What Are Emus Used For

By Moira K. Wiley

When it comes to livestock, a person typically thinks of cattle, horses, sheep and other such animals, but there's a whole market place for culling livestock available to small farmers interested in discovering a new niche.

1 such beast that has made a stir over the years is the odd looking bird from Downwards Under, the emu.

Beginning in the 1930s, the emu was brought to the United States equally an exotic zoo creature, just afterwards found a home in the barnyards of producers across the country.

Breed Bender
The emu is a nigh unusual bird. It has wings, but tin't fly. It's considered a large chicken, but the meat resembles and tastes similar beef. The males grunt like a pig and both genders honey to roll effectually in the mud. They have been known to pant like a dog and hiss like a true cat. The animal can't seem to determine which species information technology is, but its uniqueness is definite.

New laws governing the ratite industry, such equally mandatory USDA inspection, have increased the validity of the industry.

Although they are considered a long-term investment, emus don't require the large areas of land associated with many other types of livestock and due to the diverseness of marketable products, both small and large farms can successfully raise these big birds that found their way from the Outback to America.

Emu breeding took off in the The states in the belatedly 1980s and became one of the fastest growing segments of alternative agriculture. Emus are no longer such an odd sight every bit the manufacture slowly builds consumer awareness mostly in ii areas—as a low-fat ruby meat culling and a cosmetic "wonder" oil.

Breed Characteristics
Originating from Australia, emus are the second largest fellow member of the ratite family of flightless birds, which as well includes the ostrich, rhea, kiwi and cassowary.

Emus have tiny wings and iii toes. When born, they have soft, black-and-white striped feathers. Every bit the birds mature into adulthood, feathers in various combinations of brown, blackness and tan supervene upon the downy, striped chick feathers. A mature emu can reach v to 6 feet in tiptop and weigh between 90 and 150 pounds.

The birds can begin laying eggs as early as 16 to 18 months of age, but normally laying begins at ii to iii years. Hens typically lay betwixt twenty and 50 big, green eggs in a season spanning from Oct to April and can be productive for more than 20 years.

Emus tend to be curious and ordinarily docile and non-aggressive toward people, especially if handled from birth. They can make very unique pets, too as like shooting fish in a barrel-to-handle livestock. All the same, watch annihilation shiny—similar jewelry or painted toenails—since they enjoy pecking at such things. Though their pecking may be more playful than painful, their sharp, hook-like toenails can pose a safety threat to humans. Even the tamest emu can inadvertently injure an inexperienced handler if information technology feels cornered or gets agitated.

Raising a Flock
New producers might consider purchasing eggs to hatch and raise. While this is a less costly route than buying mature stock, it represents the greatest risk of mortality and will require sufficient time before the birds are productive and of marketable historic period.

Another option is to purchase chicks, which increases the cost, but lowers the risk of mortality, peculiarly if purchased at three months of historic period or older; chicks 6 to 10 months old sell for $400 to $850 each, three- to six-months old sell for $300 to $375 each.

Raising Emus

Bones operation requirements:

Research outset by visiting other farms and reading industry-related magazines and books.
Land requirements are between ¼ to ½ an acre per breeding pair.
Split pens are required for breeding and raising chicks.
Fencing should be chain-link, woven-wire or no-climb mesh, however large wire mesh should exist avoided and all pens should be five to six feet in elevation.
Emu are fence walkers, so all posts and wire fasteners should be kept on the outside of pens to reduce the potential for injury.
Emu require shelters with adequate space, ventilation, heat to escape extreme common cold and shade in the summer.
Incubating and hatching facilities should be designed to ensure a clean surround with consistent temperature, humidity and air exchange.

Past purchasing yearlings, offset-upward costs are increased even further, but the birds will exist productive within two years; yearlings sell for $500 to $1,200 each. Those who want to begin production equally chop-chop as possible should purchase proven convenance stock, even so, this is the highest cost pick; breeder pairs sell for $2,000 to $five,000.

Before bringing home new stock, suitable accommodations should be established. If eggs are purchased, incubation and hatching equipment must already exist in identify. With older chicks, yearlings and mature birds, these items tin can exist purchased afterward to decrease initial costs.

Chicks can exist reared in a diversity of confinements, merely minimum requirements include a warm shelter that is sanitary and well ventilated. Likewise, access to an exterior pen must exist available for practise to ensure overall health and forestall rotated legs. (Overcrowding is the single largest crusade of decease in chicks.) Chick pens should be restricted to 25 birds per pen with a widespread oestrus source and then that they don't have to huddle to keep warm, which tin can cause suffocation.

Yearlings and breeding pairs will require an outdoor facility with appropriate fencing and shelters. A bones functioning includes separate pens for breeding pairs and for growing chicks. Chicks are unremarkably separated in pens based on size, non age. Shelters with adequate space, ventilation and oestrus should exist provided, and so birds can escape extreme winter weather condition and seek shade in the summertime.

Although they tin't fly, emus can jump fairly high and they like to go into fence corners, hook their toes and coil over the height. Their jumping power and fence walking requires fences to be built betwixt five and vi feet in tiptop with all posts and fasteners attached on the outside of the pens.

Industry standards indicate that two-inch by four-inch woven-wire or concatenation-link fencing is the best blazon of material to contain emus. Many established producers use these materials or no-climb horse fencing. It'southward never advisable to use chicken wire, as it is too easy for emus to get their anxiety tangled if they try to hook a foot and jump over.

Once breeding pairs reach laying age, producers should be on the picket for those large, light-green eggs that many birds tend to leave lying around wherever they may country. By providing a nest either inside a shelter or in a shaded area, you lot can encourage females to lay their eggs in a specific spot, merely this does non always piece of work.

When collecting eggs, producers may have to deal with the males, who are the nest sitters in the couple. Once a male finds a clutch of eggs to hatch, he will not mostly motility from that spot, even to consume or drink.

Some producers opt to let the males hatch eggs, simply chicks hatched in the "wild" may not be every bit tame as those hatched past the farmer. Plus, removing the eggs from the hens will stimulate continued egg laying, then it'due south all-time to try to call up eggs as they are laid.

Freshly collected eggs should be cleaned, placed in an incubator and turned on a regular schedule. Incubators are used to regulate temperature and humidity and provide skilful air apportionment. Suggested optimal temperatures are betwixt 96.v to 97.five degrees F with humidity ranging from 24 to xl percent, depending on the equipment used and local environment.

The incubation period is usually 46 to 56 days, however the eggs are moved to a hatcher three to 5 days earlier they are expected to hatch.

Hatchers are used to maintain temperature and humidity at constant levels afterward a slight lowering of the temperature by 1 or two degrees and an increase of 5 to ten percent in humidity.

Once chicks have hatched, they are given 24 hours to dry in the hatcher before being moved to a brooder box. (There are several incubators and hatchers available and you should research each type to learn which ones will best fit your needs.)

Resource:

American Emu Clan
P.O. Box 740814
Dallas, TX 75374-0814
(541) 332-0675
Fax (928) 962-9430
E-mail: info@aea-emu.org
world wide web.aea-emu.org

Emu Ranchers Inc.
308 Southward. 1st St.
Conroe, TX 77301
(936) 788-5516

Magazines

Emu Today & Tomorrow
P.O. Box 7
Nardin, OK 74646-0007
(580) 628-2933
Fax (580) 628-2011
Email: emutoday@aol.com
world wide web.emutoday.com

Emu's Zine (Online)
Myra Charleston, Editor
3040 Big Cadet Route
Trezevant, TN 38258
www.emuszine.com

Books

Transmission on Emu Farming, 1989, by Phillip & Marie Minnaar (available on www.amazon.com)

Emu Farmer's Handbook Volume 2: Commercial Farming Methods for Emus, Ostriches and Rheas, 1998, by Phillip & Marie Minnaar (available on Amazon)

Guide to Hatching and Raising Emus Economically, by Janice Castleberry (bachelor from the author at Janice@triplecranchinc.com)

When it comes fourth dimension to feed the growing chicks, you may want to utilise the expertise of feed companies or established producers to find the right ratite feed. An of import factor when choosing chick feed is to find one designed to reach even growth without rapid weight gain, which can cause leg bug. Generally, chicks are fed a starter ration for three months then fed a grower ration until they reach market age. Breeding stock is usually kept on a breeding ration for half-dozen months of the year, and a maintenance ration for the other six months.

With regard to affliction and wellness management, go along in mind that emus have a trend to hide illness, and stress is one of the biggest threats in all stages of the bird's life. Chicks are almost vulnerable to diseases and mortality from hatching until about three months of age. Sick chicks are oft trampled or picked on by healthy chicks, so separation is unremarkably a proficient option.

Besides stress, birds of all ages are susceptible to a number of ailments including stomach impaction, diarrhea, hardware disease, crooked cervix and a number of common livestock diseases such as Eastern and Western Equine Encephalitis and Avian Influenza. Seeking medical advice from a veterinary experienced in caring for emus is the best class of action.

Striking Oil
Considered the nigh valuable commodity, emu oil comes from a thick pad on the back of the bird—a natural protection against the extreme temperatures of its homeland. The oil has been used past Aborigines who relied on the "healing bird" to treat wounds, burns and pare ailments for thousands of years. Through testing and marketing, the oil now has diverse applications in cosmetics, soaps, lotions, shampoos and analgesics.

Ongoing studies at a number of university and medical laboratories effectually the country have shown emu oil to brandish anti-inflammatory backdrop and aid in carrying medications through the skin more speedily.

By discovering all the potential elements in the oil, these scientists' findings may help farther increase the demand for this commodity. Already, emu oil is proving to be a wonder for many health and beauty p roducts that accept found their fashion into health- and natural-nutrient stores, on the Internet and in directly-mail marketing campaigns.

The Other Cherry-red Meat
Emus are unique in that they provide red meat when traditional farmyard birds, such equally chickens and turkeys, provide white and night meat choices, but definitely not ruddy.

Considered the second most valuable emu article, several studies have indicated that emu meat is higher in protein, has fewer calories and less sodium than most other red meat providing producers with a good marketing campaign. These studies include a two-year report by the University of Wisconsin-Madison that confirmed emu meat was lower in fat and higher in poly peptide and other nutrients when compared with other pop alternatives such every bit bison, venison, elk and ostrich. Additional comparisons too found emu meat lower in fat than chicken, turkey, pork and beef.

Although it'due south classified every bit poultry, emu is similar in taste and texture to lean beefiness. Withal, the fat and cholesterol content of emu meat is comparable to poultry, and equally a result, the American Heart Association recognizes emu meat every bit a healthy alternative.

Following the American Eye Association'south lead, some hospital dieticians recommend emu meat to centre patients who don't want to give upwards crimson meat in their diets. The meat is additive complimentary (cheque packaging to be certain), and its nutritional profile has been featured by the American Dietetic Association. These endorsements have helped emu meat gain popularity among health-conscious Americans.

Like whatever new product, emu meat has met with a lot of skepticism and hasn't quite made it all the way to the mutual American tabular array. However, producers trying to market their meat may not have to look whatever farther than local health-food stores, grocery stores or gourmet restaurants. Value-added products similar emu jerky and sausages have besides become saleable items and lower end, tough cuts and trim can be sold for high-quality pet food.

About the Author
Moira 1000. Wiley lives in Stillwater, Okla., where she works as a freelance author and editor. She is president of the Oklahoma Writers' Federation.

This article first appeared in the Dec/January 2003 issue of Hobby Farmsmag. Pick upwards a copy at your local newsstand or tack and feed shop. Click Here to subscribe to HF.