The effect of different combinations of dietary energy and protein on the composition of ostrich eggs

Abstract

Nutrition of breeding female birds can influence egg quality and is therefore extremely important for the development of the embryo and the successful hatching of a high quality chick. We investigated the effect of combining different levels of dietary energy and protein, with accompanied amino acid levels, in the diets of female ostriches on the composition of their eggs. Ninety pairs of breeding ostriches were divided randomly into nine groups of 10 pairs per group in a factorial design with three energy and three protein levels. The groups were fed diets with levels of 7.5, 8.5 and 9.5 MJ metabolisable energy/kg, each combined with each one of three protein levels 105, 120 and 135 g/kg respectively. Fresh eggs were collected from each group at the end of the breeding season and the albumen and yolk separated and analysed for protein and lipid content and for amino acid and mineral composition. No significant interaction between energy and protein levels occurred. Despite some differences in egg composition and amino acid concentrations, different dietary energy and protein levels for the most part had little or no effect on the composition of ostrich eggs.

Chemical Characteristics of Whole Eggs From Avian Species: A Comparative Study

“…This finding was coincided with Sharaf (1996) and Sugino et al (1996). Brand et al (2003) found that the highest ostrich egg weight (1446 g). Generally, the proportion of egg components are dependent on the strain, breeding, egg size, age and season (Sugino et al, 1996).…”

“…General agreement was found between the obtained results and those of Razem et al (1989); Panda and Singh (1990) and Sharaf, (1996) for hen and quail egg and Brand et al (2003) for ostrich egg with slight variation. Stademan and Coterill (1977) added that there are many factors affecting the concentration of nutrients in eggs including protein and amino acids such as age, breed, strain, differences in eggs produced by individual bird and environmental conditions.…”

“…The highest magnesium and phosphorus content were obtained by hen eggs General agreement was found between the obtained results and those of Sharaf (1996) for hen and quail eggs ; Mc Namare and Thesmar (2005) for hen egg. Some variation for minerals content between the obtained results and those for Brand et al (2003) for ostrich egg and Jalaludeen and Churchil (2006) for duck egg. Stadelman et al (1988) declared that the amounts of these mineral in egg are known to be influenced by breed, strain, diet, age of the bird and season.…”

External and internal characteristics of ostrich eggs from Dibete Ostrich farm.

“…The average egg weight for flocks A, B and C was 1.27 kg, 1.26 kg and 1.34 kg, respectively. The result on egg weight in this study is consistent with Mushi et al (2007) and Brand et al (2003) who found average weight of an ostrich egg to be 1321 g and 1455 g, respectively. Previous study of Benoît et al (2014) reported average egg weight of 1370 g and 1200 g during the rainy and dry seasons, respectively.…”

Chemical, Microbial and Nutritional Evaluation of Ostrich Eggs Compared to Hen's Egg

“…Mineral content of the yolk and albumen of Ostrich eggs were (Mg -2.4 and 1.5g/kg), (Cu -0.95 and 7.5 mg/kg), (Zn -44.4 and 2.8 mg/kg), (Mn -0.98 and 2.1 mg/kg) and (Fe -65.8, 1.8 mg/kg), respectively. (Brand et al 2003). (Shahin et al 2006) found that there are obvious differences in some mineral salts such as manganese (9.9 and 16.7 ppm), selenium (1.6 and 0.71 ppm), zinc (56.6 and 64.2 ppm), iron (113.9 and 93.9 ppm) and copper (1.6 and 2.5 ppm) for Ostrich egg and chicken eggs, respectively.…”