Own farm for breeding ostriches. Ostrich breeding as a business: where to start, how to succeed

Evgeny Malyar

# Business ideas

Advantages and disadvantages of a business idea

The average income from one ostrich is approximately 27 thousand rubles. subject to slaughter (only for meat). The eggs of one female will add another fifty thousand.

Article navigation

• Brief information for beginners about breeding ostriches
• Advantages of an ostrich breeding business
• Problems
• Business plan for an ostrich farm
• Livestock purchase
• Room and space
• Equipment
• Staff
• Organization of market promotion and sales
• Business setup costs
• Stern
• Ostrich productivity
• What income from an ostrich can you expect
• Conditions for keeping ostriches
• Which ostriches breed better in the northern regions of Russia
• Is it possible to breed ostriches at home
• Content Modes
• conclusions

The ostrich is a foreign and exotic bird. It began to be bred in Russia relatively recently, and agricultural producers are still wary of this business. Fears are justified: growing such a large creature at home seems problematic - the bird is demanding and needs special care.

It is known that the products that make up the sources of "ostrich" profits are expensive, but whether it will be possible to establish their stable sales is a big question. In addition, it seems that any animal imported from the southern latitudes can catch a cold in Russia and get sick with something, and the risk of losing livestock is one of the main farmer “headaches”.

And yet there are many people who have taken up this business, and did not lose. Is breeding ostriches profitable as a business? How much does it cost to enter? When can self-sufficiency be achieved? All this and much more will be discussed in our article.

Brief information for beginners about breeding ostriches

It is obvious that the majority of Russian citizens have not even tried such exotic products as ostrich eggs and meat. They manage mainly pork, beef, lamb, chicken and other usual food. A natural question arises as to why these birds are bred by some daredevils, sometimes perceived by others almost as adventurers, and most importantly - for whom?

The reality is that the ostrich farm is a highly profitable enterprise, and there are enough people who want to enjoy exotic products. Where to start a business? Of course, with a marketing assessment of its prospects.

Advantages of an ostrich breeding business

To open his own business in poultry farming (albeit so unusual), the entrepreneur is motivated by the desire to make a profit. What are the benefits of this business?

• High profitability. As practice shows, the minimum "rise" on ostriches is half the investment, and in the future it can reach 100%. For agriculture, impressive rates of return.
• Demand stability. It only seems that the expensive meat of these unusual birds may be unclaimed - restaurants willingly take it, and not even the most expensive ones. First, it tastes like veal. Secondly, it is known that ostrich meat is very useful and suitable for dietary nutrition.
• Variety of output products. In addition to meat, ostrich breeding provides well-known feathers used to decorate fashionable toilet articles. Eggs taste similar to chicken eggs, but are 25–40 times larger. There are many who want to try such scrambled eggs. And then there is the shell, the purpose of which is decorative - it is bought by artists for painting. Fat is a valuable raw material in cosmetology. And even droppings and claws can become sources of income, albeit secondary ones.
• Tourist attraction. Yes, the ostrich farm can be called a tourist attraction. People willingly come to see these huge birds and try dishes prepared from their meat and eggs. Tours provide the farm with another source of income. Fees are charged for many services and attractions, including food and bird feeding.
• High livestock survival rate. Despite its exoticism, the ostrich is by no means a sissy. You should know that the range of its South African variety falls on a temperate climate, and sub-zero temperatures also occur in Pretoria. Practice shows that an ostrich farm in Siberia is not a fantasy. These birds easily endure Russian frosts, and heated rooms are required only for chicks. But about the conditions of detention - a little later.
• Demand for young people. Part of the business strategy is to sell the chicks. The competition in this business sector is still low, and one should not be afraid to grow rivals.
• Unpretentiousness. Many farm animals require more care than ostriches.
• Rapid growth of market capacity. Russians who have tasted ostrich meat are getting a taste of it, and there are more and more of them.

So, with the benefits of business, everything is clear. With minimal costs and effort, the entrepreneur receives demanded commercial products characterized by high added value. Now it's time to move on to the technical side of things.

Problems

The main task of a beginner ostrich breeder is to properly document his enterprise. The main problem is that the breeding of poultry requires permission from various supervisory authorities that control this type of activity. You can just sell meat, but in this case, the profitability will be lower and the payback period will be postponed: the ostrich grows for about a year.

The second important problem is the possible case. The ostrich is unpretentious, but the danger of diseases and death of livestock remains relevant. However, she also lies in wait for an ordinary chicken poultry farm.

Business plan for an ostrich farm

When forecasting future profits, one should estimate the initial and current costs. Theoretically, you can limit yourself to the minimum number of ostriches, that is, a couple, but in practice it still makes sense to buy more birds - at least a dozen and a half.

The baseline analysis involves an assessment of start-up costs, running costs and potential sales revenues.

Livestock purchase

The price of ostriches in Russia in rubles, depending on their age, ranges from 7 to 100 thousand.

The farmer chooses an option depending on financial capabilities and existing skills in handling farm animals. The older the purchased livestock, the sooner you can get income and the less associated risks. On the other hand, the price of entry into the business increases with the age of the birds.

Room and space

As it is already clear, keeping ostriches at home is very problematic - these birds need space. The norm for one and a half dozen individuals is about two hectares of open area, and this area still needs to be fenced (also costs).

Ostriches love to walk and run, but if the farm is located somewhere in Siberia, then their frost resistance should not be overestimated. Heating indoors is optional, but insulated bedding in aviaries is needed, as is fresh air. Ceilings in poultry houses - not lower than three meters (about why this is so - later). For young animals - a room heated to a temperature of 15 ° C.

The rent of space, premises and the cost of their arrangement should also be added to the expenditure part of the business plan.

Equipment

It should be understood that the ostrich farm is inherently a kind of hybrid of a poultry farm with food production. It is best to buy equipment such that its long-term performance and reliability are ensured - if it fails at the most inopportune moment (and it doesn’t happen otherwise), the whole thing may be in jeopardy.

The typical equipment of an ostrich farm includes:

In order to minimize costs, a novice farmer can perform some types of work manually. But as the number of livestock increases, the labor intensity of operations will increase, and one must be prepared for their comprehensive mechanization.

Staff

Farming is a tricky business. Such a valuable and restless asset as an ostrich population must be protected. Many operations require the constant presence of people, or at least their presence nearby. The staff of an ordinary ostrich farm, even a small one, usually includes:

• two cattlemen;
• one livestock specialist;
• two guards;
• accountant.

All these employees need to be paid, and the farmer himself must live on something. It should not be forgotten that salaries, bonuses and other costs associated with the maintenance of personnel are subject to taxes and fees.

Organization of market promotion and sales

Looking forward to the success of the farm and thinking about how to succeed in the breeding of ostriches, one should not lose sight of the issues of market promotion of the product. By itself, a queue of buyers will not line up - they should at least be notified of the existing offer.

To do this, the farmer will have to participate in specialized exhibitions, personally visit the most promising consumers, order promotional materials, publish ads in publications for livestock breeders and hold many more events. The best option is to have your own website. Participation in international expositions is not excluded.

All this costs money, and a lot of it. A novice farmer, as a rule, minimizes costs, partially compensating costs with personal efforts.

Business setup costs

To open an ostrich farm, an organizational and legal status is required, that is, registration with state bodies and a pension fund, which entails the payment of duties, tax registration and other inevitable actions and costs in such cases. The amount of these costs depends on the region where the enterprise is located and other factors. They also need to be taken into account in business planning.

Stern

To feed one ostrich, three kilograms of feed is needed daily, consisting of greens (cabbage, nettle, clover, etc.), vegetables, fruits, grains, hay, soy, straw and vitamin supplements. On average, such a ration produced by industry costs about 16-22 rubles per kg (for example, KS-300 or KS 420).

By preparing the components yourself, you can save money, but you need to monitor compliance with quality and nutritional parameters. The ostrich does not understand anything about economic problems and does not understand the difficulties. It grows and develops well if it is fed enough.

Ostrich productivity

Under farm conditions, two-year-old female ostriches lay 40–80 eggs per season (sometimes more). Productivity is maintained until the age of 35.

The live weight of an adult ostrich can reach 170 kg, but a centner is considered the slaughter norm. After deboning (separation from the bones) and disposal of offal, approximately 55% of pure meat remains, which costs about 500 rubles at a wholesale price. per kg (fillet up to 850 rubles, retail - 1000 rubles, carcass - 250 rubles / kg).

An ostrich gains slaughter weight within a period of eight months to a year.

Ostrich fat is considered a valuable product, about 8 kg of which is utilized from each bird. Its sale is problematic due to many bureaucratic difficulties, but it can bring an additional 10% of the total profit of the farm.

The skin area of ​​one ostrich is approximately 1 square meter. In a wet-salted form, such an amount is readily accepted for 3 thousand rubles. If a farmer learns how to make ostrich skin, he will receive 7,000 rubles. additionally from each individual.

The cost of an ostrich egg depends on its weight and is 800-1000 rubles. for the dining room and 3000 rubles. for incubation. For an empty shell they give 400 rubles.

One ostrich feather costs from 50 to 350 rubles. according to its aesthetic qualities. Income is also brought by ostrich offal (offal and trimmings). The claws are used to make souvenirs.

What income from an ostrich can you expect

The complexity and multivariance of the conditions of the ostrich business does not allow predicting the rate of return with high accuracy. At the initial stage, investments in the farm are estimated at approximately half a million to a million rubles, based on a livestock of fifteen individuals.

The average income from one ostrich is approximately 27 thousand rubles. subject to slaughter (only for meat). The eggs of one female will add another fifty thousand. High profitability is obvious in any case, but the percentage of its norm depends on the strategy chosen by the farm. Ultimately, it will be higher with self-reproduction of livestock, but the payback of this option comes longer than with the “downhole” method of work.

The profitability of a business also depends on other factors, including:

• depth of utilization of ostrich products;
• rationalization of production processes and costs;
• number of livestock;
• application of the latest meat processing and livestock technologies;
• availability of sustainable distribution channels;
• solvency of the population of the region;
• the variety of commercial products offered by the farm;
• the severity of the competitive environment;
• personal qualities and diligence of the farmer.

It is known that some large Russian ostrich farms have achieved 100% profitability, that is, a double “lift” of invested funds during one annual production cycle.

In part, the conditions for keeping ostriches in captivity in order to obtain commercial profit from the sale of their meat, eggs and other products have already been discussed above in terms of cost calculation. Some questions remain, probably of interest to those who have decided to go into this business and do not know where to start. Let's consider them.

Which ostriches breed better in the northern regions of Russia

There are three main breeds, according to the continents of origin. Emu breeding in Russia is popular due to the ability of Australian birds to quickly adapt to climate. Domestic farmers also grow African ostriches that live in the southern part of the mainland, where, as you know, winter also occurs, only it lasts from May to September. American nandu are too thermophilic, and therefore they are rarely bred in Russia.

In turn, the African variety is divided into subspecies (black, Namibian, Zimbabwean, Masai, etc.), as well as mestizo breeds.

In favor of African ostriches, their large size, weight up to 175 kg and tolerance to low temperatures speak. At the same time, high growth (about 270 cm, and there are three meters) is a factor that sets the height of the poultry house ceiling. Ostriches are very mobile and can be injured by hitting the ceiling.

Another advantage of the South African species is their fertility. The female (by the way, she is larger than the male) rushes very actively, producing up to 80 eggs per year, which can be used both as a commodity and to increase the livestock.

Is it possible to breed ostriches at home

Of course, you cannot breed ostriches in an ordinary apartment. To understand this, it is enough just to imagine in your own home a creature of almost three meters in height and weighing more than a centner, who also loves to run at the speed of a car. Probably the exception is raising ostrich chicks, which do need warmth for a short period. They are also not very small, but they do not pose a danger.

It should be remembered that ostriches are very fond of water. The ideal place for them is a spacious piece of land, bounded on at least one side by a stream, river or pond.

Adults eat twice a day, and chicks need to be fed twice as often.

The sooner the ostrich grows up, the sooner the costs will be reimbursed and profits will be made. Based on this simple formula, the main technologies for breeding and keeping birds in captivity have been developed.

With the intensive method, ostrich eggs are incubated with the help of special electrical appliances (they cost a lot). The territory required is relatively small, but it is kept perfectly clean, feeders and drinkers are regularly disinfected, and the veterinarian conducts examinations and vaccinations.

Birds do not move very actively, but such conditions are created for them that, as it were, there is no need to run. It is understood that with abundant feeding and a quiet comfortable life, meat and fat are gained faster. This method is also called "stall care".

Extensive technology, on the contrary, assumes the maximum proximity to the conditions of the savannah, only without predatory animals and hunters. In the fenced area, farm workers rarely come into contact with birds - only when necessary. Females incubate their offspring themselves, unless the farmer has other plans for the eggs. Ostriches grow up less fat, but more dietary and natural.

As a rule, experienced farmers, in an effort to optimize costs and at the same time achieve high product quality, combine the advantages of stall care and extensive “freedom”. The choice of technology is also influenced by the size of the leased area: not everyone can afford to pay for several hectares. However, Russia is a large country, and in many regions (for example, in Siberia and the Far East) there are no problems with space.

conclusions

For its implementation, initial investments of half a million rubles or more are required.

An ostrich farm requires an area, outbuildings and a certain range of equipment.

The most popular breed of ostriches in Russia is the South African and its subspecies.

Reading time 8 minutes

Breeding ostriches as a business is a very unusual idea for domestic entrepreneurs. This large bird is not found in Russia, so it is rightfully classified as an exotic animal. But if you learn how to care for her, then you can count on a large and stable profit.

Inexperienced entrepreneurs are primarily interested in the question of whether the case under consideration is profitable or not. Much here will depend on individual factors, including the personal qualities of a businessman. But there are a number of significant advantages of such an idea, which is able to provide positive financial performance:

1. High rates of profitability. It ranges from 50 to 100%, which is very good for a farm. This indicator also provides a high income with the right approach to the sale of finished products.
2. High demand. Despite the fact that for most Russians the ostrich remains an exotic animal, many of them are not averse to diversifying their diet. For example, meat has dietary and beneficial properties. It contains a lot of protein. In addition, you can sell eggs, feathers and even bird droppings.
3. Excellent survivability. Ostriches are completely unpretentious to the external conditions of nature. They are able to breed even on farms in the northern regions of the country. And these birds do not require special care, so even an inexperienced entrepreneur can bring the idea to life.

Breeding ostriches at home is most profitable in the event of the subsequent sale of young animals. But organizing such a business from scratch is very difficult. The main difficulty will be in the documentation. To breed ostriches, you will need to obtain a permit. And that's not all - already after registration, employees of supervisory authorities with various checks can visit the enterprise.

If an entrepreneur is not ready to deal with paperwork, then he can start by breeding ostriches for the subsequent sale of meat. But it will take no earlier than 8-12 months to make a profit from this format. Having bought young growth, it will be necessary to wait until it grows up.

Growing ostriches for slaughter is also good because the feed requirements are not as strict as in the case of breeding. You will not need to monitor the feathers and appearance in general every day.

And even if in this case the profit will be less, but it will be constant, because today the demand for ostrich meat and its eggs is growing very rapidly. In this case, there will be fewer problems with the sale of finished products.

The entrepreneur must understand that there is a possibility of losing part of the livestock due to diseases, natural changes. Therefore, it is important to stock up on individuals so that they can make up for losses.

What ostriches to buy?

When starting an ostrich breeding business, a natural question arises - where to start and how to succeed. First of all, you need to choose the most suitable breed. Experienced breeders use one of the following varieties for breeding:

• South African ostrich;
• Australian emu;
• South American nandu.

The first variety is considered the most popular. These are very large ostriches. Adults weigh about 175 kilograms, and their height is about 2.7 meters. An interesting feature is that females are much larger in size than males. South African ostriches are chosen not only because of their impressive size, but also because of their ability to quickly reproduce offspring.

It will not work to breed ostriches in an apartment, so you will have to use land outside the city - your own or rented. These animals normally tolerate cold weather, so it is not necessary to conduct heating in their house. But in this case, you will have to take care of a comfortable and thick bedding. For small ostrich cubs, it is necessary to equip a separate room where the temperature will be maintained at +15 0 С on average.

Females grow faster into adults. This takes 1.5 - 2 years. But males become capable of reproduction only after 2 - 2.5 years. The breeding season is in spring - mid-autumn.

When compiling the diet of ostriches, the entrepreneur should not have any particular difficulties, since these birds are able to eat everything. In their normal habitat, they prefer leaves, grass, tree fruits, and insects. When breeding individuals in captivity, it is necessary to ensure a balance between green fodder and mixed fodder. It is enough to feed ostriches twice a day. Small individuals require more frequent feeding - up to 4 times per day. In general, a balanced diet looks like this:

• greens (cabbage, nettle, clover);
• vegetables;
• fruits;
• corn;
• roughage (hay, soy, straw);
• vitamin and mineral supplements.

All together it should weigh about 3 kilograms - this is exactly the rate of food for one ostrich per day.

There are several ways to keep ostriches. They are reflected in the rate of development of individuals. Entrepreneurs most often use the following:

1. Intensive. Ostrich eggs are sent to the incubator. A small area is used for keeping individuals. They get along well with the staff. Of the mandatory procedures: daily cleaning, disinfection of feeders and drinkers, a check by a veterinarian and vaccination of all individuals.
2. Extensive. Birds grow up in conditions as close as possible to their usual living conditions. Workers rarely come into contact with ostriches, keep them in a large area.
3. Hybrid. Combines features of intensive and extensive methods.

What is income made up of?

Raising ostriches offers many opportunities for profit. We are talking about the sale of the following components:

• Meat. It belongs to the dietary and very useful products. Ostrich meat contains a lot of protein. It tastes like regular veal.
• Fat. It is actively used by cosmetic and pharmacological companies. Ointments, various creams, preparations important for humans are made from ostrich fat.
• Feathers. White feathers are actively used in the fashion industry for tailoring exotic and stage costumes. The rest goes to the production of comfortable and soft pillows.
• Skin. It is also popular with designers. Bags, wallets, belts, shoes are sewn from ostrich leather.
• Eggs. One ostrich egg is about 40 eggs in weight. It retains its properties and does not deteriorate during the year if stored in the refrigerator. Separately, you can sell the shell - it is very much appreciated by artists. It is used for painting and engraving. Do not disdain to make shell decorations.

If the entrepreneur deals with obtaining permits, then he can receive additional profit from the following opportunities:

• sale of chicks or adults;
• excursions for everyone around the ostrich farm (for example, children and adults can ride ostriches, let them feed the animals).

All together will allow you to get the maximum profit.

Sales channels and advertising

Meat and eggs of ostriches are mostly purchased by restaurants, cafes and large supermarkets. At the initial stage, without registration, you can start selling products to ordinary people, other farmers. True, in this case it will turn out to help out less than with permission. Buyers of live ostriches are other breeders, and skins - manufacturers of expensive clothes and shoes.

For a business to be truly successful, care must be taken to use effective advertising methods. For an ostrich farm, they will be:

• placement of articles in local newspapers and magazines;
• distribution of leaflets and flyers on the streets;
• mailing to the client base;
• farm tours.

Of course, after a successful entry into the market, the brand will become popular in itself, and then it will be easier to find customers. Therefore, the emphasis on an advertising campaign should be done at the beginning of your journey.

Financial results

Any entrepreneur, opening his own business, wants to know what profit he can count on. But first of all, he must estimate the amount of necessary investments. After all, it is very important that he had enough funds for the functioning of the enterprise. The following cost items will have to be included in the number of initial investments:

• rent;
• farm building;
• equipment (incubator)
• stern;
• medicines;
• vaccination and examination by a specialist;
• registration costs;
• purchase of young.

The final figure will largely depend on the age at which ostriches are purchased. The rates are as follows:

• newborn - 7,000 rubles;
• monthly ostrich - 10,000 rubles;
• one-year-old female - 40,000 rubles;
• two-year-old male - 60,000 rubles.

It is better to buy a whole family with adult males and females and cubs. It will take about 200,000 rubles. In total, about 500,000 rubles will be required.

After reaching an ostrich weighing 100 kilograms, it is sent for slaughter. As a result, with one individual you can get:

• meat;
• feathers;
• skin.

All together will bring income of at least 70,000 rubles. If we take into account that the female lays 60 eggs per season, then in addition to their purchase, you can earn about 40,000 more rubles. Even with 5 females, you can recoup your investment in 1 year. When taking into account current costs, the payback is about 1.5 years.

Over time, you can increase the number of the farm. This will allow you to get a very good profit. In this case, the profitability can reach about 75 - 95%.

Your rating for this article:

• • Meat
  • Eggs
  • Leather
  • Feathers
• Conditions for keeping ostriches
• Which ostriches to choose?
• • • • Similar business ideas:

According to market participants, breeding ostriches is a very profitable area of ​​agriculture. A well-organized ostrich farm allows you to earn money by selling ostrich meat, eggs, leather, feathers and chicks. Today, ostriches are successfully bred not only in the southern, but also in the central and even in the northern regions of the country. Some hybrid breeds of ostriches freely tolerate low temperatures: up to -30 degrees ...

Ostriches are the largest birds on Earth. The height of an adult is 2.7 meters, weight can reach 160 kilograms. Ostriches have oval, large bodies covered with soft feathers. Chicks of these birds have warm brown down with black spots. As they grow, male ostriches become almost black (white feathers grow only on the wings); females acquire gray-brown plumage and brown flight feathers with black tips.

Ostriches are birds, by and large, herbivores, they feed on grass, foliage, tree shoots. However, the ostrich eats insects, small vertebrates with pleasure. When breeding these birds in the conditions of the Central Russian plain, the animals do not need any exotic food. The main thing is the presence of pasture. Ostriches give the best body weight gain per feed unit among all other poultry.

Birds are accustomed to living in a dry and hot climate, but this does not prevent them from being very resistant to drafts and cold. Ostriches easily endure the cold, they can easily roam in the snow. In a room for keeping ostriches, it is enough to adhere to a temperature of 15 degrees above zero.

Ostriches are long-livers among birds. Many birds live up to 70 years under normal conditions. Females retain the ability to reproduce for 30 years, males - for 40 years. The female of this bird becomes sexually mature at the age of 2 to 3 years, the male - a year later.

In the first season of egg-laying, the female ostrich brings from ten to thirty eggs, later the number increases to 40-70 pieces. Every three days the bird lays up to two dozen large eggs. The female ostrich then pauses for a while to incubate the eggs. After that, the second stage of masonry begins. With the normal development of the ostrich group, it is possible to obtain eggs with a fertility rate of at least 90 percent. At the beginning and end of the season, birds produce less fertile eggs. A healthy ostrich is capable of producing eggs for 35 years, which means that an entrepreneur who purchases pairs for breeding is, in fact, making a multi-year investment.

In our country, African black ostriches, which were domesticated over 120 years ago, are considered the most profitable for breeding. More than a century of genetic work with this breed has made it possible to achieve high characteristics of the bird. Black African ostriches grow very quickly (chicks reach the weight necessary for slaughter in 10 months), birds are obedient, calm, laying hens quickly reach maturity (specialists have recorded cases when a female brought viable eggs already at the age of 18 months). African black ostrich eggs are of higher quality and beautiful appearance than other breeds. For a short growing period, minimal costs are required. The most productive females regularly bring at least 80 eggs, there are also laying hens that lay over a hundred eggs per season. Birds of this breed are perfectly adapted to temperature extremes and feel good in almost all climatic zones.

What products can be obtained from an ostrich farm

Meat

Young ostrich grown for slaughter is ready for slaughter already at the age of 9 months with a weight of 90-100 kg. None of the modern farm birds gives such a high increase in such a short period of time.

Ostrich meat can be considered dietary - it contains very little cholesterol: no more than 34 mg per hundred grams. The meat has a high protein content - approximately 22% and an excellent set of nutrients and trace elements. Ostrich goes well with various spices, perfectly absorbs the taste and smell of the marinade. That is why ostrich meat has become an important element in the traditional cuisines of Italy, China and Mexico. Ostrich meat is becoming more and more popular in the United States of America, in Japan, and in Taiwan. The ostrich meat was also tasted by the inhabitants of Western Europe - the Swiss, Belgians, British, Italians, Spaniards and French. In these countries, large bird meat can be freely purchased in the supermarket. In Germany, for 1 kilogram of ostrich meat, you will have to pay from 20 to 25 German marks, in the United States - $ 20. The spread of ostrich meat in Europe was facilitated by the epidemic of spongiform encelopathy, which hit the cattle population at the end of 2000. Because of the epidemic, residents of the European Union began to consume less beef, partly replacing it with ostrich meat. In Poland, public catering establishments and supermarkets show interest in ostrich meat. In Polish stores, a kilo of big bird meat costs between $12 and $13 per kilo. True, while the citizens of Poland acquire ostrich meat in order to surprise guests invited to the festive celebration.

Eggs

The norm for an ostrich egg is a weight of 1 kg. - 1 kg. 400 grams. A standard egg has a height of 18 centimeters and a diameter of 15 cm. Unlike the eggs of other varieties of poultry, ostrich eggs contain less cholesterol, as well as unsaturated fatty acids. It takes at least 75 minutes to cook a hard boiled egg. In the Republic of South Africa, ostrich eggs have long become the most important product that is used in everyday life, used in cooking, baking, and so on.

In Poland, restaurants show more interest in ostrich eggs than ordinary citizens. In search of exotic dishes, Polish restaurants offer visitors scrambled eggs from 1 ostrich egg. This dish is more than enough for 8 or even 10 people. Individual consumers buy ostrich eggs in order to decorate a solemn event with an unexpected dish - an anniversary, a friendly meeting, a birthday, etc. The use of ostrich eggs for direct consumption is considered exclusively in the exotic category. In the United States, supermarkets charge $12 for one ostrich egg. For comparison, eggs from similar birds - rhea or emu - cost $10 apiece. Interesting souvenirs are made from the shell of ostrich eggs in some private factories.

Leather

Another important product obtained from ostrich farms is ostrich skin. Leather is distinguished by high consumer qualities - flexibility, resistance to wetting, durability. Designers of clothes, shoes and accessories are attracted by the unusual texture of ostrich leather: it is extremely difficult to fake the material. Ostrich leather is considered a product of the highest quality. In recent years, the material has been actively replacing the skin of other animals, especially those that are listed as protected. The price of ostrich leather depends on the texture of the product. The material from the chest and back of the bird, which is characterized by the presence of a unique bubble pattern, is in the greatest demand. Another type of ostrich skin is the skin from the legs of birds. The material is covered with scales and is used to make the so-called "cowboy" boots, which are very popular in many countries of the world. In the US, the cost of such shoes reaches $ 700.

It is believed that the best ostrich skin is obtained when birds are slaughtered at the age of 12 to 14 months: during this period, the skin surface area of ​​the bird reaches 1.6 square meters. In 2000, the price of raw ostrich skin was fixed at $150. In Israel, you will have to pay at least $280 for tanned leather. Only the sale of ostrich skin, without the sale of meat, eggs, fat and feathers, fully pays for the cost of poultry production.

Fat

From the carcass of one ostrich, the manufacturer can get up to 7 kilograms of fat. Some individuals give up to 17 kilograms. The fat of African ostriches is in increasing demand every year. The most valuable is the fat of emu ostriches. This product is almost 100 percent triglycerides, 2/3 of which are unsaturated fatty acids.

Ostrich fat is a healing agent that has a bactericidal, expectorant, anti-inflammatory effect. Fat does not cause allergies and is widely used in various ointments and creams. Based on fat, drugs are produced that are used to treat muscles, ligaments and joints.

In the United States, Western Europe, and Slovakia, cosmetics made from emu and African black ostrich fat have become widespread. Fat penetrates deep into the pores of the skin, protecting it from drying out, making the skin smoother and silky. These products are freely available. Soaps and various balms are the most widespread among cosmetics.

Feathers

An additional product that the owner of an ostrich farm receives from his production is feathers. True, from the point of view of profitability, the value of this product is small - the income from the sale of feathers is only 10 percent of the total income of ostrich breeding.

The most valuable ostrich feathers are white - they are used in decorative art. White feathers grow only in males - on the wings and on the tail.

Ostrich feathers have anti-electrostatic properties, so they are used in electronics and optics to remove dust. One bird produces from 1 to 1.2 kilograms of short feathers. In addition, the farmer receives up to 0.5 kilograms of feathers from 22 centimeters long. In the world markets in 2000, the cost of 1 kilogram of long feathers (from 50 to 80 centimeters) of natural color exceeded 300 dollars. Feathers of the 1st class with a length of 45 to 50 centimeters cost $ 200 per kilogram. Short solid feathers paid $110 per kilogram, while a mixture of feathers of different lengths and colors cost $165 per kilogram in 2000. Of course, now ostrich feathers are more expensive.

In addition to selling basic ostrich products, you can organize paid excursions on the farm. Many people want to see ostriches. At the farm, you can organize a restaurant that will offer dishes from ostrich eggs and meat. In the shop next to the farm, you can successfully sell souvenirs.

How much money do you need to open an ostrich farm

To create a small farm for breeding ostriches, you will need to invest at least 150 - 300 thousand rubles. And this is only for the purchase of breeding stock of ostriches. Prices for poultry offered by Russian farms are approximately as follows:

• Chickens at the age of 5 days - from $80;
• Chickens at the age of 1 month - from $180;
• Female at the age of 12 months - from $ 900;
• Male at the age of 2 years - from $1100;
• Breeding stock (family of three birds) - from $3500.

Conditions for keeping ostriches

It is important to consider the issue of land. Keep in mind that ostriches require a significant amount of space both indoors and outdoors. When choosing a place for a future farm, consider the terrain, groundwater level, wind protection, remoteness from major federal highways and noise, and the availability of engineering networks (water, electricity).

In winter, adult ostriches are kept in unheated rooms with bedding and the possibility of free access to the corral. But young animals up to 6 months require additional heat. Ostriches are kept in heated rooms at a temperature of 12-18 degrees.

Ostriches do not tolerate dampness, so the area where the farm is planned to be built must be dry and have an appropriate groundwater level - about 1 meter. Ideal for the construction of enclosures are plots of land with a slope of the terrain to the south. Such slopes receive more solar heat than flat areas and favorably affect the growth and development of birds.

Step by step plan to open an ostrich farm. Where to begin

The first step is drawing up a business plan. This will make it possible to understand where it is better to start, make calculations and assess your opportunities and possible risks. Next, you need to decide on the form of production, that is, for what purpose you will breed poultry - for sale or for the sale of meat. This is an important stage, since both of these species have their own characteristics of keeping and growing individuals. When breeding (for sale), specially created conditions are needed, which means additional cash and labor costs. After you have decided on organizational issues, you need to register an individual entrepreneur and you can start building pens, purchasing livestock and feed for it.

How much can you earn by opening an ostrich company?

At the initial stage, it is enough to purchase 10-15 females and a couple of males. One ostrich, on average, costs about 10,000 rubles. Thus, the initial cost of livestock will be 120-170 thousand rubles. The maintenance of 1 individual will cost the owner 4,000 rubles a year, that is, 68,000 rubles in total. The average number of eggs that a female is able to bring per year is about 60 pieces. So, 900 pieces from 15 females. Half of them can be sold, and the other half can be left to replenish the farm. When selling eggs, you can earn 675,000 rubles if you sell one for at least 1.5,000 rubles. If we carry out more detailed calculations, it becomes clear that a fully ostrich farm will begin to pay off only in the second year of its existence, and its profitability will be 25%.

Which ostriches to choose?

Ostriches are divided into 3 main breeds: emu, rhea and African black. The latter species is preferred to breed most often. They are prolific, grow rapidly and, in comparison with the rest, are large, so the amount of finished products will be quite large.

What OKVED to indicate when registering an ostrich farm

To register an ostrich farm, you must select the OKVED code 01.49 - “Cultivation of other animals”.

What documents are needed to open an ostrich farm

To register an ostrich breeding farm, in addition to the standard package of documents (passport, TIN code, land lease agreement, state duty payment receipt, if there are several founders, then an agreement on the establishment of a peasant farm will also be required), you will also need to contact the State Standard in the local veterinary control service submission.

What taxation system to choose for registering an ostrich farm

The most profitable option is to register a legal entity or a peasant farm. The latter option involves the possibility of obtaining a UNO, receiving state subsidies, as well as receiving material assistance in the form of free vaccination and feed.

Do I need a permit to open an ostrich farm?

Permission is required only from the veterinary service. Wholesale outlets accept only those goods that are constantly being tested and certified, it is advisable to conclude a long-term contract with the veterinary service.

Technology of growing ostriches

In order for the business started to be profitable, raising ostriches must follow simple rules:

1. You need to walk the birds in special pens, under supervision and well-fed.
2. Little ostriches can be released outside no earlier than 3-4 months of age.

Organization of your business, first of all, requires a promising idea. In this article, I want to offer you a great option, breeding ostriches as a business at home.

Before proceeding to the stage of organizing an ostrich breeding farm, I want to note the advantages of this way of earning.

Pros of an ostrich breeding business

• High profitability - if the idea is correctly implemented, then this business will be very profitable;
• Huge demand for products. Ostrich meat is a dietary, healthy product with a high content of protein and other nutrients. Eggs are also not cheap, and are in demand among the population of many countries. Also, you can sell feathers and even droppings. Restaurants, a supermarket, sanatoriums are your potential consumers;
• Resistant to any temperature changes. Ostriches are unpretentious birds that do not require special care and nutrition, and are resistant to climate change. Even in the harsh regions of Russia, you can breed these birds. For a novice entrepreneur without experience, it is quite possible to realize the idea of ​​\u200b\u200bbreeding ostriches at home.

Ostrich farm business plan

The ostrich is the largest bird in the world. It can weigh up to 160 kg, height 2.5 meters. Africa is the birthplace of these birds, but, despite significant differences in climate, this breed of birds adapts perfectly and survives even at sub-zero temperatures. The life expectancy of ostriches is up to 70 years, females remain productive up to 30 years, and males up to 40. Thus, investing in an ostrich farm can be safely considered a long-term and profitable investment.

The most suitable breed for breeding in our climatic conditions is the breed of African black ostriches. They quickly gain weight and after 10 months are ready for slaughter for meat. Eggs, females will carry after 18 months.

Related videos

Products

The ostrich is a very valuable bird, the demand for products in different countries is different, but mostly meat and eggs are quite expensive. Therefore, this business is only gaining momentum.

What can you get from an ostrich farm?

1. Feathers. From one bird you will get about half a kilogram of feathers. They are used in the decorative arts and in optics for their anti-electrostatic properties. The cost of one kilogram of ostrich feathers is from 10 thousand rubles;
2. Eggs. The weight of an ostrich egg is about 1–1.5 kg. You can buy ostrich eggs in Russia at a price of 800–1,000 rubles apiece. This product is very useful, contains a lot of protein, so it is in demand among the population. An omelet from one ostrich egg can feed a company of 8 people. In addition, ostrich eggs are used for making souvenirs;
3. Meat. Naturally, in the first place, ostriches are bred for slaughter for meat, which is dietary and very healthy. This product is valued for its high protein content and low cholesterol. Also, ostrich meat is very healthy and well absorbed by the human body. The price of this product varies from country to country. For example, in the USA one kilogram of ostrich meat costs about 20 dollars, in Russia from 600-850 rubles;
4. Fat. Approximately from one ostrich, you can get from 5-8 kilograms of fat, which is used in cosmetology. Therefore, you will not have problems with the implementation of this product;
5. Ostrich skin. It is highly valued in the market, it is used mainly for the production of expensive cowboy boots. The cost of this product is quite high - 1.2–1.4 sq. m. from 7000 rubles.

In addition to selling products from your farm, you can receive additional funds from excursions. Many people want to see ostriches and farm life. For you, this is an additional opportunity to "get money from the air" by organizing excursions for everyone.

Farm organization

In order to open a farm, you first need to register your activity with the tax office. Next, it is worth renting land and equipping a farm. For example, for 50 ostriches, the required area is about 5 hectares. As mentioned earlier, these birds adapt well to Russian winters, so there will be no problems with keeping.

Building premises from scratch for keeping ostriches is not very profitable, so many entrepreneurs prefer to re-equip old barns and stables, pigsties. The temperature in the room should be at least 15 degrees. In addition, the farm must be equipped with sewerage and water supply networks.

Feeding ostriches

These birds are not too whimsical in food, but still it is worth carefully monitoring the diet, it must be balanced and nutritious. The following products must be present:

• Hay, straw;
• Vegetables and fruits such as potatoes, apples, bananas, pumpkins, pears, radishes;
• Minerals (fluorine, calcium, phosphate, gravel);
• Cereals (oats, corn, wheat, soybeans, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, peanuts);
• Herbs (alfalfa, silage, nettle, quinoa).

In addition, drinkers with water should be installed on the farm, which should be changed frequently.

Related videos

Farm staff

You will not be able to physically serve the farm on your own, so hire workers to perform the functions of feeding animals, cleaning the territory, and slaughtering. You will also need an accountant who will deal with financial issues, if you understand this area, have an education, you can perform these functions, saving money.

Costs and profits

• Land lease;
• Farm arrangement;
• Buying young. A one-day ostrich chick - from 7,000 rubles, an ostrich bird up to 1 month from 10,000 rubles. Sexually mature ostriches (2 years old) will cost you 45,000 rubles. The cost of an adult ostrich is from 60,000 rubles, a family (4-5 years old) - 200 thousand rubles;
• I recommend that you breed ostriches yourself using a bird incubator at home, it is much more profitable, although its cost is quite high. Ostrich incubator (64–128) from 75–120 thousand rubles;
• Feed costs;
• Staff salaries - will depend on the region of your residence;
• Business payback.

Your profit will directly depend on the sales market and the number of poultry rearing. This business will begin to make a profit from about the second year of foundation. In a good scenario, a profitable sales market, your net profit per year can reach from 3 million rubles a year. The approximate payback period for the business is 6 years.

If the place of residence is a village or a rural area, then one of the main areas of income can be called animal husbandry. But a novice businessman is unlikely to be able to organize a farm or horses, as this requires huge financial resources.

It is much more expedient to pay attention to something smaller and start or. Another interesting business idea is the opening of an ostrich farm.

Market and competitor analysis

If we take into account the climatic conditions, then we can conclude that the temperature regime of the middle zone involves the breeding of only the black African ostrich. The strength of their immune system guarantees the fact that this bird adapts to any climate.

Ostrich meat is a very valuable food product, which is characterized by low calorie content and high protein content.

We must not forget that the normal development of an ostrich can only be ensured if there are large pens and enclosures, respectively, the farm must be located in a sufficiently large area, and for boundless Russia, as you know, this is not a problem.

An ostrich farm for a Russian person is something new, exotic and attractive. In addition, the sale of finished products usually does not pose any difficulties - Russian citizens annually consume about 100 tons of meat (by the way, the figure does not increase only because domestic producers are simply unable to provide the necessary market volume). Also, consumers are very interested in ostrich leather, which is used to make high-quality haberdashery.

Every entrepreneur must understand that in order to confidently occupy their market niche and stand firmly on their feet, it may take more than one year, but this business is definitely able to provide the owner with a high stable income. It is better to start opening a farm today, because so far this area has not been attacked by competitors, and the level of demand for the final result can boast of high rates.

Production plan

As mentioned earlier, the most malleable to Russian climatic conditions is African ostrich breed. The bird can lead a normal life and breed within from +35 to -25 degrees. In winter, cold time, an adult does not even need a heated room.

When choosing a place for a future pasture, it is necessary to take into account not only the size of the existing family, but also its potential for reproduction. The ostrich loves freedom very much.

So, if initially the herd includes 25 families, each of which consists of 3 individuals, then their normal living is guaranteed by a plot of area at least 9 ha.

The choice of a pasture site should take into account the following important points:

• the greatest illumination of the farm can be achieved by choosing a dry area with a slope to the south;
• low humidity level;
• wind protection;
• optimal remoteness from the road, combined with the possibility of access;
• the presence of running water, sewerage and permanent electricity.

The stall and paddock are perhaps the most important parts of a farm. The stall is the place where the ostrich spends most of its time, eats and stays during the winter period.

Before proceeding with the organization of the cost, you need to familiarize yourself with the recommended dimensions of the place for each bird. If an ostrich is grown for the purpose of procreation, then a separate stall should be allocated for it. One individual needs 8-10 square meters. m of space. Young animals under the age of 6 months cannot do without additional insulation or heating in the winter. One young bird requires from 200 cm to 6 sq. m, depending on how old she is.

It is necessary to provide a quarantine zone - a place where infected and sick birds will be kept.

Also, when allocating the available space for stalls, you need to take care of the order and distance that the staff caring for all the birds will walk. So, first you should “serve” the adult representatives of the herd, then the young, and only then the sick individuals.

The corral provides a safe walking area for the birds. The presence of this space is very important, since the cultivation of an ostrich is impossible without providing a free lifestyle. Only thanks to a full-fledged walking, he can fully develop, show aggression much less, and most importantly, that this minimizes the risk of deformation of the legs, often leading to death.

A detailed description of the organization of such activities is presented in the following video:

Financial plan

Cost items include:

• land lease (depending on size and area);
• farm arrangement (it is difficult to establish a certain amount, since it depends on the area, number of livestock, material used, etc.);
• purchase of young. The cost of an ostrich chick at the age of one day varies within 7,000 rubles, and in order to acquire a mature individual, you will have to spend at least 45,000 rubles. The price for an adult ostrich starts from 60,000 rubles, and the purchase of an ostrich family will cost at least 200,000 rubles. Much more profitable is the independent breeding of ostriches through an incubator, the cost of which is from 75 to 120 thousand rubles;
• purchase of food;
• employees' wages.

How quickly the business will pay off depends directly on the established sales market and the number of birds grown. As experience shows, keeping one ostrich costs 140 euros. This includes the price of the ostrich itself, the purchase of food for it and other costs (dressing the skin and other items of expenditure).

Now about profit. From one bird you can get about 40 kg. meat, which costs about 6 euros per 1 kg on the market. Leather can also be sold: 1 sq. m costs 60 euros. As a result, one ostrich will bring to the owner at least 280 euros(including taxes).

The level of competition in this area can be safely called zero, so each manufacturer has the opportunity to set its own price for the finished product. In total, the amount of net income from one ostrich is approximately 120-140 euros.

organizational plan

To open your own ostrich farm, you need to register your activity with the tax office. After that, you can start renting a suitable area and arranging a farm.

The construction of a new building is very unprofitable, so the majority of entrepreneurs seek to refurbish an old barn, stable or pigsty. The temperature in the room should not fall below 15 degrees Celsius. In addition, the farm must be equipped with a sewer and water supply network.

If we talk about feeding, then the ostrich cannot be called a picky bird, but despite this, its diet should be balanced and nutritious. So, he can not do without the following products:

• hay and straw;
• vegetables and fruits;
• minerals (fluorine, calcium, phosphate and gravel);
• cereals (oats, corn, wheat, soybeans, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, peanuts);
• herbs (alfalfa, silage, quinoa and nettle).

You also need to take care of the presence of drinking bowls with regularly updated water.

Launch Schedule

To be able to organize a successful farm, you must first look for a large spacious plot of land. It is desirable that it falls on the south side, as the ostrich loves the sun and warmth very much. In addition, it is not recommended to place the farm in a damp, windy or wetland area.

The next stage is the preparation of all necessary documents and obtaining permits (for example, certification in the veterinary control service).

Be sure to take the time to recruit staff: a handyman, a livestock specialist, a security guard, a watchman, a veterinarian, etc.

The purchase of the necessary equipment, feed and young animals is the moment that completes the preparation for the official start of business.

Marketing plan

A very important aspect of breeding and raising ostriches is the search for distribution channels. This product is relatively new and even exotic for our country, so you need to:

• distribute their commercial offers to restaurants offering elements of exotic cuisine;
• place ads in several thematic publications;
• create your own website.

Before starting financial investments, you need to start concluding sales contracts, as this significantly reduces possible risks.

Risk Analysis

Growing ostriches, like any other farming activity, is a very risky undertaking, since nothing can save a businessman from a natural disaster or epidemic leading to the death of the entire livestock. All this can cause rapid bankruptcy and the loss of huge finances.

In addition, the premises must be well ventilated.