The Swedish ostrich production started about thirteen years ago and still there are no Swedish recommendations regarding ostriches’ space requirements. The European Council give recommendations and the Swedish Board of Agriculture (SJV) has a proposal, but so far the producers follow Danish regulations regarding space requirements. The Swedish Animal Welfare Agency are about to set standards for the ostriches’ space requirements, and therefore the Swedish ostrich producers, together with The Federation of Swedish Farmers (LRF) ask for a scientific background to these decisions.
This thesis is a preliminary study at the prospect of a future experiment on which factors important for ostriches’ space requirements and welfare will be examined more thouroughly. The thesis consists of a review of the literature on wild and domestic ostriches as well as a study of which factors that may affect the space requirements of Swedish ostriches. To give an idea of how the ostriches live in captivity there is also a description of the Swedish ostrich production. A number of farms has been visited, producers have been interviewed and behavioural studies has been performed.
At the moment there are about 15 – 20 big producers (>200 slaughtered birds per year). The birds are kept indoors in large groups with access to paddocks most of the time.
Feather pecking was fount to be a major problem in the ostrich production. Many Swedish producers have experienced it and consider it a big problem. It is more or less prevalent among birds of all ages. Few studies has been done regarding ostriches' behaviour and welfare at different stocking densities, but with laying hens and broilers space and stocking density has turned out to be important for the animals' welfare. Feather pecking is a well known symptom of stress in poultry, and since this is common in the ostrich production there is probably something disturbing the birds. Factors that may affect the birds negatively are stocking density, temperature, quality of air, light, feed, hygene, group size, housing systems, the staff, paddocks, limited access to paddocks etc. However, in comparison to other fowl, differences in ways of life and temper between species has to be considered.
Apart from feather pecking, the general welfare of the Swedish ostriches seems good. The birds are kept in relat...
