Alma Emu Farms

Alma Emu Farms

Emus belong to the Rattie family, which means flightless birds. They have small wings, which are rudimentary. They are fastest runners and run with a speed of 40-50 miles per hour. The anatomical features and behaviour suggests thata they have evolved from the Dinosaurs. The head of the bird is scarcely feathered. Feathers with after shaft are nearly equal to the shaft. Two feathers arise from single root and hence called twin feathers. They have strong well-built legs, which have scales and supported by three toes with strong nails. Emus are omnivorous in feeding habits and eat both plant material and insects(grasshoppers and beetles). Digestion of plant material takes place in the caecum. They are fond of green leafy vegetables, Lucerne, subabool leaves and alpha alpha. Emus in the wild feed on seeds, wild fruits and green young shoots of herbs and shrubs

Emu Rearing :

Emus belong to ratite group and have high economic value for their meat, eggs, oil, skin and feathers. These birds are adaptable to varied climatic conditions. Although emu and ostrich were introduced in India, emu farming has gained much importance.Ratite birds have poorly developed wings and include emu, ostrich, rhea, cassowary and kiwi. Emu and ostrich are reared commercially in many parts of the world for their meat, oil, skin and feathers, which are of high economic value. The anatomical and physiological features of these birds appear to be suitable for temperate and tropical climatic conditions. These birds can be well maintained on extensive (ranches) and semi intensive rearing systems with reasonably high fibrous diets. United State, Australia and China are leading in emu farming. Emu birds are well adapted to Indian climatic conditions.

Features of Emu :

Emu has long neck, relatively small naked head, three toes and body covered with feathers Birds initially have longitudinal stripes on body (0-3 months age) then gradually turn to brown by 4-12 months age. Mature birds have bare blue neck and mottled body feathers. Adult bird height is about 6 feet with a weight of 45-60 kg. Legs are long covered with scaly skin adaptable to hardy and dry soil. Natural food of emu is insects, tender leaves of plant and forages. It also eats different kinds of vegetables and fruits like carrot, cucumber, papaya etc. Female is the larger of the two, especially during breeding season when the male may fast. The female is the dominant member of the pair. Emus live for about 30 years. It may produce eggs for more than 16 years. Birds can be maintained as flock or pai

Management of Chicks:

Emu chicks weigh about 370 to 450 g (about 67% of egg weight) depending on the size of egg. First 48-72 hours, emu chicks are restricted to incubator for quick absorption of the yolk and proper drying. Clean and disinfect brooding shed thoroughly and well in advance of receiving chicks, spread litter (paddy husk) and cover new gunny bags or burlap over the litter. Arrange a set of brooder for about 25-40 chicks giving 4 sft per chick for first 3 weeks. Provide brooding temperature of 900F at first 10 days and 850F till 3-4 weeks. Proper temperature makes the brood successful. Provide sufficient water mugs of a liter capacity and equal number of feeder troughs under the brooder. A chick guard must be 2.5 feet height to avoid jumping and straying of chicks. A 40 watt bulb should burn in the brooder shed throughout the day for every 100 sft area. After 3 weeks of age, slowly extend the brooder area by widening the chick guard circle and later remove it by the time chicks attain 6 weeks. Feed starter mash for the first 14 weeks or till attaining standard body weight of 10 kg. Ensure proper floor space for the birds housed, as these birds require run space for their healthy life. 30 ft run space is required; hence floor space of 40ft x 30ft is required for about 40 chicks, if out door space is provided. Floor must be easily drained and free from dampness.

Do’s:  

• Never over crowd the pen
• For the first few days, provide sanitized water and anti-stress agents
• Clean the waters daily, otherwise automatic waters are preferable
• Monitor the birds daily for their comfort, feed intake, water intake, litter condition etc for making immediate corrections if any.
• Ensure proper mineral and vitamins in the feed for healthy growth of chicks and to avoid leg deformities.
• Practice all- in -all -out rearing to maintain better biosecurity

Don’ts:

• Never handle the birds during hot hours.
• Birds easily excite. Hence, calm and quite environment in the pen is required
• Birds easily grab any item, so avoid certain objects like nails, pebbles etc in the vicinity of birds
• Avoid unauthorized persons, material into the farm. Proper biosecurity must be ensured
• Never keep the birds on smooth and paddy husk spread surface, as the young chicks easily excite, run and break their legs due to slipperiness.

Grower management As Emu chicks grow, they require bigger size waterers and feeders and increased floor space. Identify sexes and rear them separately. If necessary, place sufficient paddy husk in the pen to manage the litter in good and dry condition. Feed the birds on grower mash till birds attain 34 weeks age or 25 kg body weight. Offer greens to about 10% of diet particularly different kinds of leaf meals for making the birds adapt to fibrous diets. Provide clean water all the time and offer feed as much as they want. Ensure dry litter condition through out the grower stage. If necessary, add required quantity of paddy husk to the pen. Provide 40ft x 100 ft space for 40 birds if out door space is considered. Floor must be easily drained and avoid dampness. Restrain the younger birds by securing the body by side ways and hold the body firmly. Sub adults and adults can be secured by holding the wing by side way and by grabbing both the wings and place by dragging closely to a persons legs. Never allow bird to kick. Bird can kick side ways and front ways. Hence, better securing and firm holding is necessary to avoid harming the bird as well as person. Do’s: Monitor flock at least once daily for alertness of birds, feeding and watering troughs Notice leg deformities and droppings. Identify and isolate ailing birds Practice all- in –all- out system. Never keep in the vicinity of the adult birds Never keep sharp objects, pebbles in the vicinity of the birds. Birds are mischievous and grab any thing that comes in their vicinity. Never handle or disturb the birds for restraining or vaccination during the hot weather conditions. Provide cool and clean water throughout the day. Don’ts:

Breeder management Emu birds attain sexual maturity by 18- 24 months age. Keep sex ratio of male to female as 1:1. In case of pen mating, pairing should be done based on the compatibility. During mating, offer floor space of about 2500 sft (100 x 25) per pair. Trees and shrubs may be provided for privacy and to induce mating. Offer breeder diet well in advance i.e 3- 4 weeks prior to breeding programme, and fortify with minerals and vitamins to ensure better fertility and hatchability in birds. Normally, adult bird consumes 1 kg feed /day. But during breeding season, feed intake will be drastically reduced. Hence intake of nutrients must be ensured. First egg is laid at around two and half years age. Eggs will be laid during October to February, particularly cooler days of the year. The time of egg laying is around 5.30 to 7.00 PM. Eggs can be collected twice daily to avoid damage in the pen. Normally, a hen lays about 15 eggs during first year cycle, In subsequent years, the egg production increases till it can reach about 30-40 eggs. On an average, a hen lays 25 eggs per year. Egg weighs about 475-650 g with an average egg weight of 560 g in a year. Egg appears greenish and looks like tough marble. The intensity of colour varies from light, medium to dark green. The surface varies from rough to smooth. Majority of eggs (42%) are medium green with rough surface.   Emu eggs Feed the breeder ration with sufficient calcium (2.7%) for ensuring proper calcification of egg with strength. Feeding excess calcium to the breeding bird before laying will upset the egg production and also impairs the male fertility. Provide extra calcium in the form of grit or calcite powder, by placing in a separate trough. Collect eggs frequently from the pen. If eggs are soiled, clean with sand paper and mop up with cotton. Store the eggs in a cooler room providing 600F. Never store eggs for more than 10 days to ensure better hatchability. Eggs stored at room temperature can be set every 3 to 4 days for good hatchability.

Incubation and Hatching Set the fertile eggs after adjusting to room temperature. Place in a horizontal or in slant arranged row-wise in a tray. Keep the egg incubator ready by cleaning and disinfecting them thoroughly. Switch on the machine for setting the correct incubating temperature i.e dry bulb temperature of about 96-970F and wet bulb temperature of about 78-800F (about 30-40% RH). Place carefully the egg tray in a setter, once the incubator is ready with set temperature and relative humidity and place identification slip for date of set and pedigree, if required. Fumigate the incubator with 20g potassium permanganate + 40 ml formaline for every 100 cft of incubator space. Turn the eggs every one hour till the 48th day of incubation. From 49th day onwards, stop turning the eggs and watch for pipping. By 52nd day, the incubation period ends. The chicks need drying. Hold the chicks for at least 24 to 72 hours in the hatcher compartment, for reducing the down and to become healthy chicks. Normally hatchability will be 70% or more. There are many reasons for low hatchability. Proper breeder nutrition ensures healthy chicks.

Feeding Emus need balanced diet for their proper growth and reproduction. Based on the literature, certain nutrient requirements were suggested (Table 1 and 3). Feed can be prepared by using common poultry feed ingredients (Table 2). Feed alone accounts for 60-70% of the production cost, hence least cost rations will improve the margin of returns over feeding. In commercial farms, feed intake per emu breeding pair per annum varied from 394-632 kg with a mean of 527kg. Cost of feed was Rs.6.50 and 7.50 during non-breeding and breeding season respectively. Nutrient requirements suggested for Emu at different age groups Parameter Starter 10-14 week age or up to 10kg body weight Grower 15-34 wk age or10-25kg body weight Breeder Crude Protein% 20 18 20 Lysine % 1.0 0.8 0.9 Methionine% 0.45 0.4 0.40 Tryptophan % 0.17 0.15 0.18 Threonine % 0.50 0.48 0.60 Calcium % mini 1.5 1.5 2.50 Total phosphorus % 0.80 0.7 0.6 Sodium chloride % 0.40 0.3 0.4 Crude fiber (max) % 9 10 10 Vitamin A(IU/kg) 15000 8800 15000 Vitamin D 3 (ICU/kg) 4500 3300 4500 Vitamin E (IU/kg) 100 44 100 Vitamin B 12 (µ g/kg) 45 22 45 Choline (mg/kg) 2200 2200 2200 Copper (mg/kg) 30 33 30 Zinc (mg/kg) 110 110 110 Manganese (mg/kg) 150 154 150 Iodine (mg/kg) 1.1 1.1 1.1 Emu Feeds (kg/100kg) Ingredients Starter Grower Finisher Breeder Maintenance Maize 50 45 60 50 40 Soybean meal 30 25 20 25 25 DORB 10 16.25 16.15 15.50 16.30 Sunflower 6.15 10 0 0 15 Dicalcium phosphate 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 Calcite powder 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 Shell grit 0 0 0 6 0 Salt 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 Trace minerals 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 Vitamins 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 Cociodiostat 0.05 0.05 0.05 0 0 Methionine 0.25 0.15 0.25 0.25 0.15 Choline chloride 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05

Healthcare and management Ratite birds are generally sturdy and live long (80% livability). Mortality and health problems in emus are mainly in chicks and juveniles. These include starvation, malnutrition, intestinal obstruction, leg abnormalities, coli infections and clostridial infections. The main causes were improper brooding or nutrition, stress, improper handling and genetic disorders. Other diseases reported were rhinitis, candidiasis, salmonella, aspergillosis, coccidiosis, lice and ascarid infestations. Ivermectin can be given to prevent external and internal worms at 1 month interval beginning at 1 month age. In emu, enteritis and viral eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE) were reported. In India, so far few outbreaks of Ranikhet disease were recorded based on gross lesions but were not confirmed. However, the birds vaccinated for R.D at the age of 1 (lasota), 4 (lasota booster) weeks; 8, 15 and 40 weeks by mukteswar strain gave better immunity.

Emu products Meat from emu and ostrich are of high quality in terms of low fat, low cholesterol, gamey flavour. Valued cuts are from thigh and larger muscle of drum or lower leg. Emu skin is fine and strong. Leg skin is of distinctive pattern hence highly valued. Emu fat is rendered to produce oil, which has dietary, therapeutic (anti inflammatory) and cosmetic value.

Economics Emu farm economic survey indicated that cost involved in purchase of breeding stock were expensive (68%). The rest of the investments are on farm (13%) and hatchery (19%). Feeding cost per breeding pair per annum was estimated to be Rs. 3600.Cost of production of hatching egg and day-old chick was Rs.793 and 1232 respectively. Annual feed intake per pair was recorded as 524 kg, costing Rs.3578. The cost of salable chick at day-old age was Rs.2500-3000.The cost of salable chick at 3 mont age  was   Rs.5000-6000. Better returns from emu are possible with good hatchability (more than 80%),lower feeding cost and minimized chick mortality (less than 10%).

Alma Eme Farms

0424-2666666
+9198424-67575
+9198425-67575
E-mail:  kv@groupofalma.com,

alma.venkadachalam@gmail.com
web:     www.almaemufarms.com

blog:    emufarmss.blogspot.in

HEAD OFFICE :

Bhavani Alma Emu Farms

Manikampalayam(pirivu),

Kaddapanallur,

Chittar,Bhavani - 638311.

Phone:04256 - 239588,239599

Cell : 98424-67675,98425 - 67575 ,

       

        Phone:0424 2666 666

Products & Services We Offered EMU CHICKS. emu chick breeds naturally or by using incubator . emu chicks are brown in colour with white strips. emu chick weighs approximately 70% of emu egg weight. colour will change after 3 months. average height of chicks are 8 to 10 inchs. chicks should be maintained in warm condition in clean water after 15 days the chicks will weigh 1200 to 1300 grams, with height of 10 to 12 inch after 30 days the chicks will weigh 2200 to 2500 grams, with height of 14 to 16 inch after 45 days the chicks will weigh 3300 to 3500 grams, with height of 18 to 20 inch after 60 days the chicks will weigh 4500 to 4700 grams, with height of 22 to 24 inch after 75 days the chicks will weigh 6000 to 6500 grams, with height of 26 to 28 inch after 90 days the chicks will weigh 7500 to 8000 grams, with height of 30 to 32 inch artificial incubation is often conducted at a temperature of approximately 97. 5 degrees fahrenheit EMU EGG The eggs weighs from 650 gram to 800 gram. emu eggs are beautiful works of art by themselves, or can be used in several different arts and crafts applications, limited only by your imagination. emu chicks hatch from the egg in 49 to 52 days. emu oil has also been proven to thicken the skin of the elderly by as much as 14 percent this is the most important among various products in emu farm. In the initial period the eggs should be used for the purpose of reproduction. In the later period the eggs will be used for growing fleshy young ones. In emu farming the egg production and hatching remains a very important everlasting process. In future emu-eggs production will definitely fetch large amount of profits. These birds live for forty years and remain sexually active for at least twenty five years. Hence with a single investment one can obtain long term production and profit. A single bird gives minimum twenty and maximum forty eggs every year. EMU FARMING Now is the time to seize the opportunity to become involved in India’s newest and most exciting agri-business. The product demand cycle is picking up speed as more consumers become aware of the healthy and vital products produced by the emu. While product demand has increased we are facing supply shortages. As a result, the industry will enjoy a returned value for existing breeding birds and higher prices for foundation stock as well as processing stock. EMU Meat emu meat is pure, natural, high in iron, magnesium, potassium and other minerals, low in fat and cholesterol, good tastingmeat. With more protein and less calories and sodium than most other red meat, emu meat is similar in taste and texture to lean beef the bird’s meat is considered a healthy substitute for other red-meat variants such as lamb or beef. It is supposed to be extremely nutritious, with fat and cholesterol content being much lower than in any other red meat. low on cholesterol, high on protein," in what sounds like a well the benefits of consuming emu meat. There are estimated 1,000 emu farms-there are about 300 in maharashtra-up and running in the country today. While 1,000 may seem like a big number, it’s a drop in the ocean in comparison with the poultry farms that dot the country. Likewise in production,there are estimate of about 33,000 tonnes of emu meat produced in india now, which is a fraction of the 1. 9 million tonnes of chicken meat being produced in the country every year   EMU OIL emu oil had diverse applications ranging from cosmetics, soaps, and shampoos to analgesics. emus provide a unique, penetrating oil. The oil comes from a thick pad of fat on the back of the bird that was initially provided by nature to protect the animal from extreme temperatures. emu oil has been shown to display anti-inflammatory properties and helps combat the effects of the aging process. emu oil has also been proven to thicken the skin of the elderly by as much as 14 percent traditionally emu oil has been used for treatment of muscle and joint pains. Clinical experience with emu oil has shown that its two major benefits are its anti-inflammatory properties and its ability to penetrate the skin. It also appears to provide some solar protection. The penetrating effect appears to be related to its non-phosphorous composition. A number of studies have been conducted and are currently being conducted throughout the world on facts of the emu oil, including its composition, benefits, applications in different industries and the resulting properties of compounds formulated with the oil. Servics We Offer For Opening EMU Farms & Hatcheries. Alma Eme Farms 0424-2666666 +9198424-67575 +9198425-67575 E-mail:  kv@groupofalma.com, alma.venkadachalam@gmail.com web:     www.almaemufarms.com HEAD OFFICE : Bhavani Alma Emu Farms Manikampalayam(pirivu), Kaddapanallur, Chittar,Bhavani - 638311. Phone:04256 - 239588,239599 Cell : 98424-67675,98425 - 67575  Phone:0424 2666 666