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Current IssueEditorial BoardOnline First ArticlesArchive

volume 47 issue 5 (october 2013) : 426-430

SEXUAL DIMORPHISM, EGG LAYING AND EGG WEIGHT IN OSTRICHES (STRUTHIO CAMELUS) REARED UNDER INDIAN CONDITIONS

S
S.T. Selvan
S
S.N. Sivaselvam
D
D. Thyagarajan
1Ostrich Breeding Unit, Livestock Research Station, Tamilnadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Kattupakkam- 603 203, India

  • Submitted|

  • First Online |

  • doi

Cite article:- Selvan S.T., Sivaselvam S.N., Thyagarajan D. (2025). SEXUAL DIMORPHISM, EGG LAYING AND EGG WEIGHT IN OSTRICHES (STRUTHIO CAMELUS) REARED UNDER INDIAN CONDITIONS. Indian Journal of Animal Research. 47(5): 426-430. doi: .

ABSTRACT

Ostriches are being reared in India from 2000 onwards. The data on reproductive performance recorded over a period of seven years (2002 – 2008) were analysed. Ostriches revealed sexual dimorphism at an age of around 270 days and the mean age of sexual maturity observed was 787.8 ± 29.9 days. The average annual egg production over seven years of study was 18.6 ± 2.9, 35.1 ± 4.9, 34.4 ± 5.8, 28.7 ± 4.6, 32.5 ± 5.0, 26 ± 5.4 and 25.1 ± 3.4 per female and no significant variations were observed. The mean egg weight during this period was 1480.02 ± 56.35 g and the effect of year of production was significant (P

REFERENCES

  1. Anonymous, (1999). Annual Report. Zemarch Ostriches, Jordan Valley, Israel.
  2. Ar, A., M. Meir, N. Aizak and D.Campi. (1996). Improving our understanding of ratites in a farming environment. Deeming D.C (ed) Ratite Conference, Oxfordshire, UK, 144 – 146p.
  3. Deeming, D.C., Ayres L., and Ayres F.L.. (1993). Observations on the commercial production of ostrich (Struthio camelus) in the UK. Vet. Record. 132: 602 -607.
  4. Deeming, D.C., (1993). In: Deeming DC and Ferguson MWJ (eds) Egg Incubation: its effect on Embryonic Development in Birds and reptiles. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 307 – 322p.
  5. Degen, A.A. , Weil S. , Rosenstrauch A., Kam M., and Dawson A. (1994). Seasonal plasma levels of luteinizing hormone and steroid hormone in male and female domestic ostriches ((Struthio camelus). General and Comparative Endocrinology 93: 21 – 27.
  6. Fowler, M.E. (1991). Comparative clinical anatomy of ratites. J. Zoo Wild Life Medicine 22: 204 – 227.
  7. Gandini, G.C.M., and Keffen R.H.. (1985). Sex determination of the South African ostriches (Struthio camelus). J. South African Vet. Assoc. 56: 209 – 210.
  8. Hamid, A. (2007). Productivity of commercially farmed ostriches in Saudi Arabia Tropentag. Ph.D. Thesis, Sudan University of Science and Technology.
  9. Hicks, K.D. (1992). Ratite Reproduction. Proceedings of the Association of Avian Veterinarians, 318 -324p.
  10. Huchzermeyer, F.W. (1998). Diseases of ostriches and other ratites; Agricultural Research Council, Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, South Africa.
  11. Jarvis, M.J.F., Jarvis C. and Keffen R.H. (1985). Breeding seasons and laying patterns of the Southern African Ostrich (Struthio camelus). Ibis 127: 442 – 449
  12. Mellett, F.D. (1993). Ostrich production and products; Maree C and Casey NH (eds) Livestock production system; Principles and practices. Agri development Foundation, Pretoria 187 – 194 p.
  13. More, S.J. (1996). The performance of farmed ostrich hens in eastern Australia. Preventive Vet. Medicine 29: 107 – 120.
  14. More, S.J., (1997). Monitoring the health and productivity of farmed ostrich flocks. Aus. Vet. J. 75: 583 – 587.
  15. Rizzi, R., Erba M., Giulian M.G., Cerelini S. and Cerutti F.. (2002). Variability of ostrich egg production on a farm in Northern Italy. J. Appl. Poult. Res. 11: 332 – 337.
  16. Samour, J.H., J. Markham, and O. Nieva. (1984). Sexing ratite birds by cloacal examination. Vet. Record. 115: 167- 169.
  17. Shivaprasad, H., (1993). Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the Association of Avian Veterinarians, Nashville. 282-293 p.
  18. Smith, W.A., Cilliers. S.C., Mellett E.D., and Vanschalkwyk S.J.. (1995). Proceedings of the 11th Alltech Annual Symposium. Nottingham University Press, Nottingham, 175 – 197p.
  19. Superchi, P., Sussi. C., Sabbioni A. and Beretti V.. (2002). Ann.Fac.Medic. Vet.di Pharma 22:155 – 162p.
  20. Stewart, J.S., (1989). Husbandry and medical management of ostriches. Proceedings of the Association of Avian Veterinarians pp. 208 -212.
  21. van Schalkwyk, S.J., Cloete S.W.P and de Kock J.A. (1996). Repeatability and phenotypic correlations for body weight and reproduction in commercial ostrich breeding pairs. British Poult. Sci. 37: 953 – 962.
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    volume 47 issue 5 (october 2013) : 426-430

    SEXUAL DIMORPHISM, EGG LAYING AND EGG WEIGHT IN OSTRICHES (STRUTHIO CAMELUS) REARED UNDER INDIAN CONDITIONS

    S
    S.T. Selvan
    S
    S.N. Sivaselvam
    D
    D. Thyagarajan
    1Ostrich Breeding Unit, Livestock Research Station, Tamilnadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Kattupakkam- 603 203, India

    • Submitted|

    • First Online |

    • doi

    Cite article:- Selvan S.T., Sivaselvam S.N., Thyagarajan D. (2025). SEXUAL DIMORPHISM, EGG LAYING AND EGG WEIGHT IN OSTRICHES (STRUTHIO CAMELUS) REARED UNDER INDIAN CONDITIONS. Indian Journal of Animal Research. 47(5): 426-430. doi: .

    ABSTRACT

    Ostriches are being reared in India from 2000 onwards. The data on reproductive performance recorded over a period of seven years (2002 – 2008) were analysed. Ostriches revealed sexual dimorphism at an age of around 270 days and the mean age of sexual maturity observed was 787.8 ± 29.9 days. The average annual egg production over seven years of study was 18.6 ± 2.9, 35.1 ± 4.9, 34.4 ± 5.8, 28.7 ± 4.6, 32.5 ± 5.0, 26 ± 5.4 and 25.1 ± 3.4 per female and no significant variations were observed. The mean egg weight during this period was 1480.02 ± 56.35 g and the effect of year of production was significant (P

    REFERENCES

    1. Anonymous, (1999). Annual Report. Zemarch Ostriches, Jordan Valley, Israel.
    2. Ar, A., M. Meir, N. Aizak and D.Campi. (1996). Improving our understanding of ratites in a farming environment. Deeming D.C (ed) Ratite Conference, Oxfordshire, UK, 144 – 146p.
    3. Deeming, D.C., Ayres L., and Ayres F.L.. (1993). Observations on the commercial production of ostrich (Struthio camelus) in the UK. Vet. Record. 132: 602 -607.
    4. Deeming, D.C., (1993). In: Deeming DC and Ferguson MWJ (eds) Egg Incubation: its effect on Embryonic Development in Birds and reptiles. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 307 – 322p.
    5. Degen, A.A. , Weil S. , Rosenstrauch A., Kam M., and Dawson A. (1994). Seasonal plasma levels of luteinizing hormone and steroid hormone in male and female domestic ostriches ((Struthio camelus). General and Comparative Endocrinology 93: 21 – 27.
    6. Fowler, M.E. (1991). Comparative clinical anatomy of ratites. J. Zoo Wild Life Medicine 22: 204 – 227.
    7. Gandini, G.C.M., and Keffen R.H.. (1985). Sex determination of the South African ostriches (Struthio camelus). J. South African Vet. Assoc. 56: 209 – 210.
    8. Hamid, A. (2007). Productivity of commercially farmed ostriches in Saudi Arabia Tropentag. Ph.D. Thesis, Sudan University of Science and Technology.
    9. Hicks, K.D. (1992). Ratite Reproduction. Proceedings of the Association of Avian Veterinarians, 318 -324p.
    10. Huchzermeyer, F.W. (1998). Diseases of ostriches and other ratites; Agricultural Research Council, Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, South Africa.
    11. Jarvis, M.J.F., Jarvis C. and Keffen R.H. (1985). Breeding seasons and laying patterns of the Southern African Ostrich (Struthio camelus). Ibis 127: 442 – 449
    12. Mellett, F.D. (1993). Ostrich production and products; Maree C and Casey NH (eds) Livestock production system; Principles and practices. Agri development Foundation, Pretoria 187 – 194 p.
    13. More, S.J. (1996). The performance of farmed ostrich hens in eastern Australia. Preventive Vet. Medicine 29: 107 – 120.
    14. More, S.J., (1997). Monitoring the health and productivity of farmed ostrich flocks. Aus. Vet. J. 75: 583 – 587.
    15. Rizzi, R., Erba M., Giulian M.G., Cerelini S. and Cerutti F.. (2002). Variability of ostrich egg production on a farm in Northern Italy. J. Appl. Poult. Res. 11: 332 – 337.
    16. Samour, J.H., J. Markham, and O. Nieva. (1984). Sexing ratite birds by cloacal examination. Vet. Record. 115: 167- 169.
    17. Shivaprasad, H., (1993). Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the Association of Avian Veterinarians, Nashville. 282-293 p.
    18. Smith, W.A., Cilliers. S.C., Mellett E.D., and Vanschalkwyk S.J.. (1995). Proceedings of the 11th Alltech Annual Symposium. Nottingham University Press, Nottingham, 175 – 197p.
    19. Superchi, P., Sussi. C., Sabbioni A. and Beretti V.. (2002). Ann.Fac.Medic. Vet.di Pharma 22:155 – 162p.
    20. Stewart, J.S., (1989). Husbandry and medical management of ostriches. Proceedings of the Association of Avian Veterinarians pp. 208 -212.
    21. van Schalkwyk, S.J., Cloete S.W.P and de Kock J.A. (1996). Repeatability and phenotypic correlations for body weight and reproduction in commercial ostrich breeding pairs. British Poult. Sci. 37: 953 – 962.
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