EMU FARMING
EMU
GENERAL FEATURES
n ORIGIN : Australia
n ADULT BODY WEIGHT : 50-70 Kg
n AGE AT SEXUAL MATURITY : 18-20 months
n AGE AT MARKETING : 15-18 months
n BODY WEIGHT : 45 – 60 Kg
n HEIGHT : 5 – 6 ft
n NO.OF EGGS/ YEAR : 50
n REPRODUCTIVE AGE : 2-40 years
n EMU PRODUCTS : oil, meat, skin & Feathers
n INCUBATION PERIOD : 50-54 Days
n EGG WEIGHT : 600 grams
n SEXUAL DIMORPHISM : by voice and egg laying
HOUSING
n 1 pair of bird need 25 x 100 feet space with 6 feet height fence
n Adult emu bird require 6 to 10 L of water per day.
FEEDING
n FREE FEEDING – cause splay leg
n HAND FEEDING – effective monitoring of chicks. Fresh water should be kept in clean pans. Feed should be kept away from mice dropping contamination.
SEXING
n Sixteen months of age
n Visual examination- “THREE- MAN TAKE- DOWN”
SEXUAL MATURITY
n 18- 20 months of age
n Female – dumming or booming sounds
n Male – grunting
n Sonograms
n X- rays
BREEDING
n Ready for mating and egg laying after two years
n Breed from october to march
n Minimum space for breeding pairs 1/10th acre.
n Productive for 20 years and lay 4 to 20 eggs in a clutch.
n Lay egg every 3 to 5 days
CARE OF YOUNG CHICKS
n Brooding – temperature 28 to 30degree Celsius
n Temp. can reduced couple of degrees each day but still need 28 to 30degree Celsius at night for 2-3 weeks
NUTRITIONAL GUIDELINES FOR EMUS
|
STARTER |
GROWER |
FINISHER |
BREEDER HOLDING(48wks to sexual maturity) |
BREEDER(from 3 to 4wks before onset of egg production |
|
|
Metabolizable Energy kcal/kg |
2,685 |
2,640 |
2,800 |
2,530 |
2,400 |
|
Protein,% |
22 |
20 |
17 |
16 |
20 – 22 |
|
Methionine,% |
0.48 |
0.44 |
0.38 |
0.36 |
0.40 |
|
Lysine,% |
1.10 |
0.94 |
0.78 |
0.75 |
1.00 |
|
Crude fibre,% |
6to8 |
6to8 |
6to7 |
6to7 |
7to8 |
|
Calcium,% |
1.5 |
1.3 |
1.2 |
1.2 |
2.4to3.5 |
EGGS
n 8 to 10 times larger than fowl egg
n 627 grams (570 – 680 g)
n Dark Green colour – methyl ester of biliverdin IX a.
UTILITY
n MEAT – (18 to 22kg) Low cholesterol, fat and calories. Rich in iron, protein and vitamin C than beef
- EMU OIL – (4 to 6 lit)
Clinical uses : Eczema, keloids, burns, psoriasis, arthritis, recent wounds, bruise and muscle pain.
Fancy items : Body and shine shampoo, hair sprays, facial cream, oil soap bar and hand and body lotion.
n EMU FEATHERS – Hats, fishing lures etc.
n EMU LEATHER – Boots, belts, hard bags and garments.
n INFERTILE EGGS – Shells used to make attractive painted ornaments, music boxes etc.
n EMU CLAWS/TOE NAILS – Jewellery pieces, key chains and craft projects.
EMU LEATHER
