Ostriches (Camelus Strutio) are the biggest flightless birds in the world. They can live 50-70 years, grow 2,0-2,75m high, weight 120-150 kg and run 50-70 km/h. Their egg weights 1,5-1,8 kg and it is compared with 22-24 hen eggs. Ostriches are grasseaters. They are very productive for the farmers. One can use everything from this birds if onely knows and cans; feathers, skin, meat, eggs, eggshells, even manure. One can olso ride on it and saddle the ostrich in front of the carret.
The ostrich meat is the healthiest red meat in the world because of it`s low fat and colesterol. The leather is second by the strenght after kangaroo. Fat of the ratite binds is known for its deep penetrating quality and used as a base of creams in cosmetics. It also smooths the pain of artrites and used as an emollient for dry skin.
No, they don`t bury their heads in the sand, they don`t have teeth, but they do eat stones.
Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) is the largest bird native to Australia and the second-largest bird in the world by height, after the ostrich. The Emu is common over most of mainland Australia.
They have dark-green eggs. The eggs weigh 700-900 grams, which is equivalent to 10–12 chicken eggs. They lay ~ 30-40 eggs in a year.
Average life span is ~ 15 years. Height – 1.5 to 1.9 m. Weight ~45 kg.
They feed on a variety of plants and insects. Emus are farmed for their meat, oil, and leather.
Rhea (Rhea americana) is the largest of all South American birds and is related to ostriches and emus.
Rhea eggs are collected for food and many people eat their meat. Their skins are used in the manufacture of leather.
Average life span is ~ 15 years. Height – 0.9 to 1.5 m. Weight ~30 kg.
Kanagroos and ponies are our pets.
In our farm you can see Bennets wallaby. Their average life span is ~ 18 years. Height – 1.5 to 1.8 m (tail 60-70 cm). Weight ~20-25 kg.
Red Kangaroo (Macropus rufus), is the world’s largest marsupials and we have only ones in Estonia, so come and meet them.
The Shetland pony is a breed of pony originating in the Shetland Isles. They are world’s smallest ponies. Shetland ponies have heavy coats, short legs and are considered quite intelligent. They are a very strong breed of pony, used for riding, driving, and pack purposes.
The Appaloosa is a horse breed known for its preferred leopard-spotted coat pattern and other distinctive physical characteristics. Height – 1.4 to 1.6 m
Since year 2006 there are different kind of cattles living on our rangeland.
The Galloway is one of the world’s longest established breeds of beef cattle, named after the Galloway region of Scotland, where it originated.
The Galloway is naturally hornless, and instead of horns has a bone knob at the top of its skull that is called a poll. This breed’s shaggy coat has both a thick, wooly undercoat for warmth and stiffer guard hairs that help shed water, making them well adapted to harsher climates.
The Belted Galloway features a wide white stripe around its midriff, and is often affectionately referred to as a “Beltie”.
Highland cattle or kyloe are an ancient Scottish breed of beef cattle with long horns and long wavy coats which are coloured black, brindled, red, yellow or dun.
Highlands are known as a hardy breed due to the rugged nature of their native Scottish Highlands, with high rainfall and strong winds. They both graze and browse and eat plants many other cattle avoid. The meat tends to be leaner than most beef, as Highlands get most of their insulation from their thick shaggy hair rather than subcutaneous fat. The coat also makes them a good breed for cold Northern climates.
Source: National Geographic, Wikipedia