OSTRICH FARMING ON LUCERNE. 27' 



Mr. Evans said if gontlemen thought ho had over-estimated, he 

 would be glad to hear what they had to say. For the class of bird 

 he based his calculation on, he thought the figures were not exces- 

 sive. 



Mr. Christian said at the last meeting the stock fanners prosint- 

 wanted to hear more about the value of lucerne, and seemed to think 

 the figures might he overdrawn. He would like to know the^ 

 difference lucerne made to the feather to quill, flue, length and 

 otherwise. 



Mr. Evans replied that lucerne feeding toned up the feather 

 generally. The quill might be a little larger, but the flue would be 

 stronger and the lustra of the feather more brilliant. 



Mi*. Coetzee : If you- run birds on lucerne, do vou water them.' 

 daily ? 



Mr. Evans : It may seem very cruel, but I never water my 

 birds, whether on luceine or on the veld If in dry times I have to- 

 feed on dry hay, I give u, ration of prickly pear. In most of ray veld 

 camps, however, there is water, but I know for a fact that birds at.. 

 the far end of the camp nover come tc water. I think ostriches are- 

 like springbucks in this respect. I have known springbucks to be- 

 fat after running on the veld for six months in drought without- 

 water. 



Mr. Coetzee remarked that he had known ostriches run for six 

 months without water, but nevertheless they would drink freely 

 daily if given the chanc". 



Mr. Christian said his experience in Albany district was similar 

 to Mr. Evans's in this regard. 



The Hon. Secretary (Mr. J. Butler) remarked that when in 

 Oudtshoorn recently farmers were told that the ostrich men {here- 

 could not breed chicks any more ; that the average reared was only 

 5 per cent. It had not transpired whether that was owing to dete- 

 rioration of the stamina of the bird through being always fed on 

 lucerne, or through some disease arising through overcrowding, or 

 some cause peculiar to the district. 



Mr. Evans repliad that this was due to overcrowding. He had 

 spoken to many Vets, on the subject, and they were afraid one of" 

 these days there would be an outbreak of some disease there owing. 

 to overcrowding birds in the paddocks. The water there passed from 

 one valley to another, carrying whatever there was of disease germs 

 with it. At present they in the Karroo were in the happy position 

 of having no infectious disease amongst their birds, but he always - 

 quaked lest something should turn up from Oudtshoorn. 



The Chairman said they in the Midlands had the advantage - 

 that they could turn their birds out on the flats. 



Mr. Evans said many Oudtshoorn farmers did not expect to- 

 rear more than 25 per cent, of their hatches, but they were a well- 

 contented people there, and satisfied with that. 



This ciosed the discussion. 



