https://commons.ufh.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Index ${session.getAttribute("locale")} 5 https://commons.ufh.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:10588 Thu 13 May 2021 11:29:56 SAST ]]> https://commons.ufh.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:10735 0.05) with respect to gender for slaughter weight, skin surface area and dry skin grade within the different age groups. Males had significantly higher (P< 0.05) cold carcass yield and total feather yield than their female counterparts. From this study it can be concluded that an increase in slaughter age significantly increases feed intake, slaughter weight, cold carcass yield, and skin surface area. It is also clear that an increase in slaughter age can be detrimental to dry skin grade. The relative income contribution of the three main products (skin: meat: feathers) occurred in a ratio of 47:53:0, 52:47:1, 47:50:3, 44:51:5, 39:56:5 at the respective slaughter ages. Total income revealed an increase of 26 percent from 8.5 to 10.5 months slaughtering, an increase of 4 percent between 10.5 and 12.5 months, and an increase of 11 percent between 12.5 and 14.5 months. The income dropped by 0.3 percent between 14.5 and 16.5 months slaughtering. Total costs increased with slaughter age, particularly feed costs which showed an increase (at a decreasing rate) between the different slaughter ages. The margin above specified cost per bird was the highest for birds slaughtered at the age of 10.5 months. The margin above cost showed a steady decline as birds were slaughtered at higher ages. Slaughtering at 16.5 months revealed a negative margin. To compare the effect of differences in time span on different slaughter age regimes, margin above costs for each system over 5 years were discounted to a present value. In this study, with current feed costs and income from end products, slaughtering at 10.5 months revealed the highest present value for the margin above cost. Furthermore, slaughtering at 16.5 months revealed a negative present value on the margin above cost after 5 years. Financial viability calculations are relevant and valid for data obtained in this case study. Financial viability is however case-specific and may vary between producers, depending on their individual management practices, production systems and cost structures. Results from this study may be of significant value to managerial decision-making in the ostrich industry.]]> Thu 13 May 2021 07:06:26 SAST ]]>