WOA "Members Only" Section
Newsletter #24, March, 2005

Issue No: 24


1. The importance of Nutrition in Disease Control
2. Comparative Industry Growth Rates
3. Do we have an Industry?
4. Obtaining Meaningful Data
5. Contributions

1.  The Importance of Nutrition in Disease Control
 
Increasingly Nutrition is being recognised as the cause and the treatment of many health problems today.   Despite this many still argue that nutrition is not the primary cause of the majority of ostrich diseases and rearing problems.   We need a sustainable supply of slaughter birds to have an industry  - No Raw Material, No Industry.

We all know the US to be an advanced nation, with a population sufficiently wealthy that there is no need to show symptoms of malnutrition.  Yet the health of the nation has progressively deteriorated over the past few decades, just as it has here in the UK and other more affluent countries.  This has come about through many eating the wrong things.  Here in England we are being warned that for the first time the life expectancy of our children is lower than that of their parents.

The introduction of the 2005 USDA Dietary guide lines (for humans), published in January acknowledges that it is essential to change the way the majority are currently eating:

Quote:
The more we learn about nutrition and exercise, the more we recognize their importance in everyday life. Children need a healthy diet for normal growth and development, and Americans of all ages may reduce their risk of chronic disease by adopting a nutritious diet and engaging in regular physical activity.
 
However, putting this knowledge into practice is difficult. More than 90 million Americans are affected by chronic diseases and conditions that compromise their quality of life and well-being. Overweight and obesity, which are risk factors for diabetes and other chronic diseases, are more common than ever before. To correct this problem, many Americans must make significant changes in their eating habits and lifestyles.
end quote
[source:  The 2005 USDA Dietary Guidelines]
   
The vast majority of the problems relating to ostrich diseases and production difficulties today are proven to be dietary related and the solutions are known.
WOMRAD will implement these solutions

2. Comparative Industry Growth Rates
   
Aquaculture, another new agri-processing industry, has shown rapid expansion in recent years, going from 7million metric tonnes in 1980 to 38million metric tonnes in 2001.  Figure 1 shows the comparative growth rate of just one specie, Farmed Atlantic Salmon over the same period and Ostrich from 1993, when the first records were published.  The early years of farmed salmon were on similar levels to Ostrich. In a period of 20 years it has increased production to 1.2 million metric tonnes, showing phenomenal growth year on year.


Figure 1 - Comparative Production Atlantic Salmon and Ostrich
[Source: Atlantic Salmon - FAO.  Ostrich see Figure 2]

By comparison, Figure 2 shows that in the same period the Ostrich industry has continued to stagnate and decline.


Figure 2 - World Ostrich Slaughter Figures
[Source: NOPSA, Peter van Zyl, Report on the on the Investigation into the effect of deregulation on the South African Ostrich Industry]
[All World Ostrich Figures are estimated by the various sources. * South African 2004 figures estimated]


3. Do we have an industry?
 
To answer this question, we first need to look at the definition of an industry:
 
The dictionary definition of industry is:

    a.  A distinct group of productive or profit-making enterprises.
    b.  Manufacturing activity as a whole.

The FAO (Food and Agricultural Organisation attached to the United Nations) has statistics on many agricultural industries. These industries include such rarities as Camel Meat, Meat of other Camelids, Pigeons, Buffalo and even Camel Milk and Horse Hair. It does not have any statistics on Ostrich meat or ratites as a group.  Our numbers are too low, fragmented and with no reliable methods yet in place for collecting meaningful data.
 
As the figures above demonstrate, there is very little production. The last couple of decades has seen many invest heavily in Ostrich Production, it has seen the majority of those investors leave.  It has seen very few, if any, making consistent and sustainable profits.
 
We can see that we do not yet have an industry.
 
It has been a period of transition from a monopoly base, operating with outdated production systems and fear of mass production.
 
Worthy of note in this discussion is a comment made from the audience from South Africa and Israel during the conference in China.  During Stan Stewart's presentation as WOA Chairman he discussed the levels of production required and proven achievable for a profitable industry. Instead of asking "how can we achieve this?", comments were made that after many years producing ostrich 19 slaughter birds per hen was the best possible.   The economics of raising 60 slaughter birds per hen by comparison to 19 slaughter birds per hen are very significant and, in time, even greater is achievable.
 

WOMRAD will introduce the technology, production methods and training to enable the Ostrich to be produced on an industrial scale, to achieve the full genetic potential and build an industry with sustainable growth.


4. Obtaining Meaningful Data

The World Ostrich Association has an important role to play in communicating meaningful data.
 
In 1997 I developed a questionnaire.  The reason I developed the questionnaire was that most all in the industry were looking for meaningful answers.  The questionnaire was published on the web site of a member of the Blue Mountain Ostrich list and publicised through the Blue Mountain ostrich list and several country magazines that were published at that time.  When studying this survey form (http://www.world-ostrich.org/member/survey.htm)[1], an important fact to remember is at that time I was not involved with Blue Mountain in any other way than just another member of the Blue Mountain Ostrich list seeking solutions.
 
I received only 3 completed survey forms and a number of private emails.  The motivation for developing the survey was so many were asking for meaningful data.  With an industry that is so small, every member must contribute in order to build a meaningful database.  Do not be ashamed of poor results because you are not alone.  A study of the publications from the members of the South African Ostrich scientific program report no more than 60% hatchability (conversion eggs to day old chicks).  Quote from page 33 "The Report on the Investigation of the effects of Deregulation of the South African Ostrich Industry":
 
Quote
"Chick mortality is a serious destroyer with devastating and varied financial implications.   For the last two decades, in all surveys and opinions polls, the vagaries of chick mortality have been listed as enemy number one".
End quote
 
Now add high chick mortalities to 60% conversion from eggs to day old chicks, it is clear to see the reasons why we do not yet have an industry.

WOMRAD will introduce the technology, production methods and training to enable the Ostrich to be produced on an industrial scale, to achieve the full genetic potential and build an industry with sustainable growth.

5. Contributions
As always, I ask for contributions from Country Liaisons and other members. A sharing of your experiences, what is happening in your area - anything you believe that would be of interest to other members. Any contributions for inclusion in future news letters please send to Fiona at [email protected].
 
Any comments or suggestions, please post either to the members list [email protected] or Craig at [email protected]
 


Ask not only what the WOA can do for you but also what you can do for the WOA.

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