MakStraus is an ostrich-breeding farm near the Makaryevsky Monastery, in the Lyskovsky District of the Nizhny Novgorod Region.
The essence of the business
An ostrich farm is a promising long-term business. An ostrich lives 50-70 years and produces offspring for 40 years, meaning it works and yields considerable profit.
Lately, CIS farmers have become increasingly interested in ostrich farming as a new kind of business. Ostrich breeding is gaining popularity, and ostrich farming operations specializing in breeding ostriches are appearing. The most commercially promising and the most successful to raise in our climate is the Black African ostrich (Strutio Camelius).
About the farm
The "Makaryevo Ostrich" ostrich farm was founded in 2006. It is located in a picturesque spot in the Nizhny Novgorod Region chosen by Saint Macarius for the founding of the Makaryevsky Monastery at the confluence of two rivers — the Volga and the The Kerzhenets River.
Main activities:
- 1. pedigree breeding and sale of ostriches, peafowl, pheasants, turkeys, guinea fowl, ornamental chickens, ducks, swans, geese;
- 2. organizing training for beginning farmers and private individuals in the basics of the poultry-breeding business;
- 3. running farm tours with tastings of various dishes made from exotic poultry;
- 4. selling hatching eggs, chicks, adult birds, as well as meat, fat, table eggs, and feathers;
- 5. selling souvenir products — painted ostrich eggs, feathers, stuffed birds, and so on.
Our regular partners are leading ostrich farms of Europe. Our ostrich farm uses the technologies of ostrich farms in Sweden, Denmark, and the Baltic states. As breeding stock, the farm purchased four families of three-year-old ostriches as chicks, brought in from Sweden and Denmark and raised in the Russian climate. The operation uses ostrich incubation equipment of Russian manufacture. The Black African ostrich is our main specialty. This ostrich species has taken well to our climate, easily tolerates winter, and, moreover, the bird adapts quickly to a new place and to people.
Agrotourism
One of the directions of ostrich farming is agrotourism. Our farm gives this direction the greatest attention and priority. Specially trained staff will lead an engaging tour of the farm where visitors are shown all age groups of ostriches, from newly hatched to adult breeding families. They will tell you where and when the ostrich appeared, its evolution, life in the wild and on a farm, take photos with the ostriches, offer a tasting of dishes made from ostrich meat and eggs, and offer souvenir products, ostrich fat, and souvenir (Easter-style) painted ostrich eggs.
If you are interested in the ostrich farm and its products, if you have any questions, we will be glad to tell you more, help you organize your own ostrich farm, and offer our cooperation.
The cost of the tour is 150 rubles per person for adults and 100 rubles per person for children.
Ostrich meat
Ostrich meat is considered one of the highest-quality meats, successfully competing with beef fillet and attracting more and more gourmets and people concerned about their health. Exceptionally tender with a distinctive taste, it resembles beef in color, taste, and structure. Ostrich meat is characterized by low cholesterol content — 32 mg per 100 g, high protein content — 22%, low fat content — 1.2%, and a rich set of trace elements. Despite its low fat content, ostrich meat stays soft and juicy when cooked and does not require a long cooking time.
Ostrich leather
In the market for premium goods, ostrich leather is increasingly preferred. Ostrich leather is classed among the exotic types of leather. Its exoticism, and mainly its appeal, comes from the follicles that form at the base of the feather shaft. The clearer and denser the pattern of follicles on the leather, the higher its price. Soft, flexible, moisture-resistant, and with a characteristic creak, ostrich leather is an excellent material for making footwear, clothing, and leather goods. One adult ostrich (10-14 months) yields 1.2-1.5 sq. m of leather.
The leather covering the leg shank is also valuable. This leather has retained horny plates, as in some reptiles, which gives it a distinctive look and has found wide use in making footwear and wallets.
Ostrich eggs
Fertilized eggs have high commercial value. Table eggs are not among the main ostrich-farming products, and practically all eggs are sent for incubation. Unfertilized table eggs, eggs from young females, and early or late eggs are used for food.
Ostrich eggs are in no way inferior to chicken eggs and are prepared in a similar way. An egg weighs from 1000 g to 1800 g, and its resemblance to porcelain allows the shell to be used in artistic pieces through painting and engraving.
The eggshell is very light and strong and is striking in size, the yolk color is rich, and the white is semi-transparent. Ostrich eggs differ from the eggs of other bird species in their low cholesterol content. Hard-boiling an ostrich egg takes 75 minutes.
Ostrich feathers
At the age of 16 months, well-developed young plumage may be trimmed. Adult plumage is fully developed by age 2. By this age, males have black plumage on the body and white plumage on the wings and tail. Females retain the gray-brown coloring of the young plumage.
The most valuable is the white feather; black and gray feathers are also used. Feather length ranges from 10 to 80 cm. Ostrich feathers are widely used for trimming clothing, hats, and theatrical costumes.
Price list
Products offered, price (rubles)
Live ostriches
- Ostrich chicks, 1 day 6000
- Ostrich chicks, up to 1 month 8000
- Ostriches, 2 months 10000
- Ostriches, 6 months 16000
- Ostriches, 10-12 months 20000
- Sexually mature ostriches, 2 years 40000
- Adult ostriches, 3 years 50000
- Family, 4-5 years 200000
Ostrich eggs
- Ostrich egg, hatching 2500
- Ostrich egg, table 500
- Ostrich egg, empty, souvenir 300
Ostrich meat
- Ostrich meat (carcass) 1 kg 250
- Ostrich meat (fillet) 1 kg wholesale/retail 500/600
Ostrich leather
- Ostrich leather, wet-salted, 1.2-1.4 sq. m 3000
- Ostrich leather, finished, 1.2-1.4 sq. m 7000
- Ostrich feathers 50-350
Equipment for an ostrich farm
- Ostrich incubator (64-128 eggs) 75-120 thousand
- Literature 500-1500
Contacts
OOO "Makaryevskie Prostory" (Makaryevo Expanses LLC).
Bank details
INN 5222001477 KPP 522201001 OGRN 1055202520823 Settlement account 40702810542200100391 at Lyskovo branch No. 4346 of Sberbank of Russia Correspondent account 30101810900000000603 BIC 042202603
Address
- Nizhny Novgorod Region, Lyskovsky District, Makaryevo (urban-type settlement), Lesnaya St., 25.
Phone numbers
- (831) 410-23-99, 8-920-022-44-33, Sergei Nikolaevich Naumov
- 8-920-041-55-33, Lyudmila Aleksandrovna Volkova.