More than seven million years ago ostriches migrated across Africa. These birds became a source of food for the San people and a popular theme for their rock paintings. The San were not the only ones who found these birds fascinating: detailed pictures of ostriches have also been found in ancient Egyptian tombs, Roman generals and their wives wore their beautiful plumes during state functions and Arabs hunted the bird for sport.
Today, ostrich meat, leather, feathers, eggs and a great variety of ostrich curios and gifts are available all over the world. Durable feathers are used in feather dusters and the more colourful and attractive ones in stage productions, carnivals, as fashion accessories and for stylish garments. Globally ostrich meat is regarded as high quality red meat due to the fact that it is low in cholesterol and fat, versatile and tasty.
The largest concentration of ostriches in the world is found in Oudtshoorn in the Western Cape.
Find information on the World Ostrich Association at https://worldostrich.org.
Ostrich products are leather, feathers, meat, tourism, arts & crafts.
South Africa accounts for around 75% of the ostriches slaughtered in the world and has a corresponding share of the worldwide ostrich population. The country’s climate, experience and expertise are the main factors in its favour (DALRRD, 2021).
Cost factors which affect this industry include the prices of input supplies (feed, fuel, grain etc.) and production processes. No production of crops like Lucerne in drought areas mean that feed has to be transported from some distance away, increasing costs.
The industry has been mainly export orientated, helped by the international demand for exotic leather products and the trend towards healthier food (like ostrich meat – low in fat and cholestrol). As such, factors like the exchange rate, the international economy, market growth and market stimulation, supply and demand chain dynamics and animal disease control feature as important determiners of the sector’s profitability.
The large majority of ostrich feathers is exported and used for the manufacturing of dusters, for use in carnivals and in the production of fashion accessories.
Ostrich leather is used by international fashion brands for the manufacturing of handbags and boots. Refer to the SAOL (South African Ostrich Leather) website for more – www.saol.org.za.
Meeting EU and other international requirements is essential for effective marketing. As a result, the industry adheres to the strict EU-requirements; especially regarding full traceability.
The local market for ostrich meat is slowly being developed. The meat is a niche-market product, aimed at lifestyle-and health-conscious consumers. Processing of meat, such as salami and pastrami are identified as further possibilities.
Sources: The Ostrich Market Value Chain Profile.
A nutritionally well fed and well cared for high pedigree female ostrich can easily produce 40 offspring per year, but not before the female bird is three years of age. Coupled with a short gestation period of only 42 days to hatch an ostrich egg, it is easy to see why this is an industry worthy of investigation.
In theory, 500 offspring from one high pedigree female bird can bring a long term and worthwhile farming operation. In reality however, mortalities are high (50% plus) in chicks. Ostriches breed well in a warm climate. Heavy rain and thunderstorms will certainly affect the breeding cycle. High humidity can also be a problem – not necessarily for breeding itself, but for young chicks. High humidity means high bacteria and young chicks are susceptible to catching all kinds of diseases when they are young.
A good supply of natural feed, including alfalfa (lucerne), maize, soy and wheat are a definite advantage as these are staple foods for an ostrich. A mature ostrich consumes 2,5 kg of feed per day. An unlimited supply of fresh, clean water is an absolute necessity. Ostriches drink up to 2 gallons (9 litres) of water every day.
The global focus of farming is now truly pointing towards environmentally friendly business operations. With the huge amounts of antibiotics being force fed into chickens, beef, pork and turkeys, together with intensive farming, steroids, growth hormones and all the other unnatural additives, it makes a fresh change to find a farming industry which does not require such techniques. Farming ostriches is environmentally friendly; steroid, hormone and force- feeding free. Ostriches are free roaming livestock and feed off all natural ostrich feed.
Ostriches require little or no handling once they reach four or five months of age. However, they need to be vaccinated against Newcastle Disease three months before slaughter and also need to be treated against ticks and be kept in a quarantine camp (which is free of any vegetation) fourteen days prior to slaughter.
Farming ostriches can be financially rewarding. As with all livestock, there are pitfalls and danger areas to be aware of. Prospective farmers should be aware of the fact that it takes 30 months from hatching before any income is received.
For more information contact: SAOBC (see “Role players” heading below).
Find information about the Ostrich Manual under “Websites and publications” below.
Visit the websites listed earlier.
