The Emu

The Emu (Dromaius Novae-Hollandiae) is a large flightless bird that is native to Australia. The Emu is a member of the ratite family and can grow to 6ft in height and weigh up to 60kg. It is the second largest bird in the world.

The Australian climate produces long, very hot summers, with temperatures often above 45°C. Most Australian native plants, trees and grasses are spring and summer flowering. With very few protein sources available in winter the Emu, a very primitive animal, has developed one of the most unique feeding and breeding patterns of any animal.

Emus consume 3 to 4 kg of food per day through Spring & Summer, during which time they double their body weight to around 50 / 60kg by putting on a layer of "fat" between their muscle groups and their skin and around the gut cavity. Once breeding commences in March / April, through to the end of the breeding season in September / October, food consumption reduces to an average of less than 100 grams per day. By the end of the breeding season, both male & female Emus will weigh approx 30kg. The female produces an 800 gm egg every 3 to 4 days. The male does all of the egg incubation, which takes 56 days. During this time it neither eats nor drinks, existing wholly on its stored fat reserves.

All of the requirements to sustain their body systems, egg production and the male Emu during egg incubation are stored in this layer of fat that keeps their bodies functioning at full capacity. It is due to this requirement that the fat has its amazing properties. For many thousands of years the Australian aborigines ascribed great medicinal power to the Emus body fat and used it as an effective remedy for a variety of ailments both topically and internally. In 1860, the effectiveness of Emu Oil as a topical emollient in western medicine was recorded.