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. 2025 Apr 30;57(4):199.
doi: 10.1007/s11250-025-04452-1.

Modeling growth curves to estimate the suitable slaughter age for the ostriches (Struthio camelus)

Ha Xuan Bo #  1 , Han Quang Hanh #  1 , Do Thi Hue  2   3 , Dang Vu Hoa  4 , Nguyen Thi Hoa  4 , Nguyen Thanh Cong  4 , Nguyen Thi Vinh  1 , Dang Thuy Nhung  1 , Do Duc Luc  1
Affiliations

Modeling growth curves to estimate the suitable slaughter age for the ostriches (Struthio camelus)

Ha Xuan Bo et al. Trop Anim Health Prod. .

Abstract

Using an accurate growth curve to estimate the suitable age for slaughter has many benefits for ostrich farming. This study was carried out to compare eight growth curve models for estimating body weight and monthly gain of ostriches raised in tropical conditions and then suggested the suitable slaughter age for these ostriches. Two hundred eighty-two ostriches (124 males and 158 females) were raised from birth to 12 months of age to measure individual monthly body weight, and the growth data was analyzed by R software. Eight growth functions (von Bertalanffy, Bridges, Janoschek, Gompertz, Logistic, Lopez, Richards, and Weibull) were used to create the growth curves of ostrich. The Weibull function was the best model among 8 tested models to describe the growth of both male and female ostriches, and the monthly gain (MG) reached the maximum at the 6th month of age. The maximum average monthly gain (AMG) was obtained between the 9th and 10th month of age for both males and females. The best-fit model in this study (Weibull function) suggests the suitable slaughter ages were estimated from the 9th to 10th month of age for both male and female ostriches, with estimated body weights of 93 kg for male and 90 kg for female.

Keywords: Bodyweight; Growth performance; Mathematical function; Ostrich; Slaughter age.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethical approval: Animal ethic approval was not applicable to this type of study in Vietnam. Research protocols followed the guidelines stated in the guide for the care and use of animals in research. Competing interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The actual and estimated growth curves of male ostriches raised in tropical condition in Vietnam. Note: BWreal = the actual body weight; BWwei = estimated body weight using Weibull function; MGwei = estimated monthly weight gain using Weibull function; AMGwei = estimated average weight gain using Weibull function. The suitable slaughter age of male ostriches was at the cutting point A (between MGwei and AMGwei), and estimated slaughter weight for male ostriches was 93 kg
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The actual and estimated growth curves of female ostriches raised in tropical condition in Vietnam. Note: BWreal = the actual body weight; BWwei = estimated body weight using Weibull function; MGwei = estimated monthly weight gain using Weibull function; AMGwei = estimated average weight gain using Weibull function. The suitable slaughter age of female ostriches was at the cutting point B (between MGwei and AMGwei), and the estimated slaughter weight for female ostriches was 90 kg
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References

    1. Bo H, Nhung D (2022) Application of nonlinear functions to describe the growth of F1 (Ho × Luong Phuong) chickens. Vietnam J Agricult Sci 20(1):24–33
    1. Bo H, Luc D, Binh D (2020) Application of different nonlinear functions to describe the growth of stress - negative piétrain pigs. Vietnam J Agricult Sci 18(10):847–853
    1. Bo H, Hoa D, Nhung D, Hue D, Luc D (2022) Nonlinear growth models for indigenous Vietnamese Ri chicken. J Anim Plant Sci 32:1535–1541
    1. Bo HX, Huong NT, Hue DT, Luc DD (2023) Modeling growth curves to estimate the suitable slaughter age for the Vietnamese Tap Na pig. Livestock Science 272:105233
    1. Bridges T, Turner L, Stahly T, Usry J, Loewer O (1992) Modeling the physiological growth of swine part I: model logic and growth concepts. Trans ASAE 35:1019–1028

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