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General Information

In India Emu farming is very popular and well-paid business. In India it is mainly done in Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra but can also be done in Kerala and in some regions of north east India. Emu is popular for its fat free meat production. The meat of emu has high content of iron, protein and Vitamin C. Emu is commercially sold in some regions for their valuable meat, oil, skin and feathers. The adult emu is 5-6 foot tall and the average weight is 50-65kg. The female emu laid about 30 eggs per year. The weight of one egg is approximately 500-700g. The shape of emu egg is similar to the chicken egg. The average age of emu is approximately 30 years. In India it is very easy to do commercial farming of emu. You need spacious area or land if you want to do commercial farming of this bird.

Feed

General feeding:
In first 9 weeks emu requires 20% protein and 2750kilo calorie/kg of metabolizable energy in their feed, then in 9-42 weeks emu requires 16% protein and 2750kilo calorie/kg of metabolizable energy in their feed and then after 42 weeks 14% protein and 2750kilo calorie/kg of metabolizable energy is required in their feed. 4-5 weeks before egg production the protein percentage should be increased to 21% and 29000kilo calorie/kg of metabolizable energy in their feed.
 
Components of feed:

Proper amount of Vitamins such as Vitamin A, Vitamin B12, Vitamin D, Amino Acids (Lysine, Tryptophan), Proteins (Crude protein), and Minerals (Calcium, Zinc, and Iodine) should be included in the food. It is not necessary that every emu bird require same feed. Lack of proper feed may cause diseases in the birds.

Feeding to chicks:
Chicks having an age between 0-8 weeks need 2 pounds of feed per day and they need to feed several times per day. When the chicks are 2 months-14 months old, then limit the grower feed to 20% and fed them free choice.  
 
Feeding to breeders:
The breeder’s chick having an age of 24 months and above requires 2 pounds per day but it drops sharply to 1 pound per day. Breeder’s emu requires 21% of emu breed ration. Before 1month of breeding try to give the feed to breeder emu which has higher protein content.

Care of the breed

Shelter and care: Select a suitable land for setting up commercial emu farming.  The land should have proper availability of fresh and clean drinking water, good and nutritious food source, availability of cheap labor, transportation system, suitable market etc.  

Care of baby chicks: The weight of 1 day old emu is 370-450g. Keep the newly born chick in incubator for 2-3 days for proper drying. After that keep the chicks in brooder have spacing of 4square feet per chick for first 3 weeks. Keep 90oF temperature of brooding for first 10 days and then decrease it by 5oF daily for 3-4 weeks. Proper temperature is must for the good growth and development of the chicks.

Care of growers: Emu requires 30 foot /acre of open place for running. For this 50 x 30 foot of open place is required for 50 chicks. Keep the male and female separate from each other.

Care of breeder: Emu becomes mature at the age of 18-24 months. Breeding emu’s must be given more vitamin and minerals in their diet. In first year the emu give 15 eggs and after next year the egg production is 30-40 eggs/year.

Recommended vaccines: Following vaccines are required at proper interval of time.
•    To protect bird form Ranikhet Disease at the age of 1 week give then losata strain vaccine and the age of 4 weeks give then losata booster vaccine.
•    At the age of 8, 15 and 40 weeks give them mukteswar strain vaccination to protect them from Ranikhet Disease.
 

Diseases and Treatment

Nematodes: The symptoms are head shaking, crooked neck, respiratory distress and/or sudden death.
Treatment: Ivermectin medicine is given once in every month to get rid of nematodes.

Equine encephalitis virus (EEE): This virus causes the bloody diarrhoea in emu.
Treatment: Probiotic treatment is given to control diarrhoea.

Chandlurella quiscali: It is a parasitic disease which is caused by biting insects.
Treatment: Suitable vaccination is given to get cure from disease or prevention should be taken from parasitic infestations.

Scoliosis: It is a parasitic disease or can be hereditary or nutritional origin.
Treatment: Suitable vaccination is given to get cure from disease or prevention should be taken from parasitic infestations.

Ranikhet disease
: It is also known as New Castle disease. It is very contagious disease and it is spread to every age bird. The symptoms are increased death rate, difficulty in breathing, fainted legs and feathers. 
Treatment: The vaccination of R2B strain is must and the vaccination must be repeated when the emu is 40 weeks old.