Blue Mountain International Ostrich Alliance
FAQ's of the BMIOA
[Previous Page] [Next Page] [Up] [Home Page] [Mail] [Search]

Twenty Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the BMIOA? What Are the Grading Systems and Standards?
What Are the Purposes and Goals of the BMIOA? What Is the Benefit of All Birds Being Raised In the Same Manner?
Why Has the BMIOA Been Founded? What Is a Generic Bird, a BMIOA Generic Bird and a BMIOA Superior Genetic Bird?
Who Can Be a Member of the BMIOA? What Is the BM Nutrition Certification Program?
Who Can Be an Honorary Producer Member? What Are the Benefits For a Nutrition Certified Farmer?
Who Can Be an Individual Producer Member? What Are the Benefits to a Processor Working Only With BM Nutrition Certified Farmers?
Who Can Be a Commercial Member? How Long Does It Take To Become a BM Nutrition Certified Farmer?
How Is the BMIOA Funded? How Do I Know If I Am Purchasing From a BM Nutrition Certified Farmer?
What Is the "New Ostrich Industry"? What Advantages Are There For Purchasing BM Certified Birds and Products?
Why Are Grading Systems and Standards Required? Does the BMIOA Buy and Sell Birds and Products?

What is the BMIOA?

Blue Mountain International Ostrich Alliance is a Commercial entity. It is a non-profit entity to provide:



For more information: http://www.blue-mountain.net/bmioa/p90.htm

Back To Top of Page

What are the Purposes and Goals of the BMIOA?

To Aid in PROGRESSING the Ostrich Industry Forward Through Good Communications, Connections, Assistance, Research, Studies, Consistency Standards and Uniform Information.

For more information: http://www.blue-mountain.net/bmioa/p92.htm

Back To Top of Page

Why has the BMIOA been founded?

There is a need within the Ostrich Industry to provide:

For more information: http://www.blue-mountain.net/bmioa/p90.htm

Back To Top of Page

Who can be a member of the BMIOA?

Any individual or entity that wishes to assist in the development of the Ostrich Industry and/or benefit from the Branded Program at any stage of the Production Chain.

For more information: http://www.blue-mountain.net/bmioa/p129.htm

Back To Top of Page

Who Can be an Honorary Producer Member?

Any customer of Blue Mountain Feed Products with annual purchases in excess of US$500.00.

For more information: http://www.blue-mountain.net/bmioa/p129.htm

Back To Top of Page

Who can be an Individual Producer Member?

Any producer who is not a customer of Blue Mountain Feed or Blue Mountain Feed customers whose annual purchases of Blue Mountain Feed Products do not exceed US$500.00 per annum.

For more information: http://www.blue-mountain.net/bmioa/p129.htm

Back To Top of Page

Who can be a Commercial Member?

Any Ostrich Commercial Entity wanting to take part in the benefits of the BMIOA services, assistance, communications, information, and Connections.

For more information: http://www.blue-mountain.net/bmioa/p129.htm

Back To Top of Page

How is the BMIOA funded?

1. The majority of funding for BMIOA comes from contributions made by Blue Mountain Feeds, Inc. and Blue Mountain International. On each feed product sale to its customers, these entities contribute a portion of the profits to the BMIOA.

2. Membership fees paid by other farmers, individuals and commercial companies wanting to be a part of the BMIOA effort.

3. Donations by companies and individuals

Note: 100% of BMIOA funding goes towards its Purpose and Goals of progressing the industry. There are NO administrative fees or operating expenses deducted from its funds. All expenses and administration costs are paid and performed by Blue Mountain Feeds, Inc. & Blue Mountain International as a service to the industry.

For more information: http://www.blue-mountain.net/bmioa/p90.htm

Back To Top of Page

What is The "New Ostrich Industry"?

The New Ostrich Industry transforms the Ostrich industry into a commercial Livestock Production Industry with professional levels of Production and Common Standards. It is:


For more information: http://www.blue-mountain.net/bmioa/p343.htm

Back To Top of Page

Why are Grading Systems and Standards required?

With Globalisation common standards are required to enable consumers to know what to expect and avoid confusion. This is achieved through Standard Grading systems that clearly define the differences between products from birds raised under different systems and bird age groups.

For more information: http://www.blue-mountain.net/bmioa/p102.htm

Back To Top of Page

What are the Grading Systems and Standards?

The "New Ostrich Industry" Production Standards

Back To Top of Page

What is the benefit of all birds being raised in the same manner?

Our customers of today have come to expect and demand UNIFORMITY of their products. Modern agriculture satisfies this demand through companies imposing common rearing methods on their producers in all sectors of Agriculture.... livestock, arable and the fruit and vegetable growers.

Back To Top of Page

What is the difference between a Generic Bird, a Blue Mountain Generic Bird and a Blue Mountain Superior Genetic Bird?

The Ostrich Industry as a Professional Livestock Production Industry is in it's infancy and, as with other livestock industries, there is a requirement for Industry Standards to provide customers with a means to evaluate the quality of the products they are purchasing. To date Nutritional Programs for Ostrich have been extremely poor with the result that many birds are demonstrating symptoms of severe malnutrition and at best clinical unthriftiness.

Blue Mountain have developed a complete nutritional and management program that is designed to progressively breed out the influences of mal-nutrition to enable the inherent genetics of the progeny to become apparent. The first step in this process is to award a NUTRITIONAL CLASSIFICATION STATUS to enable the producer or purchaser to evaluate fairly the level of production achieved from birds that may be influenced by historical management rather than inherited genetics.

Generic Birds?
Any Bird that does not carry a Blue Mountain Nutritional Classification Certification

Blue Mountain Generic Bird?
Any bird that comes from a farm that carries Blue Mountain Nutritional Certification but does not meet the criteria of a Blue Mountain Superior Genetic Bird.

Blue Mountain Superior Genetic Bird?
Any bird that comes from a Farm that carries Blue Mountain Nutritional Certification AND meets criteria to carry a Grading under the Blue Mountain Superior Genetic Bird Grading System. This is a new program that will evolve over the years as the Breeder Base is developed with correct recording systems in place to correctly identify birds carrying Superior Genes. The program is designed to identify the birds that produce SUPERIOR characteristics in such areas as:




For more information: http://www.blue-mountain.net/bmioa/p472.htm

Back To Top of Page

What is a Blue Mountain Nutrition Certification Program?

A "BM Nutrition Certified Farmer" is an individual or entity that is feeding Blue Mountain Ostrich Feeds to ALL their Breeder birds, Slaughter birds, Chicks, Growers and Adolescent birds. Any individual or entity that is following the whole Blue Mountain Nutrition and Production program for at least 6 months may apply to become a Blue Mountain Certified Farmer. The Certified Farmer will be required to maintain set standards and will be regularly audited by Blue Mountain. This in turn will provide buyers with a guarantee of consistency and quality, no matter in which country the birds are produced.

For more information: http://www.blue-mountain.net/bmioa/p472.htm

Back To Top of Page

What are the Benefits to a Blue Mountain Nutrition Certified Farmer?

-There is a demand for BM Quality birds, progeny and products.

- Premium value for their birds.

- Benefit from Research of a proprietary nature that is reserved for Blue Mountain Customers only.

- Marketing Advantage.

- Only Blue Mountain Certified Farmers qualify for the Blue Mountain Branded program.

- Enables a farmer large and small to retain independence but receive the benefits of "corporate identity".

- Supply processors working only with Blue Mountain Certified Farmers.

- Knowledge that if purchasing from a Blue Mountain Certified Farmer, the progeny are raised to the same standards.

This program provides protection for Blue Mountain Producers that have invested in the program and working to produce birds to the highest possible standards. It aims to assist them to achieve premium prices. It aims to minimise the risks of "copycats" through the registration and certification program and publication of participating members.

For more information: http://www.blue-mountain.net/bmioa/p472.htm

Back To Top of Page

What are the Benefits to a Processor working only with Blue Mountain Nutrition Certified Farmers?

- Guarantee of consistency of bird quality.

- Guarantee of quality of carcass and skins.

- Benefit from Research of a proprietary nature that is reserved for Blue Mountain Branded Program.

- Marketing Advantage.

- Only Blue Mountain Nutrition Certified Farmers qualify for the Blue Mountain Branded program.

For more information: http://www.blue-mountain.net/bmioa/p472.htm

Back To Top of Page

How long does it take to become a Blue Mountain Nutrition Certified Farmer?

6 months from first introducing the Blue Mountain Nutritional and Production Program on their farm.

For more information: http://www.blue-mountain.net/bmioa/p472.htm

Back To Top of Page

How do I know if I am purchasing from a Blue Mountain Nutrition Certified Farmer?

Each Blue Mountain Nutrition Certified Farmer will be provided with a Certificate which contains an expiration date. Verification of the validity of any farmer's certificate can be done at the BMIOA web site by filling out a "Member Status Check Request" at no charge.

For more information: http://www.blue-mountain.net/bmioa/p472.htm

Back To Top of Page

What advantages are there for purchasing Blue Mountain Certified Birds and Products?

Blue Mountain Nutrition is the ONLY comprehensive program in the industry with producers following the program setting new standards at all levels of the Production Chain.

Meat
Leather
Oil
Slaughter Birds
Breeder Birds
Chicks
Eggs

Meat:
All people marketing Blue Mountain Branded meat will follow the Blue Mountain Standards to provide the buyer with confidence that the products will be consistent. Slaughter birds will come from Blue Mountain Nutrition Certified Farms only.

Major attributes of Blue Mountain Ostrich Meat:


Other attributes of Blue Mountain Ostrich Meat that Chefs and consumers prefer:

    -No Animal Protein Products Used to Raise Birds.
    -Birds Are Raised On Natural Feed Ingredient Diets.
    -Consistent Production Standards Are Used Throughout the Production Chain.

Back To Products Menu

Skins and Leather:
Future Scientific Research by BMIOA will undoubtedly show that Blue Mountain Ostrich Leather produced only by Blue Mountain Nutrition Certified Farmers is superior in quality to other leathers because of our special controlled and enhanced feeding programs which gives the leather increased elasticity, durability and maturity of quill follicles at a much earlier age. Our feeding programs also contain special feed ingredients to resist "skin abrasions" and hide degradation resulting in higher percentage of high quality grade hides.

Blue Mountain Ostrich Leather is most unique and beautiful with the ultimate consistency from hide to hide. Blue Mountain Ostrich Leather also has other unique qualities:


Back To Products Menu

Oil:
Blue Mountain Ostrich Oil is a product made from the "snowy white" fat of Blue Mountain fed Ostrich raised by BM Nutrition Certified farms and processed/packaged according to BMIOA Standards.

Back To Products Menu

Slaughter Birds:
This ensures that all products sold under the "Blue Mountain" branded product labels will be of consistent high quality. As an example; Blue Mountain Ostrich Meats from BM Nutrition Certified Farmers is a consistent meat with uniform taste, attractive color, excellent tenderness and appearance. The meat product will be of the highest quality and uniformity no matter where the bird was raised or where the bird was processed.

Back To Products Menu

Breeder Birds:
Breeder birds entering the BMIOA Genetic or Generic production program need to be "nutritionally classed" to enable one to fairly predict reproduction capabilities and egg qualities. Also, a BMIOA Superior Genetic Hen can only be properly graded and classified according to its parameter of "nutritional classification". The longer a breeder bird has been on a proper diet, the more predictable are the reproduction results. Breeder birds from the BMIOA Genetic or Generic production programs have increased bird value.



Back To Products Menu

Chicks:
BMIOA Superior Genetic or Generic Chicks were hatched from eggs laid by BMIOA Genetic or Generic Breeder birds that have been "nutritionally classed". Before a BMIOA Nutritional Classification can be assigned, the farmer first needs to apply and be approved as a "BM Nutrition Certified" farmer. It is a proven fact that chicks from parents fed a proper diet are stronger, healthier and have increased immune system activities that make the chick more resistant to disease and severe environmental conditions. Chicks from BMIOA Genetic or Generic Breeder birds have increased value.

Back To Products Menu

Eggs:
BMIOA Superior Genetic or Generic eggs are eggs laid by BMIOA Genetic or Generic Breeder birds that have been "nutritionally classed" which first requires that the farmer has been approved as a BM Nutrition Certified farmer. It is a proven fact that eggs laid by parents fed a proper diet produce stronger, healthier chicks that have increased immune system activities that make the chick more resistant to disease and severe environmental conditions. It is also a proven fact that parental nutrition is the defining factor for good fertility, hatchability and chick pipping strength. Eggs from BMIOA Genetic or Generic Breeder birds have increased value.

Back To Products Menu

Back To Top of Page

Does the BMIOA buy and sell birds and products?

No, the BMIOA is not involved in trading in any way.

The BMIOA is a program that provides a Marketing Advantage for participating members at all stages of the Production Chain in any part of the world.

Any trade enquiries received will be forwarded to appropriate BMIOA members participating in the "BMIOA Member Connections" program.

Back To Top of Page



Thanks for Visiting the Blue Mountain International Ostrich Alliance

Last modified on Thursday, October 05, 2006