Hatchability Performance of Emu Birds (Dromaius novaehollandiae) reared in an Organized Farm in Hilly Area

Author: P. Tensingh Gnanaraj, Chate Amar Gangadhar, A. Sundaresan and C. Pandian

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Abstract

A study was conducted to evaluate the hatchability performance of emu birds (Dromaius novaehollandiae) in an organized farm in one of the hilly region of Tamil Nadu, India. The Emu farm was located 2000 meter above the mean sea level at Kodaikanal taluk, Dinidigul district, Tamil Nadu, India. The maximum and minimum temperature ranges from 17 to 20oC and 7 to 10oC respectively. About 34 pairs of emu birds were selected for this study period of 90 days. They were reared in separate breeding pens (400 sq.ft floor space per breeding pair) under semi-intensive system of housing and provided standard emu breeder ration and ad libitum water. During the study period, a total of 650 eggs were laid, from that 100 eggs were selected to study the hatchability performance. The eggs were cleaned and set in incubator for 52 days with the optimum temperatures of 96.5°F to 97.0°F (dry bulb) and relative humidity of 45 to 50 per cent (wet bulb reading 82.0°F to 84.0°F). The egg moisture loss at the time of setting and at 14th day, 21st day, 28th day, 35th day, 42nd day and 49th day of incubation period and hatch weight were recorded. On 56th day the unhatched eggs were subjected to break open study for embryonic mortality and infertile eggs if any. The egg weight loss was higher in unhatched eggs than hatched eggs. Weight loss of emu eggs during incubation (1-49 days) ranged from 11.15 ± 0.25 to 14.54 ± 78 per cent with an overall mean of 12.84 per cent in eggs that were incubated. The mean emu chick weight was recorded as 389.83g and chick weight as per cent of egg weight was recorded as 69.28 ± 0.33 per cent. The hatching performance analysis indicated that the percent fertility, dead embryo, dead in shell, hatchability on total eggs and fertile eggs were 100, 9, 12, 79 and 79 respectively. The bigger eggs had better hatchability per cent than smaller and medium size eggs. This study concluded that, better hatchability in emu birds may be obtained even in hilly regions with standard managemental condition provided proper incubation environment.

Keywords

Emu, hatchability, hilly area, production cost

Conclusion

This study revealed that, emu birds can be reared in temperate hilly areas and will get good egg production under standard managemental condition. More the day old emu chicks may be hatched out in artificial incubation provided with proper incubation environment conditions. Due to artificial incubation, continuous egg laying and hatching is possible without pause. Further, as the number of chick’s increases, the return on investment also increases.

References

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How to cite this article

P. Tensingh Gnanaraj, Chate Amar Gangadhar, A. Sundaresan and C. Pandian (2023). Hatchability Performance of Emu Birds (Dromaius novaehollandiae) reared in an Organized Farm in Hilly Area. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(3): 680-683.