1. MASTERS SEMINAR ON Emu Farming in india An emerging
Enterprise Presented by SARADA PRASANNASAHOO Admission No.
L-2011-V-12-M, Department of Livestock Production
Management(LPM)
2. Introduction Australian national. Fast running & the
second largest flightless bird Wild bird modified into commercial
bird. Emu farming is also called as Ratite farming. Adaptation:
From the cold winters to the extreme heat. Emu lives up to 40
years. The emu-bird lives in the grassy plains and dry open
farms.
3. Zoological classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum :Chordata
Subphylum :Vertebrata Class: Aves Order : Struthioniformes Family:
Dromaiidae Genus: Dromaius scientifically classified as Dromius
Noveahollandiae
4. General anatomyGeneral Anatomy Axial skeleton 54 nos. Three
digit in the foot. A thin membrane covers the cleft in the chick an
expandable pouch of approx. 30 cm long forms cranial to the cleft.
Immune profile is very strong. Primary and secondary feather have
same length. Each feather have two shaft. Pad of fat on back region
only. Ref Cho et al,(1984)
5. Behavior Gregarious : ( Group size: > 3 ) Vigilant
type:(more in early morning) More the group size decrease the
vigilance. Speed : @ 50 km/hr. Sitting time(24-28%) standing time
(22-28%). Sitting is usually done in crouching position: typical in
emu. Ref Hough et al (1998)
6. Body physiology Body temp- 37-38 degree centigrade Pulse
rate-41-45/min Respiration rate 7-8/min Av. Life span- 35-40 yrs.
Productive life-25 yrs BMR-61-79% Thyroid function is abnormal(very
low) Relatively low demand of oxygen Sound female(Throbbing drum)
male(Grunting) Ref Jones et al (1983)
7. Chick weight at hatch 400 450 g. Adult body weight 40-50 kg
Height 5-6 feet Slaughter age 14 - 16 months Dressing percentage 50
70 % Leather produced/bird 8 10 Sq. ft. / bird Feather yield / bird
400 - 600 g Oil production 5 - 6 liters/bird Production traits
8. Reproduction traits Age at sexual maturity 18 24 months
Incubation period 48-52 days No. of egg produced/ 30-40 eggs/yr.
Egg weight 500 800 g Shell colour Emerald green Hatchability 80 90
% Laying pattern Lays an egg every 3 rd day Laying Time Late
evening and early morning (Nov to march)
9. Emu farming in India o WLPA (1972) has permitted emu farming
which offers great opportunity for foreign investments and export.
o Emu farming in India is in developing stage. o An NRI of West
Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh started during 1998. o
Presently large scale is in States of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu,
Maharashtra, Karnataka and parts of Kerala. o Today more than 1000
emu farms in 14 states with a majority of them in Andhra Pradesh,
Maharashtra. o Present estimate of Emu population in India is above
two lakhs. o The biggest Farm is in Andhra Pradesh with 6000 Emus
at one place.
10. Emu farming in India (contd) Since 2000, Department of
Poultry Science, Veterinary College, Venkateshwara University, (AP)
is doing pioneer work in emu. (CPDO) Mumbai, established an
organized Emu unit during 2007, with a foundation stock of 30 pair
breeding stock for expansion and to act as National Centre for Emu.
Kvk (ICAR)- Model farming Emu farmers association in Maharastra
& AP. Usual practice: Farmer buys 10 to 15 pairs from a big
breeder and has an option of becoming a self sustained breeder to
produce chicks for sale Products sale in India is yet to take shape
due to lack of awareness and non-availability of sufficient emu
population. The future of this industry will be diversified into
emu farming for fattening and breeding
11. Emu Farming Management Feeding Housing Breeding Marketing
Health Feeding Rearing Health
12. Housing management Chicks require brooder house for 4 to 8
wk. Chain link mesh of 6 ft height, mesh size 2x2 inches in small
& 4x4 inches for adults. Shady trees and avoid dampness.
Housing standards. OMally(1995) India mostly: Semi Intensive Free
range system Intensive Semi intensive Type Area (Sq. ft/bird.)
Height (ft) Max no . Brooder 2 to 4 3 to 5 40 Grower 75 to 100 7 40
to 100 Breeder 250 to 500 7 2 Slaughter area 50 to 100 - -
13. Breeding management Sexual maturity- 18-24 months Breeding
season- October to Feb. (winter season) Average production : 30
eggs/yr Av. Egg weight -560g Incubation period 48-52 days
Copulating time- 30 sec Seasonally mono-estrus Monogamous mating
Lay eggs during Nov to Jan. Time of lay late evenings 6-7 PM
14. Breeder management Paired mating or Flock mating system
Floor space 500 to 1000 sq. ft. per pair of emu Flushing required
before breeding (Nutrition) Calcium requirement 2.7% Double the
vitamins and minerals to male. Female is dominant at breeding
rituals Male ----Strutting (display of neck feathers) Females
display hanging sac (s shape) CP: 20,ME :2600
15. Breeder management (contd.) Compatibility of pair is
necessary. Mates early morning or late evening hours 2 or 3 times a
day. Breeding action for 30secs. Semen collection is possible.
Artificial Insemination can be practiced Males consume less feed
during mating. Breeder enclosures need 1000sft (20x50) fenced area
per pair with a height of 7 feet.
16. Hatching Naturally male sits on eggs and incubate. Eggs are
set in horizontal. Incubate eggs up to 48-52 days Provide dry bulb
temperature 96-970 F and wet bulb temperature 78-800F RH-about 43%
Turning of eggs hourly in setter only Disinfect fertile eggs.
Hatchability above 80% With hold hatched chicks in incubator for 48
hours for healthy &active .(drying) In high humid areas
dehumidifiers are required. Eggs are opaque and colored-so,
candling can not be done.
17. Causes of the embryonic defects Unacceptable temperature
fluctuations Very erratic humidity levels Carbon dioxide buildup
Jarring of eggs Inadequate or improper turning Infection in eggs
Nutritional deficiencies in breeder birds
18. Incubator Conditions Temperature too low Temp. too low and
Humidity too high Temp. too low, Humidity too high and O2 too
little Post-hatch chick problem / death Chick Condition Weak chick
taking longer time Weak, swollen chick, mushy looking Any above,
plus blotchy beak and legs, deformities
19. Chick management (Brooding) (0-8wk) Chick weight - 400-450
g (65-70% of egg wt) Brooding requirements similar to chicken.
Chick guard 3.5 ft height. 40 chicks can be grouped. Area 3-4sq.
ft/chick The young chicks require at least 2 sq ft per bird floor
space initially and gradually increased with age of the bird. Temp
-90 deg. F(1st 10 days) & 85 deg F (Rest 3-4 wk) Light during
night with 1 foot candle. Weight gain above 120 g/day Spraddle-legs
condition legs can be managed by holding legs together Birds like
carrots, sprouted grain initially.(maize) CP:20% & ME:2700
Vaccinate the birds initially with RD F1 at day old, 4th week
ocular route and R.D. R2B at 8th week age by intramuscular
route.
20. Grower management (9-35 wk) Sexes can be separated at 4-6
months age. Birds easily grab any item. Keep away pebbles, sharp
objects of any kind in the pen or facility objects Ensure proper
mineral and vitamins in the feed Loose house require fencing,
provide link mesh 3x3 inches Floor space 100 sq ft/bird Growth rate
140-160 g/day CP :18, ME:2600 Fatten birds from 35 week onwards
till marketing for better body wt.
21. Fattening/ Finishing stage management Growing birds need to
be fattened by the time of marketing for table purpose. Offering
finisher ration from 42 weeks to 18 months age improves the body
weight and FCR. Back fat of about 3-4 liters per bird will be
attained during the slaughter. Inclusion of vegetable fat at 3-5%
in emu diet will fetch better FCR and net returns since the birds
at this age utilizes fat in an efficient way. CP:16 ME:2600
22. Feeding management Require balanced feed Mash or Crumble.
Av. feed intake in adult emu - 1Kg / day (800-1000g) Ratite birds
tolerate fairly high fiber particularly (up to 15% crude fiber)
Feed raw vegetables and quality forages. Introduce foraging as
early as 8 weeks in emu for better fiber digestibility.
23. Feed cost alone is 60-70%. Least cost rations will improve
the margin of returns. Feed designed chick starter (0-14 week age)-
grower (15-34 weeks age) finisher (35 weeks to sexual maturity).
Birds require protein 20 %18%, 16 %, 20%, 15% with energy 2700,
2600, 2600, 2600, 2400 Kcal/kg for chicks, growers, finisher,
breeder and maintenance (non-breeding) stages respectively. Feeding
management (Contd.) Source 1 Sheila and Sell (1997), 2Davis (1997)
3Paul Kent (2004)
24. Feed preparation by using common poultry feed ingredients.
Nutrient requirements still not fully worked out as per the Indian
climatic conditions. Emu consumes a total feed of 250 kg up to the
age of 18 months. FCR- 1:2 to 2.5 Feeding management (Cont.) Source
Package of Practices on Emu rearing by Dr.A.Rajashekher Reddy
25. Source CPDO(WR),Mumbai
26. Ratites are sturdy and long live. Mortality mainly in
juveniles (up to 10%) Causes are improper brooding, Nutritional
deficiency, stress, improper handling, genetic disorders, protozoa
infections (coccidiosis) Enteritis & Viral Eastern Equine
Encephlomyelitis (EEE) Reasons for various injuries are age
differences, sex differences, female domination during pair bonding
and male domination during mating. Like poultry chlorinated water
should be given to Emu birds. Deworming should be done twice in a
year at an interval of 6 months Health management
27. Standing hunched up or lying down. Impaction of stomach :
eating of foreign bodies is very common in emu enclosures. ( faulty
management) Stool is important in assessing the bird condition.
Stools slushy beige : normal for bird when offered poultry diet.
Yellow stool : bacterial infections. Excessive smelly stools : type
of feed, intestinal problems and fly menace. Stools with watery,
fresh blood: in rare cases. Green stools :common seen when birds
are on off feed. Emus during breeding season pass greenish stools.
Sign of illness
28. Marketing (Products from Emu) Egg & Nails Skin Oils
Feather Meat
29. Emu skins Emu egg & nail
30. Oil ----its advantage
31. Processing of emu oil
32. Emu meat Age of 12-18 months for delicious meat. Finisher
diet for better FCR and high meat and fat yield. 40-45 kg at
slaughter and yield dressed meat up to 77%. Red emu meat is same in
taste and texture to lean beef, but lower in cholesterol, fat and
calories. Higher in iron, protein and Vitamin C than beef. Meat is
extremely low fat, only 3 g per 100 g serving Fat is 43%
monounsaturated, which lowers the bad LDL cholesterol. Emu meat is
lower in fat than Chicken, Turkey, Pork & Beef. It is
considered as the "Super Food of the New Millennium".
33. Economics About 96% of the birds parts are usable. Whole
Bird: price of a pair of 15 months old birds having live body
weight each 40 Kg is about Rs. 20,000 . Meat: Higher price than
meat from other birds/animals around Rs. 200-250 per Kg. Oil:
Rs.3000.per lit. The raw fat(crude oil) : Rs. 1000 per Kg. Skin:
Price of good quality skin is about Rs. 1000/- per Sq.ft Eggs:
Hatcheries purchase @ Rs 600/- to 750/- per egg or on the basis of
chick born @ Rs. 1200 to 1250 per chick as per buy back agreement.
Feathers: Each bird would fetch about Rs. 200/- Egg shells and
nails: Minimal market value Source : Rao N S (2004)
34. NABARDs Project One model of 10 pairs Emu have been
formulated by NABARD for small farmers. The total project cost is
Rs. 3 lakh. A net income after repayment of loan and interest ,the
first three years would be Rs. 20,000 and subsequently an increase
of approximately Rs.5000 per year. Usually, the repayment period of
7 years with one year moratorium and will depend on cash flow. The
Government of India has launched a new Venture capital fund in
which loan for 50% of the project cost will be interest free for
emu breeding farms & processing units, if the repayment is
regular and subject to a maximum project cost of Rs.30 lakh.
36. Emu farming is still in a infancy in India. A systemic
scientific approach required for its popularization. It will
provide plethora of opportunities for researchers, farmers and
agri. diversification. Emu farming is emerging as a promising
economic activity in India. Conclusions
37. A success story of a Indian farmer in the News Channel of
NDTV Lets have a look