10.4314/sajas.v40i5.65330

M Strydom ,T.s Brand ,B.b Aucamp ,J.m Van Heerden

doi:10.4314/sajas.v40i5.65330

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the effect of two different levels of supplementary feed and two different stocking rates on the production of g razing ostriches. One hundred and seventy ostriches were randomly allocated to four groups and kept on irrig ated lucerne pasture with or without supplementary feed from approximately 58 kg to a target weight of 95 k g. The ostriches rotationally grazed lucerne pastur e at one of two stocking rates, i.e. 15 birds/ha or 10 b irds/ha and were fed one of two levels of supplemen t i.e. 0 g or 800 g feed/d formulated according to the nutrien t requirements of the relevant group of birds. Data were analyzed by ANOVA. There was no interaction between the supplementary feed and stocking rate regarding mean live weight at 54 weeks of age and feed conversion ration (FCR). Data were provided as the two ma in effects of level of supplementation and stocking ra te. Significant differences in mean live weight at 54 weeks of age and FCR of the birds were observed between t he different levels of supplementary feed. The parameters measured for the two different stocking rates used in this study (10 birds/ha vs . 15 birds/ha) did not differ from each other and did not influence ei ther mean live weight at 54 weeks of age, average d aily gain (ADG) or FCR. The two groups which received 800 g supplementary feed/d reached slaughter weight (95 kg) within the set of 54 weeks of grazing for t he trial, while the two groups which received no supplementary feed did not achieve slaughter weight by 54 weeks on the pasture. Ostriches receiving supplementation of 800 g/bird/day had significantly better FCR’s than birds receiving no supplementati on. There was a significant interaction between level o f supplementary feed and stocking rate regarding ADG of the birds. As stocking rate increased, average dail y gains of birds receiving no supplementary feed de clined. This study indicates that ostriches being kept on g razing and receiving supplementary feed will exhibi t improved and faster growth rates than ostriches whi ch only have access to grazing and receive no supplementary feed.

Highlights

Natural and cultivated grazing provides most of the feed eaten by our livestock and, due to the fact that it is the cheapest form of feed for animals, grazing is and will always be very important
There are a number of advantages to using grazing forages for animal production systems, including reduced feed costs, allowing animals to exercise with the potential of better meat quality, provision of extra nutrients to the animals, lower initial capital investment, better use of land less suitable for cropping, decreased antagonistic behaviour among animals, improved animal welfare and a favourable environmental perception (Rachuonyo et al, 2005)
It is possible that these animal production systems will compete directly with humans for cereal grains and high-quality protein supplements

Summary

Introduction

Natural and cultivated grazing provides most of the feed eaten by our livestock and, due to the fact that it is the cheapest form of feed for animals, grazing is and will always be very important. There are a number of advantages to using grazing forages for animal production systems, including reduced feed costs, allowing animals to exercise with the potential of better meat quality, provision of extra nutrients to the animals, lower initial capital investment, better use of land less suitable for cropping, decreased antagonistic behaviour among animals, improved animal welfare and a favourable environmental perception (Rachuonyo et al, 2005). The limiting grain supplies can in the future pressurize producers to feed significant quantities of feedstuffs that are not suitable for human consumption. These feedstuffs include hull or bran fractions of seeds as well as legume and grass pastures. These feedstuffs can potentially be used to feed reproducing swine and ostriches (Varel & Yen, 1997). Scientists suggested that the use of forages can lead to less grain use, which would decrease feed resource needs, expense and storage, and it will

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Conclusion