Effect of Some Environmental Factors on Ostrich Performance under Egyptian Conditions

The present work was carried out at the Ostrich Farm, Nuclear Research Center, Atomic Energy Authority, Inshas, Sharkia Governorate, Egypt, during the period from July to September, 2013. A total number of 72 ostrich eggs were collected from the breeding flock and distributed into 4 treatments (18 eggs per each treatment), in an experiment of a completely randomized design. The first experimental group was used as control and kept without exposure to gamma irradiation. The 2 nd, 3 rd and 4 th groups were exposed to 0.8, 1.6 and 3.2 Gray (GY) of ⁶⁰Co gamma rays just before incubation, the results showed no significant effects due to gamma radiation on hatchability traits and growth performance in ostrich chicks but some blood biochemical analyses were significantly higher in the treated groups