Ostrich farming supplies the global leather and feather markets, primarily in South Africa. The welfare of the world's largest birds in intensive farming systems presents unique challenges.
Ostriches are large, highly mobile birds adapted to open savanna ranging. Intensive feedlot confinement prior to slaughter restricts natural movement, social behavior, and foraging opportunities that are central to ostrich behavioral needs. Feather harvesting on live birds adds an additional welfare cost. The primary market driver — luxury leather — has both the consumer demographics and the profit margins to support higher welfare sourcing, making producer engagement with welfare certification viable. But meaningful improvement requires both regulatory minimum standards and consumer demand signals.