A Three Way Partnership * Farming * Business * Client


The Company
NZOSTRICHCORP is a privately owned, Auckland based company that farms ostriches in New Zealand, Australia and the UK. It is currently involved in ostrich business in many different countries.


Ownership
The owner of NZOSTRICHCORP is Graeme Clegg. He is also the chairman of the health food company, New Image International Ltd. New Image is a multi-million dollar, export award winning company with branches in six other Asia Pacific countries. It has been in the business of formulating, manufacturing and distributing nutritional supplements for 18 years. Prior to establishing the New Image business, Graeme Clegg was involved in genetics and line breeding of stud sheep.


Corporation Manager
Peter Shannon has a lifetime experience in the livestock industry in New Zealand. He was a pioneer in the ostrich industry and was extensively involved in exporting boer goats, deer, sheep and cattle. He has traveled to most ostrich producing countries around the world and attended many international conferences. He is considered an industry expert and his consultancy services are widely used. With his wife, Pauline, who is a specialist in incubation and chick rearing, they have a wealth of experience and knowledge. Peter is actively involved in the NZ Ostrich Association and was president for two terms.


Establishment
NZOSTRICHCORP began operations in 1993 and 1994, with two 747 chartered shipments of selected birds from Canada to Australia. This was followed by two further charters to New Zealand in 1995 after government import protocols were introduced. Numerous shipments of selected eggs were also brought in.


Bloodlines
African blacks were chosen as the most productive and commercially viable ostrich species. In general they are easy to handle, have better survivability and growth rates. The original bloodlines came out of Oudtshoorn South Africa to Canada. Only those with production records were selected. In Canada recording was continued and the highest producing ostriches were secured for the import to New Zealand. New Zealand is internationally recognized for breeding the highest producing livestock in the world and is famous for its racehorses, beef cattle, dairy cows and sheep for meat and wool. Already NZOSTRICHCORP has maintained this tradition by breeding exceptionally high producing commercial ostriches.


The Property
NZOSTRICHCORP has developed a purpose built breeding farm on 140 prime acres at Flatbush, 30 kms south of Auckland. The complex includes a state of the art incubation unit with a capacity of 2,500 eggs. NZOSTRICHCORP is also an agent for Natureform Incubation and Hatchery Systems.


Stock Selection
NZOSTRICHCORP has adopted a policy of ruthless culling of under-performing bloodlines. This genetic selection has resulted in high egg production, hardy chicks with high survival and growth rates. Because of the high capital costs of ostriches, plus the very high cost of ostrich feed in New Zealand, under-performing ostriches are a serious liability and have negative value.


Export of Chicks
The ostrich industry in New Zealand has been held back by delayed government legislation to establish meat export protocols. Because of the uncertainty of development of commercial markets in New Zealand, NZOSTRICHCORP decided to further develop an already successful export market of premium breeding ostrich chicks. The company has exported chicks and eggs to Japan, China, Nepal, Pakistan, Fiji, Malaysia, Thailand, Greece and Poland. Two factors have stood out with NZOSTRICHCORP chicks.

1. Very very low mortality rate during the air freight of chicks. 0.03% last year.

2. The chicks are strong and healthy and show more rapid weight gain and better survivability than chicks from South Africa and other locations. Already NZOSTRICHCORP breeding stock has established a reputation as the premier bloodstock.


Establishment of the Ostrich
Industry Globally
The ostrich industry has the greatest future of any livestock. Ostriches produce the highest number of offspring annually and have the highest yield growth rates of any livestock. Unfortunately the industry has been embarrassed by high failure rates due to two main reasons.

1. Ostrich scams. Any rapid growth industry with high potential rewards attracts unscrupulous promoters. It is important to deal only with reputable, well-established operators. Particularly those of substance and business acumen.

2. Due to prohibition of ostrich exports from South Africa for many years, only poor quality stock was smuggled out. In most instances there were no records. These poor quality ostriches, known as 'road-runners' were of such poor genetics they did not even produce enough progeny to pay for their upkeep. Many purchasers were extremely disappointed that egg production, chick survival and growth rates did not meet expectations or those that were promoted as industry standards.

It is therefore of paramount importance to only purchase ostriches with a future. Poor performing breeders take years for progeny to be genetically tuned to achieve higher productivity levels. It is far better to start off with the best quality stock available. That is Ostrich Supreme premier chicks.


Exporting Ostrich Chicks
The New Zealand laying season is from October to May. NZOSTRICHCORP will produce over 6000 chicks that meet our stringent premier export quality grade. Because of long term established contracts, only limited numbers of new clients can be catered for. Chicks are packed in special plywood constructed, IATA approved boxes, divided into six sections, each holding seven chicks. Shipping is within three days of hatching while the chicks are still living on the yolk sac. They can safely and comfortably be shipped anywhere around the world.


General
Inspection of the property by appointment is welcome. Consultation in areas of incubation, chick rearing, disease prevention and management of the breeding flock is available. NZOSTRICHCORP is committed to the long term future of the industry and to our clients. Our success is determined by your success.