Ratites including emus and ostriches are farmed globally for meat, leather, and feathers, but welfare science for these species remains limited compared to conventional livestock.
Farmed ratites occupy an unusual position: they are large, stress-sensitive birds with complex behavioural needs who are often managed using practices developed for conventional poultry or livestock. The consequences of handling ratites poorly can be severe — capture myopathy, where muscles break down following intense stress, can be fatal. Social housing is important as ostriches and emus are naturally group-living species and isolation creates chronic stress. The practice of plucking feathers from live birds for luxury fashion markets is a clear welfare concern that has attracted increasing scrutiny. Welfare standards for ratite farming are underdeveloped compared to other farmed species, and the industry would benefit from species-specific research and regulation.