Register      Login
Animal Production Science Animal Production Science Society
Food, fibre and pharmaceuticals from animals
Shopping Cart: ( empty )
You are here: Home > Journals > AN > EA08140
REVIEW
Contents Vol 48(10)

Intestinal development and nutrient utilisation in the ostrich: a brief review

P. A. Iji
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia. Email: piji@une.edu.au

Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 48(10) 1280-1283 https://doi.org/10.1071/EA08140
Submitted: 12 April 2008  Accepted: 29 May 2008   Published: 11 September 2008

Abstract

The ostrich industry is plagued by a high level of neonatal mortality among chicks that are under 3 months of age. Although ostrich chicks hatch with a gastrointestinal tract that is more than 10% of their liveweight, there appear to be deficiencies in structural and functional development of the intestinal mucosa (and possibly pancreatic function) that do not support adequate digestive function. There is also insufficient knowledge of the nutritional requirements of the ostrich, which results in the provision of diets that may not be suitable, particularly for the hatchlings. Recent evidence suggests that ostrich chicks under the age of 10 weeks have poor ability to digest fibre. Further evaluations have revealed generally low activities of amylase, trypsin and lipase in ostrich chicks within the first 10 weeks of life. It is not certain if digestive function can be improved by supplementation with microbial enzymes, which are routinely used by the poultry industry. There is still a paucity of data on the digestive physiology of the ostrich and areas of intervention through applied nutrition are still vague. This paper reviews existing knowledge of the digestive physiology of the ostrich and examines the potential of interventions that could reduce neonatal mortality in the species.


References


Allwright DM (2003) Towards a better understanding of the nutritional requirements of ostriches. In ‘Proceedings of the 22nd Scientific Day, World’s Poultry Science Association, Southern Africa’. pp.1–27.

Cilliers SC (1998) Feedstuff evaluation, metabolisable energy and amino acid requirements for maintenance and growth in ostriches. In ‘Proceedings of the Second International Scientific Ratite Congress, Oudtshoorn, South Africa, 21–25 September, 1998’. pp. 12–23.

Cilliers SC, Hayes JP, Chwalibog A, du Preez JJ, Sales J (1997) A comparative study between mature ostriches (Struthio camelus) and adult cockerels with respect to true and apparent metabolisable energy values for maize, barley, oats and triticale. British Poultry Science 38, 96–100.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | PubMed | open url image1

Cilliers SC, Hayes JP, Chwalibog A, Sales J, du Preez JJ (1998) Determination of energy, protein and amino acid requirements for maintenance and growth in ostriches. Animal Feed Science and Technology 72, 283–293.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Colombo F, Viacava R, Giaretti M (2000) Differentiation of the species ostrich (Struthio camelus) and emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) by polymerase chain reaction using an ostrich-specific primer pair. Meat Science 56, 15–17.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Cooper RG (2000) Management of ostrich (Struthio camelus) chicks. World’s Poultry Science Journal 56, 33–44.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Cooper RG, Mahroze KM (2004) Anatomy and physiology of the gastro-intestinal tract and growth curves of the ostrich (Struthio camelus). Animal Science Journal 75, 491–498.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Deeming DC (1999) Factors affecting the success of commercial incubation. In ‘The ostrich: biology, production and health’. (Ed. DC Deeming) pp. 159–190. (CABI Publishing: Wallingford, UK)

Fasone V, Adamo E (2001) Meat which is adapted to modern nutritional requirements. Rivista di Avicoltura 70, 22–24. open url image1

Gefen E, Ar A (2001) Gas exchange and energy metabolism of the ostrich (Struthio camelus) embryo. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. Part A, Molecular & Integrative Physiology 130, 689–699.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | PubMed | open url image1

Glatz PC, Ru YJ, Hastings MY, Black D, Rayner B (2003) On farm assessment of high fibre dietary sources for grower and finisher ostriches. International Journal of Poultry Science 2, 293–299. open url image1

Iji PA (2005) Anatomy and digestive physiology of the neonatal ostrich (Struthio camelus) in relation to nutritional requirements. In ‘Recent advances in animal nutrition in Australia’. (Ed. JL Corbett) pp. 165–170. (The University of New England: Armidale, NSW)

Iji PA, Saki A, Tivey DR (2001) Body and intestinal growth of broiler chicks on a commercial starter diet. 2. Development and characteristics of intestinal enzymes. British Poultry Science 42, 514–522.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | PubMed | open url image1

Iji PA, van der Walt JG, Brand TS, Boomker EA, Booyse D (2003) Development of digestive function in the ostrich (Struthio camelus). Archives of Animal Nutrition 57, 217–228.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | PubMed | open url image1

Jamroz D (2000) Feeding ostriches and emus – physiological basis and nutritional requirements – a review.  Prace i Materialy Zootechniczne 56, 51–73. open url image1

Lambiase M, di Meo C, Mauro P, Menna LF, Nizza A (1999) Use of probiotics in ostrich nutrition. Preliminary note: digestive utilization in young animals. Selezione Veterinaria 8/9, 661–665. open url image1

Mannion PF, Kent PB, Barram KM, Trappett PC, Blight GW, Sales J (1999) Lysine requirements of growing emus. British Poultry Science 40, 309–311.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | PubMed | open url image1

Miao ZH, Glatz PC, Ru YJ (2003) The nutrition requirements and foraging behaviour of ostriches. Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences 16, 773–788.
|  CAS |
open url image1

Mushi EZ, Isa JFW, Chabo RG, Segaise TT (1998) Growth rate of ostrich (Struthio camelus) chicks under intensive management in Botswana. Tropical Animal Health and Production 30, 197–203.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | PubMed | open url image1

Orenge CO, Mathiu PM, Mbugua PN (2002) Nitrogen retention as an indicator of metabolic utilization of nitrogen in three months old ostrich chicks (Struthio camelus massaicus). African Journal of Ecology 40, 399–400.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Schiavone A, Pirei S, Romboli I (1999) Lucerne hay (Medicago sativa) supplementation in ostrich chick (Struthio camelus) feeding: preliminary results. Annali della Facolta di Medicina Veterinaria di Pisa 52, 275–281. open url image1

Skadhauge E (1999) Osmoregulation in ratite birds: kidney-gut interactions in excretion of electrolytes and water in ostrich, emu and rhea. In ‘Proceedings of the Second International Scientific Ratite Congress, Oudtshoorn, South Africa, 21–25 September 1998’. pp. 84–87.

Swart D, Siebrits FK, Hayes JP (1993a) Utilization of metabolizable energy by ostrich (Struthio camelus) chicks at two different concentrations of dietary energy and crude fibre originating from lucerne. South African Journal of Animal Science 23, 136–141. open url image1

Swart D, Mackie RI, Hayes JP (1993b) Fermentative digestion in the ostrich (Struthio camelus var. domesticus), a large avian species that utilizes cellulose. South African Journal of Animal Science 23, 127–135. open url image1

Swart D, Mackie RI, Hayes JP (1993c) Influence of live mass, rate of passage and site of digestion on energy metabolism and fibre digestion in the ostrich (Struthio camelus var. domesticus). South African Journal of Animal Science 23, 119–126. open url image1

Ullrey DE, Allen ME (1996) Nutrition and feeding of ostriches. Animal Feed Science and Technology 59, 27–36.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1