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Since the late 1980s, the ostrich industry has grown rapidly in many countries outside South Africa (where it originated) including Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada, Europe and China.
Products are leather, meat, oil, feathers and eggs.
Market issues
Principal markets for meat products: Europe and Asia. Leather products: USA.
Production is still small, but increasing. Up to 30,000 birds may be processed in 1998.
Prime ostrich fillet is AUD$10.00 to $15.00/kg. Ostrich leather is US$205 to US$260 per square metre. (An ideal slaughter bird produces 1.3 to 1.5 square metres of leather.)
Ostrich oil has been largely overlooked by the South Africans.
Industry challenges
The industry’s two greatest challenges are to develop new markets as other countries begin commercial production and to maintain the high value of its products as the overall volume of production increases.
Animal husbandry
Ostriches in Australia are usually managed intensively. They require specialised fencing along boundaries.
Breeding birds are more productive in hot and dry climates.
Commercial hens should produce 15 to 20 chicks/year that survive to yearling age.
Processing
The highest quality product is usually produced from birds between 9-14 months old with a live weight of more than 95 kg.
Economics of production
Alternative enterprises include: breeding enterprises; enterprises that incubate eggs; enterprises that rear chicks to 8 to 12 weeks; and enterprises that grow chicks to slaughter age.
*Extract from ‘The New Rural Industries’. Phone 02 6272 4819 to order or view on our website.
Ostrich farmers targeting 90% hatchability
Australian ostrich farmers are on target to achieve an egg hatchability rate of 90 per cent in their drive to lift the industry’s productivity and profitability
The average hatchability of eggs on farms has increased from about 50 per cent to 60-70 per cent since 1993, according to a research project funded by the Australian Ostrich Association and RIRDC.
The project found the hatchability rate had the potential to reach the industry’s target of 90 per cent through using carbon dioxide enrichment in the artificial incubation of eggs.
Andrew Badley details the project’s findings in the RIRDC report Boosting Ostrich Productivity Through Better Egg Hatchability.
"The main objective of the project was to substantially lift productivity so that the industry could expand into commercial slaughtering more quickly to secure the long-term viability and profitability of Australian farmers", Mr Badley said.
"Even though the local industry is changing from the breeding-up phase to commercial slaughtering, it will be some time before there are enough birds to sustain a viable commercial industry for meat and leather products.
Significant finding
Mr Badley says the most significant research finding has been the benefits of carbon dioxide enrichment on hatchability. "This technique has the potential to significantly improve the outcomes of artificial incubation of ostrich eggs and lift hatchability of eggs to the industry target of 90 per cent," he said.
"At the moment, the hatchability of fertile eggs on farms around Australia now averages 60-70 per cent. More widespread adoption of the report’s recommendations, particularly on egg-turning and better weight-loss control during incubation, would easily take hatchability to 80 per cent. Carbon dioxide enrichment could push it to 90%," he said.
But Mr Badley says before the carbon dioxide enrichment technique can be adopted on farms more research is required, particularly on treatment levels and timing and ways of reducing the cost of equipment and installation.
Agriculture Victoria’s Department of Natural Resources and Environment in Bairnsdale and the University of Queensland’s Division of Farm Animal Studies in Brisbane collaborated on the project.
Researcher: Andrew Badley, ph 07 4635 3839.
To order report: phone RIRDC on
02 6272 4819. Cost: $15 plus $6 p&h.
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Ozone Friendly Fumigant for Export Cut Flowers
Research aimed at finding a replacement for methyl bromide has led to trialling a commercial fumigant for Australia’s $30 million dollars a year cut flower export crop.
Provisional registration of the phosphine formula - Phosfume? - for disinfesting cut flowers - has been recommended to the national registration authority.
A RIRDC project provided seed money to find new fumigation methods because existing pre-shipment fumigation involves use of methyl bromide, an ozone-depleting chemical being phased out under the international agreement known as the ‘Montreal Protocol’.
Insects cut profits
Exports of cut flowers and foliage from Australia are expanding, with wildflowers comprising more than 90 per cent of the market, worth $A30 million in 1995-96. But there have been considerable financial losses when importing countries have rejected flower consignments after finding live insects.
Insect species previously causing rejection - including the western flower thrips, a carrier of tomato spotted wilt virus - were targeted in the research, undertaken by Dr Peter Williams, of Victoria’s Institute of Horticultural Development (in collaboration with CSIRO and Agriculture Western Australia).
Dr William’s work aimed to:
Large scale trials
After initial laboratory experiments, large-scale fumigations were undertaken. In these trials, it was found that combining Phosfume??with an aerosol, Pestigas?, improved control of certain insects.
More than 20 consignments of King Proteas and Riceflowers have been successfully treated using a Pestigas??Phosfume??fumigation schedule. The flowers were successfully exported to Japan, one of the most discerning markets for cut flowers.
The project’s findings are detailed in the report Fumigating Post-harvested Wildflowers for Export. $10 +$4 p&h. Ph 02 6272 4819 to order.
Researcher: Dr Peter Williams, ph 03 9210 9222.
| AGRICULTURE WEATHER | UNIVERSITIES |
ARRIP Database - www.infoscan.com.au/ARRIP/index.htm
ARRIP (Australian Rural Research in Progress) is a national database of current research on agriculture, primary production and the rural environment.
ARRIP on the web lets you search across the entrie database of over 5000 projects to:
Buyers of RIRDC’s successful publication ‘Australian Farmer’s Guide to the Internet’ will be pleased to know that we have contracted and started the process of updating the online website guide associated with the book. By simply obtaining a password (return the password application form in the front of the book to RIRDC), buyers can access updates to the guide to web sites on www.farmwide.com.au/farmersguide.
Contact: Rosie Simpson, phone 02 6273 6384
RIRDC has taken over management of the Biomass Taskforce, which has been set up for an initial three year period to promote the development of biomass energy as an environmentally and economically friendly resource from forestry, agricultural and municipal residues and waste products. The Taskforce is funded by a consortium of federal government organisations, with Dr Stephen Schuck appointed as the Biomass Taskforce Manager.
Contact: Steve Schuck, phone 02 9416 9246.
RIRDC has been supporting a research project submission to the US Food & Drug Administration seeking registration of tea tree oil as a medicinal product. The submission is now very close to being finalised and successfully submitted. This would be very beneficial for the industry, as it would open up new market opportunities.
Contact: Tony Byrne, phone 02 6271 4033.
$25m increase in specialty mushrooms
Specialty mushroom growers and distributors in Australia now have the means to adopt better ways of processing mushrooms that could lead to a $25 million increase in specialty mushrooms over the next decade.
The methods are in a handling protocol developed after a RIRDC commissioned survey identified product handling, distribution, presentation and packaging as barriers to domestic and export market development.
John Lopresti, from Agriculture Victoria, details his findings in the RIRDC report Specialty Mushrooms - Improved Post-harvest Handling and Storage.
This report reviews current industry practices and information on post-harvest handling of specialty mushrooms with the aim of raising industry awareness, developing appropriate handling protocols and identifying research requirements.
Contact: John Lopresti, phone 03 9210 9222. To order: phone RIRDC 02 6272 4819. $10 + $4 p&h.
A RIRDC workshop has identified five under-exploited crops that promise the best commercial prospects for tropical fruit, vegetable and nut growers.
Growers and researchers short-listed rambutan, mangosteen, durian, longan and abiu as the "best bets" among 40 crops for further investment and identified the issues needing to be researched if the crops are to develop and prosper.
Phil Ross, of the Queensland Horticulture Institute, details the workshop findings in the RIRDC report ‘Opportunities for Commercially Under-exploited Tropical Fruits, Vegetables and Nuts.’
Contact: Phil Ross, phone 07 4064 3911. To order report: phone RIRDC 02 6272 4819. Cost $10 + $4 p&h.
First rural accounting teaching program
The first Australian computer-based accounting learning program – nearing completion – will help farmers to make better financial decisions.
RIRDC-funded reseachers at Orange Agricultural College are looking for farmers and others to help them test the first pilot of this program.
The program uses interactive sequences, animation and graphics to teach farmers and farm managers better understand rural accounting concepts.
People interested in testing the program – which is available for $20 plus postage – contact Mr Wedd.
Contact: Stephen Wedd, phone 02 6360 5666, or email Stephen.Wedd @oac.usyd.edu.au.
Promoters of educational and training services need to adopt a more localised and integrated approach to deal with the diverse range of education and training needs of rural communities.
Funded by RIRDC, the project looks at the diversity of educational needs of potential and existing farmers and farm managers, many of whom will be involved in a range of occupations over their lifetime.
Tony Gleeson, of Synapse Consulting, details his findings in the RIRDC report ‘Farmer Education and Training: Issues for Research and Development’.
Contact:Tony Gleeson, phone 07 3844 2370.
To order report: ph RIRDC 02 6272 4819. Cost $15
+ $6 p&h. A free six page short report is also available.
