Second, the choice of ostrich
Ostriches are generally divided into three types: red-necked ostriches, blue-necked ostriches and domesticated ostriches (domesticated ostriches are often called African black ostriches). African black ostrich has the characteristics of small size, mild temperament, excellent feathers, early sexual maturity and many eggs, and is the main breed raised at present.
Observe the health status of ostriches when buying them. Observation methods generally include:
1. Behavior observation: ostriches in good health are full of energy, have complex responses to external stimuli and have strong social ability;
2. Observation of body surface health: The healthy ostrich has plump muscles, no bare bones, no disability all over, and a stable and normal gait;
3. Feeding observation: Healthy ostriches have a great appetite. When the breeder walks into the barn, he will take the initiative to meet him and wait for feeding;
4. Observation of feces: Healthy ostriches are dark green, tender, well digested, with large urine output, transparent urine and a small amount of white urate.
Third, ostrich feed supply.
African ostrich is a monogastric herbivorous bird, and its digestive tract is completely different from ruminants and non-ruminants or poultry. Ostriches have no teeth or crops; Saliva does not contain digestive enzymes. The esophagus leads directly to the glandular stomach, which is very large and can store a lot of food. The digestion of the stomach starts from the glandular stomach. Followed by a muscular stomach, spherical. There are digestive stones in the muscle stomach. In addition, the biggest feature of ostrich digestive tract is that it contains two large caecum and a long colon, which is the condition for ostrich fermentation and digestion. Therefore, the feed absorption and conversion rate of ostrich is the highest species among domestic animals at present.
The concentrate supply in ostrich breeding can be divided into seven stages, namely, young ostrich (0-February), young ostrich (2-April), growing ostrich (4-June), fattening ostrich (6-September), reserve ostrich (9-65438+April) and maintenance period (14-). Different levels of nutrition are needed at different stages, and the feed ratio is also different. But they are mainly herbivores. Ostrich has a wide range of food habits, and can feed on various grasses, tubers and vegetables.
Four, ostrich common diseases and prevention and control
Because ostriches have not been domesticated for a long time and have strong disease resistance, attention should be paid to diseases caused by improper feeding during the feeding process. First of all, we should pay attention to the quality of feed to prevent ostriches from being infected with mold poisoning because they eat moldy food.
The quality of ostrich feed is very high, and moldy food and moldy raw materials are harmful to ostriches. Secondly, we should pay attention to the lignification of green feed fiber, because the lignification of green feed is serious, which is easy to cause digestive system diseases of ostriches. Finally, attention should be paid to avoid the possibility of ostrich trauma in the feeding process.
Ostrich breeding profit
The little ostrich weighed two kilograms when it was born, not to mention the big ostrich. Some adult ostriches weigh 220 kilograms. The ostrich is the largest living bird in the world. They are very good at running. They can span eight meters in one step and have a top speed of 80 kilometers per hour. Some ostriches can reach a height of more than two meters. Their heads are very big. If the male ostrich's face is red and its feet are red, it means that it is in estrus, and they will have some "dancing" performance during estrus. Every year, February to 65438+ 10 is estrus, and June and July are the peak periods for spawning. Every female ostrich lays an egg every one or two days. Generally speaking, an ostrich egg weighs 4 kilograms. A few years ago, an ostrich egg could be sold for more than 200 yuan, and the profit was very rich. An ostrich can lay 50 or 60 eggs a year. I have some business to do.
Ostriches come from Africa, but they are not afraid of cold and easy to raise. For example, the temperature in the northeast is so low that it is no problem to raise it. Ostriches are tolerant of roughage animals, so they are relatively educated. One of the characteristics of ostrich eggs is that they are very hard, and they won't break when one or two hundred kilograms of things are pressed on them, so they are small and stupid. When you catch it, you can put a hook around its neck and then cover the ostrich's eyes with a piece of cloth. As long as he can't see the light, this guy is honest
Ostrich skin and ostrich meat have always been very popular. Incubate if you can't sell eggs, expand production, and sell ostrich skin and meat. But we must pay attention to the feeding of small ostriches, because they have no ability to distinguish and eat whatever they find. They are typical foodies. You can add turquoise feed to their food, so that ostriches who eat sand can remove the sand from their bodies. It is difficult to catch ostriches. If you ask an ostrich to lift one foot, you can kick your ribs carefully. African ostrich's legs are strong enough to kick a lion to death.
Advantages of ostrich breeding
First, ostriches are not easy to get sick, prevent diseases, prevent cold and heat.
Second, ostriches are mainly herbivores, with low feeding cost and fast growth rate, and can grow 300 Jin a year.
Third, the farm is simple and can be raised without investing in rural courtyards.
Fourth, the efficiency is high, the life span is 90 years, and eggs are laid in 50 years. Each ostrich can lay about 150 eggs every year, and the market price is more than RMB 100 per ostrich. Each ostrich can create a life-long benefit of 400,000 yuan.
Prospect of ostrich breeding
Ostrich meat is green, healthy and nutritious, and it is a high-grade meat. The market price is more than 60 yuan per kilogram. Eggs are the king of hundreds of eggs, each weighing about 3 kg. The market price is about one 200 yuan. Ostrich hair is soft, plump, elegant, feels good, has excellent thermal insulation performance, does not generate static electricity, and is a good ingredient in the clothing industry. In international ballroom dancing competitions, the decorations on dancers' costumes are all made of ostrich hair. European and American ladies use ostrich feathers as decorations on their hats to show nobility and beauty. In addition, ostrich oil and ostrich blood have high medicinal value and can be made into high-grade cosmetics and medicines with excellent performance. An ostrich can be said to be full of treasures. The economic benefit is very high.