An evaluation of slaughter age on the profitability of intensive slaughter ostrich production

Abstract

The traditional slaughter ostrich production system evolved mainly around two aspects: producing the optimum skin size and attaining the ideal shape of follicle on the skin. Over time the practice of slaughtering ostriches at 14 months of age proved to be the ideal system and became the standard in the ostrich industry. With a gradual increase in demand for ostrich meat in the past decade, the meat yielded by a 14-month-old bird provided additional income to the producer. However, the cost of feed can affect profitability and, especially so, for a production system over a 14-month period. In addition to increasing feed costs, evidence exists of an increasing risk of skin damage over long production periods, affecting income negatively. A study at the Kromme Rhee experimental farm near Stellenbosch in South Africa investigated slaughter age regimes at 8.5 months, 10.5 months, 12.5 months, 14.5 months and 16.5 months. Data on feed intake and yields of cold carcass, crust skin size, skin grade and total feathers revealed significant differences (P < 0.01) at different slaughter ages. This paper attempts to assess the effect of different slaughter age regimes on the profitability of intensive slaughter ostrich production. Values predicted from a regression analysis were imputed into a gross margin budget analysis and discounted over a 5-year planning period to compare profitability over the long-term. Income was highest at the 14.5-month slaughter system but gross margin of the 10.5-month slaughter age system was highest, with the 8.5-month system second. Changes in the slaughter age regimes in the ostrich industry may increase efficiency in production systems.