Field Survey and Radiographic Evaluation of Leg Deformities in Ostrich

The ostrich (struthio camelus) is a member of the ratite group of flightless birds and is native to semi-arid and desert areas of Africa (Smit 1963). Ostriches are easy to farm and domestication began in the 1860s at Oudtshoorn the Cape Colony of South Africa (Huchzerneyer 1994). Ostriches have long leg bones which result in problems with bone growth and development being relatively common (Deeming et al. 1996). Limb deformities have been identified as a major constraint on farmed ostrich production and the main cause of chick wastage in Australia (More 1996) and South Africa (Bezuidenhout and Burger 1993). The causes of limb deformities are multifactorial and may include nutrient toxicities deficiencies and imbalances genetics pathogens mycotoxins (Reece and Butler 1984; (Brurning and Dolesenk 1986; Cook 2000) and management practices (Wallach 1970; Brurning and Dolensenk 1986; Mushi et al 1999).