author(s)
P Senthil Kumar and PN Richard Jagatheesan

abstract
The present study was conducted to analyse the production performances, egg characters and mortality pattern in emu birds under captive conditions in Tamil Nadu, India during the year 2005-06 to 2012-13. The emu breeders started to lay eggs from 764.1±44.39 days. The production (mean ± SE) of 13.0±2.86, 21.8±3.39, 24.2±2.49, 29.1±13.13, 30.2±11.77, 24.9±10.12, 26.3±7.41 and 25.02±8.11 eggs per hen for 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th, 6^th, 7^th and 8^thlaying seasons, respectively with the spread of laying period 75.2±10.81, 98.7±8.98, 88.6±10.47, 119.1±12.71, 109.7±14.85, 97.6±11.02, 100.1±11.21 and 103.22±10.76 days were recorded, respectively. The mean ±SE egg weight (g) was 488.98±1.69, 562.23±4.08, 590.85±4.44, 593.12±3.50, 614.43±4.99 and 633.46±3.86, 631.27±3.02 and 632.89±4.65 for 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th, 6^th, 7^th and 8^thlaying seasons, respectively. In the current study, physical characters of emu eggs were recorded. Mortality pattern in emu chicks, growers and adults birds were also observed in the present study.