Ostriches farmed for leather, feathers, and meat face welfare challenges from intensive housing conditions that conflict with the large ranging areas these large, intelligent birds need.
Ostrich welfare in farming is rarely discussed despite the species being intelligent, fast, and evolved for vast open landscapes. Confinement in intensive systems prevents natural foraging, running, and complex social behaviour. Stress behaviours including stereotypic pacing are documented in poorly managed facilities. The luxury leather industry that drives much ostrich farming faces particular accountability pressure because the high margins in luxury goods make welfare investment economically feasible. Brand accountability campaigns targeting luxury ostrich leather, combined with farm-level welfare standards, are the most direct welfare interventions available for this species.