Ostrich rearing: A budding livestock venture

Jennifer Abraham, jenihuomabraham@yahoo.com
08148137781

Ostrich is a very valuable farm animal for many known reasons. In recent times, ostriches and emus, their smaller-sized cousins, are increasingly priced for their oils, which are said to be medicinal and useful in the cure of some cancers and other skin diseases. Ostriches would also be well sought out in the future as scientific advances in corneal transplant advances. Ostriches have the largest eyes of all land animals with excellent eyesight; able to see clearly for over 12km. Scientists are therefore, working on the use of ostrich eyes for cornea replacements in humans. The tendons of ostrich legs are also used to replace torn tendons in humans. All these add up to make this flightless bird a priceless livestock material.

Every part of ostrich production is profitable- from the meat, eggs, chicks, oils, plumes and hides to the whole ostrich. Ostrich meat is red meat with a difference: It is similar in taste and texture to that of beef; but unlike beef, it is characteristically high in protein yet low in fat. It is therefore quite clearly a preferable table meat from the health point of view and is increasingly recommended by nutritionists, especially for the elderly and people living with chronic diseases that require modified diets.

Lately, with greater consumer awareness of the implications of high cholesterol levels in the blood and the possible association with increased incidence of heart attacks, cardiovascular and other chronic diseases, the demand for ostrich meat in the international market has been growing. Unlike beef and lamb, the fat is restricted to the under skin areas and not found in the muscles. It is therefore easy to extract the oil. Top class hotels also pay well for this meat specie.

 Ostriches are curious animals and are fascinated by humans. It is a delight to watch a flock of them racing down with vacant eyes, pushing at one another to have a look at visitors. Fortunately, humans find them fascinating too. It is easy to include tourism as one of the income spinoffs from an ostrich ranch.

In Nigeria, a good number of farms are beginning to rear ostriches, especially in the northern parts of the country. This is partly because the birds are far more prolific and easier to raise than other livestock, particularly cattle. In fact, in this era of cattle rustling, many cattle ranches are being converted to ostrich farms.

However, ostrich is still considered exotic meat; fit only for the affluent. Yet, were it to be widely promoted and propagated in the country with the support of the government, it would provide an affordable source of healthy meat for the populace, especially in the southern parts of the country where tsetse fly scare and other livestock scourges have left ranchers disenchanted with cattle, although it is presently the most popular source of traditional meat in Nigeria.

Experts say that a modest ostrich farm can be set up with a little over a million naira. Why would anyone spend that much on a single livestock venture whereas it is cheap to set up a poultry farm, a piggery, snailery, rabbitery, fish farm, or even raise better known livestock such as goats, sheep, or cattle? Simple – Ostrich would yield much more for the discerning investor and for a longer period of time!

Your ostrich may outlive you! It can live for up to 100 years and can remain productive i.e. laying eggs for up to 45 years. The ostrich hen can lay between 30 and 100 eggs per year with an average of 45-50 eggs.

With a very conservative estimate, you can get a 50 per cent survival rate obtaining at least 20 chicks per hen per year. Chicks will attain slaughter age within 14 months. At this age, each bird will yield about 56kg of meat or a total of 1120kg of meat per year per hen. While a goat or sheep will yield not more than 50kg per year, the cow will yield only 200kg per two years (gestation period of nine months plus optimal slaughter age of 15 months).

The ostrich skin, one of the most luxurious leathers, is often placed at par with crocodile and snake skin. Ostrich leather is thick, durable and extremely soft and can be manufactured into a variety of products, such as shoes, bags, purses and jackets. Ostrich skin is the world’s most expensive leather. You can obtain about 14 square feet of leather from each 14 months old bird with a total of about $400 to $500 (more than N50, 000.00). This is apart from the carcass value, the eggs, oil and other benefits.

The income generating potential of ostrich production was yet to be maximised in the country. The meat is still gaining acceptance and the leather has yet to attain a critical production level to excite the international market. This is the time to invest in this emerging niche. For now, breeding stocks are still being developed locally making the sale of eggs, chicks and breeders very profitable and it will remain so for a while.

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