{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,2]],"date-time":"2026-02-02T05:22:11Z","timestamp":1770009731563,"version":"3.49.0"},"reference-count":43,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,18]],"date-time":"2025-02-18T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1739836800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Animals"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Regarding the ongoing global development of commercial ostrich husbandry, it is necessary to establish science-based recommendations for the appropriate treatment and welfare of ostriches. In this study, we determined the minimum housing area required for ostriches aged between 6 and 15 months. The planimetry revealed that the animals in this age group cover an average area of 0.31 m2 to 0.57 m2 with their bodies. To investigate the effects of space differences, the animals were divided into three groups and kept in 2.5 m2, 5 m2, and 10 m2 of available space per animal. When comparing their weight and growth, a deficit was found in the animals that were provided with a housing area of 2.5 m2. Furthermore, the animals exhibited differences in their integument and plumage score. The ostriches with the smallest housing area showed poorer scores in the plumage and integument than the animals with more space. At the conclusion of this study, the animals were slaughtered, and their carcass weights were compared. Similarly, lower carcass weights of the animals with a 2.5 m2 barn area were observed. Prior studies have indicated that long-term stress leads to immune deficiencies associated with the inadequate development of the immune organs. However, a preliminary examination of the heart and spleen did not reveal any evidence for this. Further ethological studies are necessary to provide specific recommendations for minimum housing areas for ostriches.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ani15040582","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,18]],"date-time":"2025-02-18T06:41:12Z","timestamp":1739860872000},"page":"582","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Assessment of Minimum Stable Areas for Young Ostriches According to Animal Welfare Legislation"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"given":"Sabrina","family":"R\u00fcckschloss","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinic for Birds, Small Mammals, Reptiles and Ornamental Fish, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universit\u00e4t M\u00fcnchen, 85764 Oberschlei\u00dfheim, Germany"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Robin N.","family":"Sch\u00fcttpelz","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Statistics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universit\u00e4t M\u00fcnchen, 80539 M\u00fcnchen, Germany"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"R\u00fcdiger","family":"Korbel","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinic for Birds, Small Mammals, Reptiles and Ornamental Fish, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universit\u00e4t M\u00fcnchen, 85764 Oberschlei\u00dfheim, Germany"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,18]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","first-page":"3","article-title":"Strau\u00dfenhaltung in Deutschland-eine \u00dcbersicht (Teil I)","volume":"4","author":"Reiner","year":"2000","journal-title":"Lohmann Inf."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"373","DOI":"10.1016\/S0749-0720(15)30226-7","article-title":"Ratite Production as an Agricultural Enterprise","volume":"14","author":"Gillespi","year":"1998","journal-title":"Vet. Clin. N. Am. Food Anim. Pract."},{"key":"ref_3","first-page":"16","article-title":"Ostrich production today: The (eco) logical way to economic success","volume":"53","author":"Kistner","year":"2019","journal-title":"Lohmann Inf."},{"key":"ref_4","first-page":"2","article-title":"Recent developments in ostrich farming","volume":"83","author":"Shanawany","year":"1995","journal-title":"World Anim. Rev."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Deeming, D.C. (1999). The Ostrich: Biology, Production and Health, CABI Publishing.","DOI":"10.1079\/9780851993508.0000"},{"key":"ref_6","first-page":"79","article-title":"Straussen-Farming in Mitteleuropa und dem s\u00fcdlichen Afrika","volume":"26","author":"Kaminske","year":"2005","journal-title":"Geo\u00d6ko"},{"key":"ref_7","unstructured":"BMEL (2019). Gutachten \u00fcber Mindestanforderungen an die Haltung von Strau\u00dfen, Nandus, Emus und Kasuaren, Bundesministerium f\u00fcr Ern\u00e4hrung und Landwirtschaft."},{"key":"ref_8","unstructured":"Council of Europe (1997). Europ\u00e4isches \u00dcbereinkommen zum Schutz von Tieren in Landwirtschaftlichen Tierhaltungen, Empfehlungen f\u00fcr die Haltung von Strau\u00dfenv\u00f6geln (Strau\u00dfe, Emus und Nandus), Europarat."},{"key":"ref_9","unstructured":"TVT (2011). Artgem\u00e4\u00dfe Nutztierartige Strau\u00dfenhaltung, Merkblatt 96, Tier\u00e4rztliche Vereinigung f\u00fcr Tierschutz e.V."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"232","DOI":"10.15653\/TPG-150490","article-title":"Betrachtungen und Empfehlungen zur artgem\u00e4\u00dfen und tierschutzgerechten Haltung von Strau\u00dfenv\u00f6geln in Deutschland","volume":"43","author":"Korbel","year":"2015","journal-title":"Tier\u00e4rztl. Prax. Ausg. Grosstiere"},{"key":"ref_11","unstructured":"Kistner, C. (2023, June 03). Haltungsrichtlinien. Available online: https:\/\/www.artgerechte-straussenzucht.com\/informationen\/haltungsrichtlinien\/."},{"key":"ref_12","unstructured":"European Union (2004). Verordnung (EG) Nr. 853\/2004 des Europ\u00e4ischen Parlaments und des Rates vom 29 April 2004 mit Spezifischen Hygienevorschriften f\u00fcr Lebensmittel Tierischen Ursprungs, European Union. DEPudRdE."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1490","DOI":"10.15252\/embr.201744428","article-title":"Expanding the 3R principles","volume":"18","author":"Aske","year":"2017","journal-title":"EMBO Rep."},{"key":"ref_14","unstructured":"Deutscher Wetterdienst (2024, August 25). Deutschlandwetter Jahr 2021. Available online: https:\/\/www.dwd.de\/DE\/presse\/pressemitteilungen\/DE\/2021\/20211230_deutschlandwetter_jahr2021.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=4."},{"key":"ref_15","first-page":"156","article-title":"Planimetrische Ermittlung des Mindestplatzbedarfs von Junghennen","volume":"126","author":"Spindler","year":"2013","journal-title":"Berl. M\u00fcnch. Tier\u00e4rztl. Wochenschr."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"102093","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psj.2022.102093","article-title":"Individual plumage and integument scoring of laying hens on commercial farms: Correlation with severe feather pecking and prognosis by visual scoring on flock level","volume":"101","author":"Schwarzer","year":"2022","journal-title":"Poult. Sci."},{"key":"ref_17","unstructured":"Broom, D.M. (1992). Animal Welfare: Its scientific measurement and current relevance to animal husbandry in Europe. Farm Animals and the Environment, CAB."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"16","DOI":"10.1080\/00071660086349","article-title":"Effect of foraging material and food form on feather pecking in laying hens","volume":"41","author":"Aerni","year":"2000","journal-title":"Br. Poult. Sci."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"22","DOI":"10.1080\/00071660086358","article-title":"Stress and feather pecking in laying hens in relation to housing conditions","volume":"41","author":"Aerni","year":"2000","journal-title":"Br. Poult. Sci."},{"key":"ref_20","first-page":"153","article-title":"Applied Scoring of Integument and Health in laying hens","volume":"23","author":"Tauson","year":"2005","journal-title":"Anim. Sci. Pap. Rep."},{"key":"ref_21","unstructured":"European Union (2009). Verordnung (EG9 Nr. 1099\/2009 des Rates vom 24 September 2009 \u00dcber den Schutz von Tieren zum Zeitpunkt der T\u00f6tung, European Union."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"389","DOI":"10.1016\/S0309-1740(01)00149-8","article-title":"Stunning and slaughter of ostriches","volume":"60","author":"Wotton","year":"2002","journal-title":"Meat Sci."},{"key":"ref_23","unstructured":"Sahan, U., Ipek, A., and Yilmaz Dikmen, B. (2006). The welfare of ostrich handling, transportation and slaughter. Agric. Food Sci."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1688","DOI":"10.3382\/ps.0741688","article-title":"Ostrich Slaughter and Fabrication","volume":"74","author":"Morris","year":"1995","journal-title":"Poult. Sci."},{"key":"ref_25","first-page":"266","article-title":"Planimetrische Untersuchungen bei Putenh\u00e4hnen der Linie BUT 6 in der Aufzucht- und Mastperiode","volume":"130","author":"Kulke","year":"2017","journal-title":"Berl. M\u00fcnch. Tier\u00e4rztl. Wochenschr."},{"key":"ref_26","unstructured":"Meyer, N.C. (2013). Biometrisch Basierte Gewichtssch\u00e4tzungsformeln und Body Condition Score bei Deutschen Maststrau\u00dfen bis zum Schlachtalter. [Ph.D. Thesis, Munich, Klinik f\u00fcr V\u00f6gel, Kleins\u00e4uger, Reptilien und Zierfische, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universit\u00e4t M\u00fcnchen]."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"23","DOI":"10.1136\/vr.113.1.23-b","article-title":"Floor space allowances for laying hens","volume":"113","author":"Hughes","year":"1983","journal-title":"Vet. Rec."},{"key":"ref_28","unstructured":"W\u00f6hr, A.-C., and Erhard, M. (2005, January 4\u201316). Ostrich Farming in Germany\u2014An Animal Welfare Issue?. Proceedings of the 3rd Ratite Science Symposium of the World\u2019s Poultry Science Association and XII World Ostrich Congress, Madrid, Spain."},{"key":"ref_29","unstructured":"Troxler, J. (2012). Tierschutz: Anspruch-Verantwortung-Realit\u00e4t. \u00d6sterreichische Tier\u00e4rztInnen f\u00fcr Tierschutz, Veterin\u00e4rmedizinische Universit\u00e4t Wien. Sektion Tierhaltung und Tierschutz der \u00d6sterreichischen Gesellschaft der Tier\u00e4rzte."},{"key":"ref_30","first-page":"412","article-title":"Behavioral problems of farmed ostriches in Canada","volume":"37","author":"Samson","year":"1996","journal-title":"Can. Vet. J."},{"key":"ref_31","first-page":"93","article-title":"The behaviour of broilers in response to group size and stocking density","volume":"64","author":"Reiter","year":"2000","journal-title":"Arch. Geflugelkd."},{"key":"ref_32","first-page":"1","article-title":"The behaviour of broilers under intensive management conditions","volume":"56","author":"Bessei","year":"1992","journal-title":"Arch. Gefl\u00fcgelkd."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"76","DOI":"10.1080\/00480169.2004.36408","article-title":"Influence of stocking density on the performance, carcass characteristics and selected welfare indicators of broiler chickens","volume":"52","author":"Thomas","year":"2004","journal-title":"N. Z. Vet. J."},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"110","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1740-0929.2006.00327.x","article-title":"Performance and welfare of broilers as affected by stocking density and zinc bacitracin supplementation","volume":"77","author":"Ravindran","year":"2006","journal-title":"Anim. Sci. J."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"43","DOI":"10.1080\/00071668808417025","article-title":"Broiler performance under high stocking densities","volume":"29","author":"Shanawany","year":"1988","journal-title":"Br. Poult. Sci."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1332","DOI":"10.1093\/ps\/84.8.1332","article-title":"Stocking density effects on growth performance and processing yields of heavy broilers","volume":"84","author":"Dozier","year":"2005","journal-title":"Poult. Sci."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"667","DOI":"10.3382\/ps.2011-01597","article-title":"Effects of stocking density on growth performance, carcass yield, and immune status of a local chicken breed","volume":"91","author":"Tong","year":"2012","journal-title":"Poult. Sci."},{"key":"ref_38","unstructured":"Schulz, A.-C. (2004). Untersuchung zum Verhalten und der Haltung von Afrikanischen Strau\u00dfen (Struthio Camelus) unter Deutschen Klimabedingungen. [Ph.D. Thesis, Munich, Klinik f\u00fcr V\u00f6gel, Kleins\u00e4uger, Reptilien und Zierfische, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universit\u00e4t M\u00fcnchen]."},{"key":"ref_39","first-page":"89","article-title":"The ostrich meat\u2014An updated review. II. Nutritive value","volume":"29","author":"Marchewka","year":"2011","journal-title":"Anim. Sci. Pap. Rep."},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"455","DOI":"10.1079\/WPS2005108","article-title":"Welfare of broilers: A review","volume":"62","author":"Bessei","year":"2006","journal-title":"World\u2019s Poult. Sci. J."},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"31","DOI":"10.1016\/0165-2427(91)90006-X","article-title":"Pathology of lymphoid organs with emphasis on immunosuppression","volume":"30","author":"Pope","year":"1991","journal-title":"Vet. Immunol. Immunopathol."},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"451","DOI":"10.1093\/ps\/81.4.451","article-title":"Effects of density and perch availability on the immune status of broilers","volume":"81","author":"Heckert","year":"2002","journal-title":"Poult. Sci."},{"key":"ref_43","first-page":"417","article-title":"Pathology of heart, lung, liver and kidney in broilers under chronic heat stress","volume":"26","author":"Aengwanich","year":"2004","journal-title":"Songklanakarin J. Sci. Technol."}],"container-title":["Animals"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-2615\/15\/4\/582\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,9]],"date-time":"2025-10-09T16:36:48Z","timestamp":1760027808000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-2615\/15\/4\/582"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,18]]},"references-count":43,"journal-issue":{"issue":"4","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,2]]}},"alternative-id":["ani15040582"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ani15040582","relation":{},"ISSN":["2076-2615"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2076-2615","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,18]]}}}