Emu Farming in india ...........An emerging Enterprise

EMU FARMING

1. welcome

2. MASTER’S SEMINAR ON Emu Farming in india …… An emerging Enterprise Presented by SARADA PRASANNA SAHOO Admission No. L-2011-V-12-M, Department of Livestock Production Management(LPM)

3. 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.

4. Zoological classification Genus: Dromaius scientifically classified as Dromius Noveahollandiae

5. General anatomy General 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)

6. Behavior Gregarious : ( G roup 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)

7. 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)

8. 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

9. 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)

10. Emu farming in India WLPA (1972) has permitted emu farming which offers great opportunity for foreign investments and export. Emu farming in India is in developing stage. An NRI of West Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh started during 1998. Presently large scale is in States of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka and parts of Kerala. T oday more than 1000 emu farms in 14 states with a majority of them in Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra. Present estimate of Emu population in India is above two lakhs . The biggest Farm is in Andhra Pradesh with 6000 Emus at one place.

11. 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

12. Emu Farming Management Feeding Housing Breeding Marketing Health Feeding Rearing Health

13. 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. O’Mally (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 - -

14. 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

15. 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% D ouble 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

16. 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.

17. Hatching Naturally male sits on eggs and incubate . Eggs are set in horizontal . Incubate eggs up to 48-52 days Provide dry bulb temperature 96-97 F and wet bulb temperature 78-80 F 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.

18. C auses 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

19. Incubator Conditions Temperature too low Temp. too low and Humidity too high Temp. too low, Humidity too high and O 2 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

20. 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(1 st 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, 4 th week ocular route and R.D. R 2 B at 8 th week age by intramuscular route.

21. 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.

22. 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

23. 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.

24. 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), 2 Davis (1997) 3 Paul Kent (2004)  

25. 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

26. Source – CPDO(WR),Mumbai

27. 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

28. 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

29. Marketing (Products from Emu) Meat

30. Emu skins Emu egg & nail

31. Oil ----its advantage

32. Processing of emu oil

33. Emu meat A ge of 12-18 months for delicious meat. F inisher diet for better FCR and high meat and fat yield. 40-45 kg at slaughter and yield dressed meat up to 77%. R ed emu meat is same in taste and texture to lean beef, but lower in cholesterol, fat and calories. H igher in iron, protein and Vitamin C than beef. M eat is extremely low fat, only 3 g per 100 g serving F at 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". 

34. Economics About 96% of the bird’s 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)

35. NABARD’s 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. Source – SUMUKHA FARM , Banglore (2011) Financial Analysis

37. 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

38. A success story of a Indian farmer in the News Channel of NDTV Let’s have a look