Blue Mountain Feeds

The ostrich industry is a new production livestock industry developing globally at a rapid rate. To date many birds are sold with little or no meaningful production history. There is also limited information and experience available on how to recognise a quality bird. The following photographs provide some comparisons between birds in excellent health and condition, those in poorer condition and the characteristics to look for. Remember it is long understood that an animal's main function in life is to protect and sustain its most crucial bodily functions of life. That life sustaining "individual survival" function takes first priority over anything else and that includes reproduction.

Characteristics to look for in a Quality and Productive Male
Below are a few comparative photographs, these are the characteristics to look for in quality breeder hens capable of high levels of production:

• Bright and Alert
  • Ostrich extremely good at camouflaging poor health
• Bright Feathers
• Healthy Feathers
• No Feather Pecking
• No odd feather colouring
• Strong Legs
• Well Muscled
• Deep Body
• Long Body
• Good Width

	This Nutritional Class 6 male is just 16 Months of age. To give an indication of the size of this bird, Daryl Holle is 6ft, 3" (1.9m). Note the tremendous depth and length of the body. This bird is only Blue Mountain Nutritional Class 6 because he was 3 months old when starting on the Blue Mountain feed program.

Male Comparisons
	Left: This bird is very thin with very little muscle and in very poor condition. The feathers are short, thin and dry and note how lightweight the legs are, with minimal muscle on the legs. The owner of this male received the bird in this condition when starting in Ostrich. This male did gain some condition, but birds allowed to get into this poor condition are unlikely to recover to full production potential.
	Right: This is a 3 year old Blue Mountain Nutritional Class 5 Bird. He was fed Blue Mountain rations for at least 2 years, but not from birth. Note the alertness, shiny dense feathering and long wing and tail feathers. Note also the excellent depth and length of body with excellent leg muscles.

Further reading:
Body Condition is Most Important on how to check body condition.
Fat versus Meat Production on dietary factors that influence body condition.

If you have questions or comments, or your birds are falling short of the standards - talk to us.

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