Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-09
The i. S. Govern
ment's Plan to Help Solve Wars Hig
Cost Of Living by Adding TO Our
Tables Bird That Weighs
as Much as Cow and Lays
the Eq uivalent Of 600 ~
Hens Eggs a Year l
BY w. H. Ballou, SGD.
THE United States Government is con-
considering plans to put ostrich on


considering plans to put ostrich on
the everyday menus of everyday
!. families The intention is to make the ostrich
help out the hen, not only in its task of pro-
viding white and dark meat, but also in eggs.
To this end an investigation just completed
shows that the average ostrich is the equiva-
lent of ITS broilers-this includes the long
neck and legs, much Of which can be used
for soup-and that one female ostrich will
lay the equivalent Of 600 hens eggs per
{ year.
Furthermore, great parts of our south
& western desert region provide ideal places for
ostrich farms. Thus, the Government will
point out in its report, not only can new
food staple be added, which will bring the
cost of chicken down and with it, its own
price, but put into use vast stretches of land
which raise nothing but sand, sage
brush, lizards, rattlesnakes, bugs horned
toads and cactus.
Curiously enough, the thing which turned
attention to the real possibilities Of the
ostrich was discovery not long ago, of the
egg of prehistoric ostrich in China. This
egg is now in the American Museum Of
Natural History in New York, and it was
the comparison of its size with the size of
eggs laid by modern ostriches that set the
wheels of inquiry going.
1t was known by scientists that the ancient
eggs much larger than those of to-day
But in making the comparisons it was dis
+ covered that while ostriches in the wild state
lay eggs equivalent to 20 hens eggs, under
ideal conditions and intensive cultivation
" I'D
size of their eggs to the 5-pound mark that
is, an equivalent of more than 80 hens eggs
Furthermore, 1t was found that under cult
walton, in the same time, the birds have in
creased one-third in size and weight
This remarkable response, not only in
growth of body, but of egg content under
\ domesticity. set the Government experts
thinking. OF course, there would be limit
to growth, both of bird and egg, but it seems
/ that ostriches can be bred double the size
they now are ana with truly monstrous eggs,
equivalent to perhaps 60 to so of those of the
& hen.
S. All this can be done simply by giving them
proper enyironment-and, as has been said,
the American desert regions offer an ideal
/ location for their breeding-the taking OF
parental care of them, shielding them from
the rgors of nature, curbng their own ten
Il, denotes Of destroying and manning one an
81 other IN their natural fierce combats, and
& supplying them with proper foods
But what does an ostrich taste like? Al
q though. western cities have been ENJOYING
4 ostrich meat on their tables for several wears.
81 the novelty was first introduced in New York
y by the large hotels last New Years Epicures
& voted the meat as superior in flavor to that of
venison or turkey
The female ostrich averages fifteen eggs
& annually, the equivalent of $50 hens eggs.
9s equally delicious as food and equally as
& valuable for all culinary purposes. The
4 ostrich, as q market Supplycr however. pre.
II sents no such possibilities as its keep, like
81 that of hens or other domestic animals in the
& back yard. 1t is, like cattle and sheep. an
animal of the ranch, to be grown in herds
and cared for by keepers. The bird thrivcs
principally upon alfalfa, but in addition
q likes vegetables, fruits etc. where it is nos.
i sible to get them. In addition, il requires
quantities Of ground glass or an equivalent
OF gravel, which makes for it's digestion.
B The cost OF keeping an ostrich is the same as
ts that of cow.
Ostriches go in pairs the male solemn]v
taxing atwlre and keeping her during life.
M II should interest the romantic mind to know,
f that the male courts his choice as regularly.
S and as lovingly as man is himself snnnoscd
rs to do, but without mans matcria|ism of
ss financial and social demands Thus the mat
d ter OF keep, cost of keep, food supply, matino
MI and housing are matters of well settled and
established principles
.&s AS to possible waste from the long lcos and
s neck OF the ostrich there is no concern. since