Growth curves of farmed Greater Rheas (Rhea americana) from central Argentina

NAVARRO J.L.; VIGNOLO P.E.; DEMARIA M.N.; MACEIRA N.O.; MARTELLA M.B.

Archiv für Geflügelkunde

Verlag Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart

Año: 2005 vol. 69 p. 90 - 93

0003-9098

Summary The weight changes of Greater Rheas (Rhea americana albescene) reared at an experimental farm in central Argentina were followed from hatching up to 15 months. Gompertz growh curves were fitted to the data of four males and six females. The rnanagement practices employed at rhis farm are comrnonly followed by most commercial farms. The diet was composed by different combinations of four types of rations (two were formulated for chickens, and two for rheas) and alfalfa. Greater Rheas showed significant differences in growth according to sex, The asymptotic weight was higher in males (average = 28,706 g ± 950 [SE.]) than in fernales (22,507 g ± 1165). The overall growth rate showed marginal difference hetween maJes (0.01085 ± 0,00075) and fe- males (0.01212 ± 000050). The resultant inflection points (age of maximum daily weigh gain) were 136.4 days for males, and 117.5 days for females. For the meat market, rheas should probably be processed at ages closer to these inflection points in order ro decrease production costs.