Bird Handling, Transportation, Lairage, and Slaughter: Implications for Bird Welfare and Meat Quality

Abstract

Ostriches have specific behavioural patterns that can be influenced by improper/incorrect rearing conditions. An understanding of these behavioural patterns, as well as how ostriches react under different housing/rearing conditions, will assist the commercial farmer/producer to manage his/her birds to ensure their welfare under in situ and ex situ conditions. Actions such as handling, transportation, and lairage form part of any commercial ostrich enterprise and can impact on the overall welfare of ostriches. This chapter describes how chicks, juveniles, and adult breeding ostriches perceive their environment, and how changes in behavioural patterns relate to changes in the management programme. Attention is given to both commercial farming and rearing systems. The design of rearing, feedlot, lairage, and breeding camp facilities is addressed to emphasise the importance of facility design in ensuring the welfare of ostriches when handled and maintained. Incorrect facility design can have an adverse influence on meat and skin quality, which ultimately determine the commercial value of a slaughter bird. The chapter also highlights a need for research on various aspects of commercial ostrich farming systems that will assist in optimising the welfare of ostriches of all age groups under commercial farming conditions.

Appendix

10.1.1 Design of Handling Facilities

Design 1

• This type of design allows for the sorting of slaughter according to weight or gender. Sorting kraals (A) is also fitted with their own gates as indicated in the diagram to ensure the effective opening of the kraals.

• Handling facility for ostriches that incorporates a revolving gate (B) to manipulate the size of the catching area (A) as ostriches becomes smaller. The handling area (C) is where the necessary equipment such as a scale and crush is placed, and this is the area where all evaluations/administration of medicines are performed. Processed birds are then allocated to the sorting camps (D), which simplifies the moving of birds to specific camps or for culling purposes. Broken lines indicate gates, and thick lines indicate where conveyor belting should be placed to minimise damage to birds during the handling process. The sorting camp fences are the same as for breeding camps (Fig. 10.7).

  Fig. 10.7

  

  Design for an ostrich handling facility, fitted with a revolving gate

Design 2

• This type of design is more suited for farms where birds need to be transported to e.g. camps that are far away in the veldt.

• Handling facility for ostriches that incorporates a dispatch area (A) from which ostriches are loaded onto the transport vehicle, a handling area (B) where all activities e.g. evaluations, scanning, and administration of medicines are performed. Adjacent to the handling area is the catching area (C), and a hospital camp (D) where sick or injured birds can be kept until treated. Broken lines indicate gates, and thick lines indicate where conveyor belting should be placed to minimise damage to birds during the handling process. The thin line represents normal camp fencing as is used for breeding camps (Fig. 10.8).

  Fig. 10.8

  

  Design of an ostrich handling facility, with a hospital kraal