Ostrich farming can be a profitable agricultural business. Ostriches are raised commercially for their meat, hides, and feathers. They have an excellent feed-to-weight ratio, requiring only 2-3.5 pounds of feed to produce 1 pound of weight gain. Ostrich meat is also very lean and low in fat and cholesterol. Potential ostrich farmers can obtain stock by purchasing eggs, chicks, or proven adult breeders. Proper nutrition, facilities, health management and breeding are keys to successful commercial ostrich farming.

2. Ostrich Farming

3. Introduction
 The Scientific name of ostrich is ‘Struthio Camelis’.
Ostrich is the biggest bird among all the bird species.
They also produce the largest eggs. An adult male
ostrich weights between 63 to 130 kg and an adult
female ostrich weights about 155 kg . Adult male ostrich
feathers are black colored, primary and caudal feathers
are white colored. Female and baby ostrich feather can
be of gray or white colored. The neck of the both male
and female ostrich is almost featherless.
 Most birds have four finger in their feet, but ostrich have
only two fingers. When they spread their wings, the
distance is about 2 meters. They provide shadow to their
baby with their wings. The lips of the ostrich are flat,
wide and the head is slightly curved.

4.  Generally, ostrich gain sexual maturity within 2 to 4
years of age. At maturity the height of the male bird is
about 1.8 to 2.8 meters and the female bird is about 1.7
to 2 meters. For the first two years, the birds grow at
the rate of 28 cm per year weight about 45 kg.
 ostrich farms are considered to be among the most
profitable agricultural projects. They are often referred
to as "the farms of the future" because of the large
variety of possible products and hence their high profit
potential. Ostriches are raised commercially for their
meat, hide and feathers

6. Concept
The Ostrich is an endemic bird of African origin.
Ostrich Availability
 In earlier the northern Africa, southern part of Sahara,
Eastern Africa, southern woodland of Africa and Asian
minor was the habitats of ostrich. Then their habitats
were limited to the open territory grassland of Africa and
they started roaming in the desert or semi-desert areas
of South-Western Africa.
 Among the wild animals, ostriches are in second position
in speed. When they get infected, they lay down their
head and neck in the ground.

7. How can we Start ?
Buy eggs and hatch chicks.
Requires the least capital
initially, provided eggs can
be obtained at reasonable
cost. However, production
is at 2 years away.
Buy chicks (8 weeks or
older). Reduces problems
involved in hatching and
early brooding but will, of
course, be more expensive
than eggs. Again, production
is at least 18 months away.
Buy proven breeders.
The expensive route, but
enables the producer to
begin production
immediately.

8. Feed Management
Ostriches are Omnivores.Generally they eat plant, grass, fruits,
flowers, tree leaves and grains. They also eat insects occasionally. For
commercial ostrich farming, you can feed them usual poultry feed. A
well balanced and nutritious ostrich feed list is shown below.
 20-24 % of crude protein
 12-19 % of crude fiber
 1.2-2 % of calcium
 0.6-1.1 % of phosphorus
 10,000-15,000 IU/kg vitamin A
 1,500-2,500 IU/kg vitamin D

9.  During breeding period, the feed formula will be
the same, but add 2.8 % extra calcium in their
feed. Also provide them green leafy vegetables and
grass, with pelleted feed and Add some extra trace
elements.
 Like chickens, ostrich also eat small stone pieces
for digesting food properly. You will find about 1 kg
of stones in the stomach of an adult ostrich.
Ostrich can survive without water for a few days.
They collect water from their consumed grass or
leaves. But if they found water, they drink and
often take a bath. Ostrich can tolerate frequent
changes of temperature. Even they can tolerate
daily temperature change of 400°c. During
excessive cold weather, they cover their legs with
their large wings, which helps to keep their body
warm.

10. Comparison b/w beef and ostrich meat
Particulars Beef Cattle Ostrich
Land 30,000 sq feet
per pair
4800 feet
per pair
Gestation 280 days 42 days
Offspring per year 1 30
Meat Production
Time
10 months 10 months
Meat Production
Per Annum
120Kg 1350 Kg
No of Hides 1 30
Cost of Feed Per
Day
Rs.40-60 Rs.25
Breeding years 10-11 40-45
Meat Price Per Kg Rs. 400 $ 15 Or
Rs.1200
(curren
t)

11. Farming In Pakistan
 Pakistan ostrich company is responsible to provide
every technical assistance and consultancy to farmers on
farm construction,Ostrich food and medication and
precautions.
 POC also train farmers and their staff to ensure success
of ostrich farm
 Numerous farms with 25-200 birds have started their
operations in Pakistan under POC.Main farms are in
karachi,Attock,Chakwal,Lahore,and Bahawalpur.
 New farms are opening in Thatta,Hyderabad And Ranipur

13. Four major markets for ostrich
1-Fancy bird market
2-Export market
3-Live ostrich Market
4-Pakistani market

14. Incredible Feed to Weight Ratio Gain
 Cattle and swine can eat in excess of 20:1 in their feed
to weight ratio. This means that they have to eat 20
pounds of feed to add 1 pound of weight.
 The overall feed to weight ratio gain of an ostrich is 2:1
during the first few months of their lives and this climbs
to only 3.5:1 during their normal development for
processing at 9 months or so. The benefits to you are
considerable: less maintenance, less feed and of course
less animal waste!

15. Commercial Ostrich Farming
Getting started
Nutrition
Hatchery management
Incubation requirement
Health

16. Management
Investment and profit &
loss ratio for all the
partners is equal,

17. Uses Of Ostrich
 The tendons of the ostrich leg are used to replace torn
tendons in humans as they are long and strong enough
for the human leg
 Ostriches are able to see clearly for over 12 km, and the
cornea is large enough to be trimmed down to fit the
human eye
 The ostrich brain produces a substance that is being
studied for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and
other types of dementia.
 No other leather in the world can compete with ostrich
except of bear that’s why the leather is most expensive
in world.

19.  The wonderful oil of ostrich comes from the fat of
ostrich. There are benefits of their wonderful oil in
providing relief from certain skin irritations and other
discomforts

20.  After 2 years they become immune to diseases like bird
flu and their mortality rate decreases except if they eat
glass or any other thing like that.Great Care is to be
taken of birds under 2 years.
 The 2 biggest problems by far are:
1-Poor nutrition including incorrect feeding, feeding cheap
feed and feeding the wrong feeds.
2-Farmers do not maintain the right environment for the
ostrich.

21. Conclusion
 The environmental benefits, the excellent feed to weight
ratio gains and the breeding proliferation of ostriches
make commercial ostrich farming worthy of
investigation.
 We also know that ostrich handling after 4 - 5 months is
very low and a good farm manager can easily take care
of a farm of 100 breeding ostriches and hundreds of
offspring.