الفهرس 
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Abstract
The present study was carried out at a Private Ostrich Farm (Naoomy Company) located in El-shourook city–Cairo governorate Egypt. During the period -#102;-#114;-#111;-#109; 2005 to 2006. br It was aimed to study the effect of ostrich strain, breeding season and the addition of commercially available probiotic (Bio-power) on productive performance of ostrich. br A total number of 48 breeding birds of Blue and Black neck ostrich (24 bird/strain) 16 females and 8 males were used in this study for two successive breeding seasons (2005 and 2006) aged 3.5 years old at the beginning of the first breeding season. Birds of each strain were divided into four groups each of 6 birds (4 females and 2 males). Ostrich in the first group were fed basal diet only and considered as control group, while those of the second, third and fourth groups were fed basal diet supplemented with 0.25, 0.50 and 1.0 kg Bio.power/ ton ration, respectively. br Results Obtained could be summarized as follows: br Blue neck ostrich significantly increased body weight at all periods of estimation compared with Black neck ostrich. br The highest averages of body weight and body weight gain were recorded in birds supplemented with 1.0 kg Bio-power/ton ration followed by those supplemented by 0.50 kg Bio-power/ton ration at the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 11th month of age compared with control group and those supplemented with 0.25 kg Bio-power/ton ration. br Blue neck pullets significantly increased body weight gain at all periods of estimation when compared with Black neck pullets. br The highest body weight and body weight gain was recorded in the chicks produced in the second breeding season at all periods of estimation compared with chicks produced in the first breeding season. br Performance index was significantly better in Blue neck at the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 11th month of age compared with Black neck. br Birds supplemented with 1.0 kg Bio-power/ton ration showed the higher average of performance index followed by those supplemented with 0.50 then by those supplemented with 0.25 kg Bio-power/ton ration at all periods of estimation compared with control group. br Blue neck pullets significantly increased average of feed consumption at all periods of estimation compared with Black neck pullets. br The lowest feed consumption was recorded in birds supplement with 1.0 and 0.50 kg Bio-power/ton ration, respectively compared with different treatments applied and control group. br Pullets of Blue neck significantly improved average of feed conversion at all periods of estimation when compared with Black neck pullets. br The highest average of feed conversion were recorded in birds supplemented with 0.25 kg Bio-power/ton feed and control group compared with those supplemented by 0.50 and 1.0 kg Bio-power/ton ration. br Pullet’ strain showed highly significant effects on egg production rate at all periods of estimation. br The egg production rate gradually increased reaching its maximum value at June for Black and Blue neck female. The Black neck ostrich females were superior in egg production rate than that of Blue neck strain. br Birds in the second breeding season had higher egg production rate than those in the first breeding season . br Levels of Bio-power showed highly significant effects (p-lt;0.001) on egg production rate at all periods of estimation, excepted at February. br The highest egg production rate allover the experimental period were recorded in birds supplemented with 0.50 kg Bio-power/ton ration, the lowest egg production rate was recorded in birds of control group. br Pullets of Blue neck ostrich showed the highest values of egg weight at all periods of estimation when compared with Black neck. br Blue neck pullets increased average of egg length and width at all periods of estimation compared with pullets of Black neck. br Blue neck pullets showed the higher values of egg shape index at all periods of estimation compared with Black neck pullets. br The second breeding season increased average of egg shape index at all periods of estimation compared with the first breeding season. br Blue neck pullets significantly increased average of fertility percentage at all periods of estimation, except at February which showed insignificantly decreased average of fertility percentage at this month compared with pullets Black neck. br The second season insignificant increased of fertility percentage allover the experimental period when compared with the first breeding season . br Birds supplemented with different levels of Bio-power/ton ration, significantly increased fertility percentage allover the experimental period compared with control group. br Blue neck pullets increased hatchability percentage of total eggs and fertile eggs at all periods of estimation, except at February compared with Black neck pullets. br Dietary levels of Bio-power supplementation significantly increased hatchability percentage of total eggs allover the experimental period in birds supplemented with 1.0 kg Bio-power/ton ration followed by those supplemented by 0.50 kg then by birds supplement with 0.25 kg Bio-power/ton ration and the lowest hatchability percentage of total eggs was recorded in control group. br The second breeding season showed the highest values of hatchability percentage of fertile eggs at all periods of estimation, excepted at February compared with the first breeding season. br Chicks hatched -#102;-#114;-#111;-#109; Blue neck eggs were significantly heavier in body weight at hatch than those hatched -#102;-#114;-#111;-#109; Black neck egg at all periods of estimation. br Blue neck pullets significantly increased averages of all carcass traits compared with Black neck pullets. br The second breeding season significantly increased live body weight, carcass, heart, liver, gizzard, giblet, total edible parts, fat and feather weights compared with the first breeding season. br Dietary levels of Bio-power supplementation significantly increased absolute and relative weights of carcass, heart, liver, gizzard, giblet, fat, feather and total edible parts in birds supplemented with 1.0 kg Bio-power/ton ration followed by those supplemented by 0.50 kg Bio-power/ton ration then by those fed 0.25 kg Bio-power/ton ration compared with control group. br Blue neck ostrich significantly increased relative weights of carcass, gizzard, fat and total edible parts compared with Black neck pullets. While, Black neck ostrich increased relative weights of heart, liver, giblet and feather compared with Blue neck pullets. br The second breeding season showed the highest relative weights of carcass, heart, liver, gizzard, giblet and total edible parts compared with the first breeding season. br Blue neck pullets significantly decreased averages of mortality rate compared with Black neck pullets. br Birds supplemented with 0.50 kg Bio-power/ton ration significantly decreased mortality rate compared with control group and birds supplemented diet with 1.0 and 25 kg Bio-power/ton ration. br 6- CONCLUSION br 1- Blue neck ostrich surpassed Black neck in all growth traits. While, Black neck ostrich surpassed Blue neck in egg production rat. br 2- The second breeding season of ostrich surpassed the first one in all productive performance. br 3- It could be advised to supply Blue and Black neck ostrich during the second breeding season diet with 1.0 kg Bio- power /ton in -#111;-#114;-#100;-#101;-#114; to achieve higher growth performance. br 4- The inclusion rate of Bio-power at a level of 0.50 kg/ton ration for Blue and Black ostrich during the second breeding season seemed to be adequate to achieve the favorable results for egg production and mortality rate.