. However, male emu is ready for breeding in 24months of
age. Females can mate several times and lay several clutches of eggs(20-
40) in one season. The male does the incubation; during this process he
hardly eats or drinks and loses a significant amount of weight. The eggs
hatch after around eight weeks, and the young are nurtured by their fathers.
They reach full size after around six months, but can remain as a family unit
until the next breeding season.

3. Three color stages during the growth period of emu
1. Hatch to about 2 months – Longitudinally striped
2. Three months to about 1 year - Uniform chocolate brown / beige with head
and neck darker.
3. Mature birds – Bare blue neck outlined with black feathers , mottled body
feather coloration . No color differences between males and females.

4. HOUSIN
G
Pen and run system of housing is found to be suitable for emu.For adult /
breeder usually one male and one female 1000 square feet floor area is
required of which 200 square feet is covered and the rest open.
To provide shade , trees should be grown in the middle of run area.T
o
alleviate heat stress a water shower is to be provided.
Pen area may be cemented floor , while the run area with sand. The whole
area is secured with 10feet height one square inch welded mesh to prevent
them from predators.
Potable water shall be provided adlibitum . Feed is provided in specially
designed emu feeder .Though emu is said to tolerate extremes of weather
conditions they are found to be highly comfortable in winter season.
FLOOR SPACE REQUIREMENTS
Age of the bird Pen space(sq. ft.) Run space (sq. ft.)
Upto 3 weeks 4 -
4 to 12 weeks 40 75
13 to 24 weeks 100 200
25 weeks and above 100 400

5. NUTRITIO
N
Emu needs balanced diet for their growth and reproduction.
Specially designed feeder is used to provide feed. Water
is provided in a metal bucket. Feed and water are
provided adlibitum.
The feed consumption is 945, 511 and 730g per bird per day
during the non breeding , breeding and annual basis
respectively. Feed intake is reduced during breeding season
.
At the end of laying season, the emu starts to eat voraciously
for about a month to 45days .this is natural instinct to replenish
their body condition after a stressful laying season. So the off
season is the correct time to get body condition to right level
and the time to replenish any body nutrient reserves. Feed
conversion ratio of emu at 1 year of age is 6:1. more growth is
observed between 2 to 7 months during which the feed
conversion ratio us 3:1 to 4:1.

6. Feeding standards and common ratios
Recommended emu feed for brooder , grower and breeder emu is milled and mixed
at veterinary college and research institute, namakkal is fed for emu birds maintained
at TANUVAS-RRC, Padukkotai.
FEED FORMULATION FOR EMU FOR 100KG
INGREDIENTS BREEDE
R 0-
9WEEKS
GROWER
10-42WEEKS
BREEDE
R
43WEEK
S
MAIZE 50 45 50
SOYABEAN MEAL 30 25 25
DEOILED RICE 11 16.7 15.7
SUNFLOWER OIL CAKE 6 10 -
DI Ca PHOSPHATE 1.4 1.5 1.5
CALCITE POWDER 1.4 1.5 1.5
SHELL GRIT - - 6.0
SALT 0.2 0.3 0.3
TOTAL 100 100 100
CP 21 20 17.8
ME Kcal/kg 2780 2680 2640

7. REPRODUCTI
ON
Under standard management practices emu attains sexual maturity in
18months of age. Emu courtship behaviors observed at emu research
unit were strutting and displaying the neck feathers by both the male and
female. Both the sexes vocalize strongly.
The female makes a booming sound and the male makes a grunting
sound . Non compatible birds fight each other , gradually decreases as
age advances. The laying season starts from sept to feb and each emu
lays 30 to 40 eggs in one season .
Oviposition time is 4.30 to 7.30pm. The mean egg weight is 562g. Most of
the eggs are laid at 3 days interval with an inter clutch period of 7 days .
The egg number, weight and hatchability are increased as the birds
age advances.

8. COLLECTION AND STORAGE OF EMU
EGGS
Trained workers shall watch breeding hens , so that eggs are collected
10-15mins after laying. The eggs shall be carefully gathered and wiped with
dry cloth. The collected eggs are stored in a room temperature for 3days in a
clean container that had been cushioned with sterile cotton to ensure eggs
do not roll.
All the eggs are laid and collected are treated with any chemical or washed.
Dirt is removed from the eggs by using sterile cotton prior to keep in storage
container . Eggs are checked for morphology and abnormaly shaped eggs
are removed .
Soft shell , cracked and pecked eggs are also removed from the collection .
The eggs are placed horizontally in the storage container and turned 6 times
a day. Eggs are usually marked and weighed prior to being incubated.

9. INCUBATION AND
HATCHING
The incubation period recorded for emu egg is 49 to 52 days with an
average of 50days. The incubator is needed to be fumigated with 2g
potassium permanganate +4ml formalin for every 10cft. Space before
setting the eggs.
All the eggs should be placed horizontally in the incubator. The temperature
of 97.5F dry bulb and 84F wet bulb are set to incubate the eggs for 47days
during which they rotated hourly at an angle of 180degreealong their axis.
There after, these eggs should be transferred to the hatcher where the
temperature are maintained
. All the non hatched eggs are opened to investigate the cause of hatching
failure at day 52 of incubation. Tapping the egg with small cylindrical metal
rod produces a particular sound that is used to identify an egg that has
internally piped and need to be moved to the hatcher. Immediately after
hatching ,antiseptic liquid are applied over the naval region .

10. CHICKS
MANAGEMENT
•
•
•
The weight of emu chicks are 372-450g depending on the size of egg. emu
needs brooding during their early life. After 3days in hatcher, the chicks
transferred to brooder arrangement that is, the litter were spread on the
floor and covered with new gunny bags over the litter .
The floor space provided per chick for first 3weeks is 4sq.ft .the brooding
temperature of 90F at first 10das and 85.5F till 3 to 4 weeks should be
provided. Proper temperature makes the brood successful. Sufficient
number of waterer and feeder in the brooder are provided.
The height of the chick guard is 2.5ft to avoid jumping and straying of chicks.
After 3weeks of age ,the chicks should be transferred to chick house where
75sqft run space was provided. The emu brooder chicks with black and
brown stripes normally struggles for walking due to poor leg strength. This
is supported by splint bandage during first few weeks of their life.

11. DISEASE MANAGEMENT AND VACCINATION
SCHEDULE
•
•
Ratite birds are generally sturdy and live long . Mortality and health
problem in emus are mainly in chicks and juveniles . The diseases
recorded were intestinal obstruction , leg abnormalities and aflatoxicosis in
chicks.
Death due to impaction and infighting injury were recorded in the adult
birds. The birds reared should be protected against ranikhet disease
scheduled as follows
AGE VACCINE DOSE/bird ROUTE OF
ADMINISTRATIO
N
4-7days Lentogenic 100microlt. Intranasal/intra ocular
28th day Lentogenic 100microlt. Intranasal/intra ocular
8th week Mesogenic 0.5ml Subcutaneous/intra
muscular
18th week Mesogenic 0.5ml Subcutaneous/intra
muscular
pre lay during
august month
Mesogenic 0.5ml Subcutaneous/intra
muscular

12. MARKETING OF
PRODUCE
Empirical data so far recorded shows that when all the body parts of emu is
processed and marketed for a fair price emu farming may become a
commercially viable enterprise. The prospect of emu farming lies in
exploring the market potential for emu oil and emu skin.
Though a few farmers have attempted to extract emu oil and currently
being marketed owing its natural quality of possessing relief for joint pain ,
retarding aging and improving beauty when mixed with cosmetic
preparation. Owing to its long life span of about 40yrs.
The returns could be a long term waiting. Emu farming is to be
economically viable its produce namely emu oil, emu skin need to be
processes and marketed. Emu meat may be sold for a fair price.
Emu feather and nail may also be made in to products and
marketed .
Currently, emu farms are scattered and processing of emu produce may be
possible in future. Only when all the emu produce is processed and
marketed, it will be economically viable livelihood option for farmers.