Present Status of EMU Industry in India

Now there are more than 750 emu farms and more than 45,000 emu birds across India; spreading across Maharastrha, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and many more.

The industry is in stage of development. The first purpose is to raise newly hatched emu chicks to the age of 3 months or older, pair them off and sell them as good quality adult emu breeding pairs. The second purpose is to raise a portion of these chicks to the age of twelve months or older for the purpose of slaughter for their lean red meat, oil and skin for leather products.

The breeding pairs are sold nationwide to other emu ranchers, who are established in the business or have just started. At present, this is the ranch’s main target market, because of the high profits that can be made by selling adult emus as breeding pairs. The ranch's secondary market is the slaughter market, whose main products consist of prime cuts of emu meat, ready for shipments to restaurants, residential orders, worldwide markets and in the future, shipment to supermarkets. High quality leather from the emu's skin, and five to six liters of emu oil, which is currently being used in the cosmetic industry, is also distributed. Additionally, the medical industry uses the oil for therapeutic rubbing oil, skin and facial moisturizing lotions and medical applications used for treating the skin of burn victims.

Right now in India we are in the first stage i.e. the Developing stage. As there is very less population of emu in India, there is very low supply. As the supply is very less the demand is not created. Once the required flock is ready for continuous supply in the market demand will be created to meet the supply. Thus slowly and steadily the industry will grow to meet the targets.

The Industry

Emu Industry can be dived into 2 categories: Emu farming & Commercial EMU Farming.

In Emu farming farmers raises the emu birds for breeding them and then sell the chicks in the market to new farmers or Commercial Emu farmers.

In Commercial EMU farming a farmer raises the emu birds till the age of 12-15 months and then slaughter them for meat, oil, skin, feathers, toe nails, etc. These products are then marketed to the users. The main objective of commercial emu farming is to extract the oil from the fat of the bird, process it and then sell it. The refined emu oil can be sold at approx Rs.5, 000 Per liter (for further details see Emu oil a miracle).

The EMU Industry works in the following manner as per survey:

Emu farm economic survey indicated that cost involved in purchase of breeding stock were expensive (68%). The rest of the investments are on farm (13%) and hatchery (19%). Feeding cost per breeding pair per annum was estimated to be Rs.3600. Cost of production of hatching egg and day-old chick was Rs.793 and 1232 respectively. Annual feed intake per pair was recorded as 524 kg costing Rs.3578. The cost of salable chick at day-old age was Rs.2500-3000. Better returns from emu are possible with good hatchability (more than 80%), lower feeding cost and minimized chick mortality (less than 10%).

Commercial Uses of EMU – Products

• Oil - Emu oil comes from a thick pad of fat on the back of the bird that was initially provided by nature to protect the animal from the extreme temperature. The oil derived from the body fat after processing to remove impurities- deodorized, bleached and then subjected to other special treatments to make a stable product. Animal trials indicated that the oil have cholesterol lowering (reduces total cholesterol over 30%; LDL (bad cholesterol by 25%), anti-inflammatory (reduces inflammation by 42-71%) and transferal properties. Other than this, emu oil is used in many other problems like arthritis, body stiffness, enzyme, burns, insect bite, and many more (see emu oil a miracle)
• Meat – Emu Meat is known as “new heart healthy” meat. Color of the meat is dark red gamy having texture of leans and is tender. Emu meat specially thigh muscle is an excellent alternative of beef as per taste and texture due to high protein and less calories and sodium. The chemical composition of meat reveals rich protein, irons, magnesium, potassium, and other minerals. Vitamin-c contents are more than other meat. Fat is 10 times lower in saturated fatty acid than beef. Cholesterol is less than 0.05% (45%mono-unsaturatedLDL cholesterol). Calories 4 times lower than beef (97% fat free). Due to its mild flavor meat accepts most seasonings. Meat respond well to sweet marinades made with honey, soy sauce, ginger, lemon juice and garlic.
• Eggs – Emu egg is used as table delicacy having a pleasant taste. Its storage period is longer due to its chemical composition. Infertile eggs are used to make attractive painted and carved artifacts, which are sold to the public as special gifts. Eggshell artists transform these shells into incredible and eye popping works of arts and crafts. Broken eggshells used for jewelry arts. Cost of broken eggs is about equivalent to 6 unbroken eggs. Although not proven, emu eggshell powder is also used for Hormone Replacement Therapy.
• Leather goods – Emu leather is one of the most attractive leathers currently being utilized in the fashion industry. It is supple, beautiful and exquisitely detailed. The leather is uniquely breathable. It is used in designer apparel, boots, wallets, handbags, hair accessories, jewelry and many accessories. (Further see Products)
• Feathers - As a matter of cost, the value of emu feather is lower as compared to ostrich feather. However, emu feather is attractive, double quailed are in demand both in the fashion in the art & craft industries. They are in the use of feather duster, feather pad, fans, boas, masks and finishing metals prior to painting.
• Emu Toe nails: Toe nails are polished, finished and designed in different ways to be used as various jewelry pieces for women.
• Bones are a more specialized product, but are used by many artists across the world in natural designs. Some of our customers paint scenes on the flat breastbone of the emu; others use the ribs with the feathers and other items from nature in wall hangings.