Ratites are a family of flightless birds.  Ostriches, Emus and Rheas are members of this family.  The Kiwi and Cassowary are also members of this family.  Emus have small wings, but Rheas and Ostriches have large wings that cover their bodies.  Ratites have flat breastbones with no keel.  In flight birds, the keel is where the breast muscles of flight attach.  Ratites have been around for at least 80 million years.  They probably flew in the past, but today have adapted to running rather than flying.  These birds are used for several things such as meat, leather, feathers, oil, eggshells and eggs.

Ostrich

• Native to Africa
• Largest birds in the world – standing about 2 – 2.5 metres tall and weigh 113 – 159 kilograms.
• Adult males are black with a white tail and wing feathers.  Females remain grey/brown.
• Males at maturity develop a red beak, leg armor and emit a “barking” sound.
• Lay a cream coloured egg weighing about 1 kilogram, every second day.
• Average production: 30 – 60 eggs per year.
• Breed in pairs, trios or in groups.
• In the wild, the male digs the nest and is solely responsible for incubation and the raising of chicks.
• Meat and leather commercially available, leather especially popular

Rhea

• Native to South America
• Stand 1.2 – 1.8 metres tall and weigh 27 - 50 kilograms.
• Usually grey but some are white, with little differentiation between sexes
• Lay a cream coloured egg weighing over one and a half pounds, every other day.
• Average production: 30 – 80 eggs per year
• Breed well in colonies using one male with three to four hens.
• Commercial processing of rheas has now begun at government inspection facilities.  Meat, oil and leather products are commercially available.

Emu

• Native to Australia
• Remain a brown colour at maturity with no differentiation between sexes
• Adult females make a “drumming” noise, males grunt, and chicks whistle and chirp for the first year.
• Adults stand 1.5 – 1.8 metres tall and weigh 45 – 64 kilograms.
• Lay a dark green, opaque egg weighing up to one and a half pounds, at three day intervals
• Average production: 20 – 40 eggs per year
• Breed as bonded pairs
• Meat, leather and oil are commercially available

End Products of Ratites

Meat

• The meat from ratites is a red meat, which is low in fat, calories and cholesterol
• All ratites are processed in government-inspected abattoirs, the same as any other meat.

Leather

• Very supple, yet durable; suitable for all leather products

Feathers

• Quills are anti-static and are widely used in the high-tech micro electronic industry.  General Motors of Canada use them to dust cars prior to painting.

Oil

• An adult Ostrich yields about 3 – 4 litres of oil, an adult Emu 4 – 5 litres, and an adult Rhea 4 – 6 litres, but these volumes are very dependant on age of the bird, its weight and its feed. 
• The fat from all Ratites contain a high percentage of the essential Omega 3 fatty acids and other unsaturated fatty acids.  Research is being conducted to examine the suspected presence of naturally occurring anti-inflammatory hormones and hormone precursors. 
• Ratite fat, primarily Rhea and Emu, is rendered and redefined to a lotion and used by many people as a cosmetic or moisturizer.

Egg Shells

• Elaborately decorated Ratite eggshells sell for hundreds of dollars.  Jewellery is also created from them.  Eggshells are prized by crafters and collectors alike.

Eggs

• Studies are currently under way as to using these eggs in commercial baking establishments, hotels and the military.

Feed and Nutrition: Ratites are fed on grain supplemented by pasture.

How are ratites raised?

Newly hatched chicks usually weigh between 500 grams and 1.5 kilograms and are about 25 cm tall.  Young ratites must be sheltered in a warm place for their first weeks of life.  Adolescent and adult birds are allowed to roam freely in fenced pastures or pens.  Ratites need daily exercise and adequate warmth.

The Agricultural Census of 1996 was the first year ratites were recorded.  The 833 (87 farms in Ontario) Ostrich farms, which responded, gave the number of Ostrich at 15,500 (1100 in Ontario) in Canada.  There were 967 (356 farms in Ontario) Emu and Rhea farms in Canada responding with a total of 61,300 birds (44,500 in Ontario).  The current average flock size estimated at about 30 for Ostrich and 200 for Emu.  Ontario is the largest producing province in Canada, followed by Alberta, B.C., the Prairies, Quebec and the Maritimes.  

For more information contact:

Ontario Ratite Association
www.ontarioratite.com