emu bird playing football

emu bird playing football

EMU FARMS

EMU FARMS

PUNJAB EMU FARM {FARIDKOT}

Opportunity of EMU Farming in India:(Punjab)

Punjab Emu Farm & Hatchery,
vpo qilla nau
Dist. Faridkot,Punjab 151203
Tel. : 01639264111
Office Address: Qilla Nau
Near Bus Stand
Mobile:
09041406660
09915966601
08528856661
09041190415
Business Plan for Emu Farming:
(a)One can Start Emu farm with maximum 1 acre of agricultural land.
(b) Purchase Minimum 30 to 50 number of genetic 3-month-old Emu chicks from good Emu
farm organizers.
(c) Emu Birds are grown by group concept only (16 birds group need 56 x 56 feet space with 6
feet height fence).
(d) Farm maintenance should be very important with good organic feed, purified drinking water.
(e) Emu bird 1st yields only in winter season and after completion of 21 months (in India
November to December months)
(f) Further yield period is every year in winter season from October to March.
(g) Average of 10 to 15 eggs can be obtained from the 1st yield and subsequently average of 20
to 25 eggs can be obtained from next yields every year.
(h) Chick sale is a best profitable compared to egg sale.
Availability of Emu pairs:

In India there are private Emu hatcheries supplying the Emu pairs of different age groups i.e. 3 months, 6 months, 12 months and 15 months old.

Availability of Emu feed:

Poultry feed (layer) can also be fed to Emu. In addition to poultry feed mineral mixture and shell/ stone grit can be given. Sprouted desi Chana and Methi can also be fed during layer season.During summer season chopped vegetables like cabbage, carrot, beetroot, etc. can also be fed.
Training & experience Training on Emu farming is given on above farms for 3-5 days. During training these farm.

Financial assistance :
Loan from banks with refinance facility from NABARD is available for establishing Emu farm. For obtaining bank loan, the farmer should apply to the nearest branch of a Commercial or Cooperative or Regional Rural Banks in their area in the prescribed forms which is available in the branches of financing banks. For Emu farming schemes with very large outlays, detailed reports will have to be prepared. The technical officers attached to or the Branch Manager of the bank can help/give guidance to the farmers in preparing the project report to obtain bank loan. A scheme can also be prepared by the beneficiary after consulting local technical experts or private commercial Emu hatcheries. Consultancy Services of NABARD would also be available for large commercial projects.
Availability of Emu pairs:

In India there are private Emu hatcheries supplying the Emu pairs of different age groups i.e. 3 months, 6 months, 12 months and 15 months old.
Sale of eggs:

At present the hatcheries mentioned are purchasing eggs @ Rs.1000/-to 1200/- each or on the basis of chick borne @ Rs.1200/- per chick.

Sale of Oil:

About 4-6 a litter of oil is available from a bird which is devoid of any colour taste and odor. At present market prices, the price of one litter refined Emu oil is Rs. 3000/- to Rs. 4000/- The oil is penetrating and is having moisturizing. Analgesic, ant allergic and antiseptic properties. The oil is used in analgesic ointments, beauty creams and lotions, soaps, hair oils, shampoos, perfumes and massage oils. The rawfat/crude oil of Emu fetches Rs.1000 per Kg.

Project cost:
Based on model Emu farm with 50 pairs of Emu the total project cost including fixed cost and recurring
cost up to the income generating stage (21 months) has been worked out to Rs. 25 lakh (apx.).
Margin money:
& bank loan Minimum 15 % of down payment has been considered to be collected from the beneficiaries and maximum 85 % of total financial outlay is considered as bank loan.
Security:
a) Will be as per RBI guidelines issued from time to time.
b) Insurance: Bank may ensure that the borrower takes insurance of assets created out of a
bank loan including insurance of Emu birds.

Repayment of loan:

The repayment period depend upon the gross surplus generated in the project. The loan will be repaid within 7 years including first year as grace/moratorium/gestation period in suitable monthly installments (6/year) during October to March only.

Emu products

Currently, EMU farming is ‘farm to fork’. This means that we raises the bird, arranges the processing and production of products, then sells the products. These products include:
Emu based commercial products:

Meat, skin and oil are the major products from emus; carved emu eggs and small quantities of emu feathers are also sold Emu meat is a low-fat, low-cholesterol (less than 0.05%) Emu fat is rendered to produce an oil which is used in cosmetics and therapeutic products Emu oil for acne, hair, arthritis, hair loss, skin, eczema psoriasis. current research is going on to develop various products in emu industry
(A) Emu eggs
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. These eggs have dark-green colour. Each egg ways 400 to 600 gms.
(B) Emu Chick
• Emu chick weighs approximately 70% of emu egg weight
• Emu chick breeds naturally or by using incubator
• Artificial incubation is often conducted at a temperature of approximately 97.5 degrees fahrenheit
• A relative humidity that varies according to the climate.
• Average incubation time ranges from 48 to 52 days.
• Born chick colours are coffee brown with white line marks.
• Colour will change after 3 months
• Nutrition food and purified water is must up to 3 months
(C) Emu Oil
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.
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.
“Our skin is phospho-lipid deficient. In other words, there is no phosphorous in our skin. If you put anything on your skin that has phosphorous in it, your skin is 'programmed' to keep it from penetrating. Anytime you put anything on your skin that is phospholipids’ deficient, or has no phosphorous, it penetrates right through ". Researchers who have analyzed the oil found that there is a compound in oil that they believe is the key to its effectiveness. This compound molecule is believed to be collagen. Collagen is found in chickens and turkeys in a much diluted
form. However, the test result on the Emu shows this molecule to be present in an extremely concentrated form. Research and development of Emu oil using in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals is rapidly expanding. Emu oil has been documented to exhibit the following properties and/or has been used for the following purposes.
· Anti-inflammatory
· Moisturising
· Cholesterol reducer
· Bacteriostatic
· Penetration enhancer
· Signficant epidermal proliferative activity
· No –comedogenic
· Significant wound healing agent
· Significantly reduces recent keloid scarring
· Appears to promote faster healing of burns with less pain and scarring
· Anti-arthritic activity
· Excellent emulsifier
This is an important product in emu absorbed in human skin within 4 used in skin ointments and also for various cosmetic products. Recent research oil serves as excellent medicine for arthritis. It is also used as a pain killer.
The fatty acids present in this oil decrea research. Because of the medicinal value of this oil, western countries are capturing international markets by producing new cosmetics creams has a great opportunity to enter in to international market.
(D) Emu Meat
Low on cholesterol, high on protein," in what sounds like a well the benefits of consuming emu meat. 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 produced in the country every year.
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 h nflammatory activity educer nhancer omedogenic ctivity mulsifier emu-farming. From the fat oil can be extracted. This oil gets 4-5 seconds and reaches the bones. Hence this oil is mainly decrease the blood-cholesterol level as per the modern and lotions from this oil. India too well-rehearsed line designed to sell There are estimated 1,000 EMU farms here estimates being india th cholesterol shows that this farms-there are about content being much lower than in any other red meat. Each and every part of emu’s body is commercially valuable. The most important is of course, its meat which is 97 to 98% fats free. Emu meat is rich in proteins; it contains plenty of iron, vitamin B-12, hence as the modern research shows 'emu meat is an excellent diet for people suffering from heart–ailments. Emu meat has less fat content, it is easily digestable, very tasty and hence it serves as a very good alternative for mutton and chicken. Therefore, there is a great demand for it in international market. Each bird can yield about 25 kg of meat.
(E) Emu Skin
Emu-skin is very soft and smooth, hence it has a great demand in international leather industry for producing new fashionable goods. A variety of goods can be produced from emu-skin. A fully grown up bird can yield 6 to 8 sq. ft. leather.
(F) Emu Feathers
The feathers of the Emu bird are double quilled, attractive and velvety to the touch. They are soft, light and non-allergic, which makes them the ideal material for a host of applications. They are in demand both in the fashion and in art and craft industries. They are used as feather duster, feather pad, fans, bows, masks, finishing metals prior to painting, weather-proof apparels, pillows, blazers, sweaters, jewellery, and craft items.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Don’ts:

* 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.

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.

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 pair.

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.