Ratite farming — emus and ostriches farmed for meat, leather, and feathers — presents distinct welfare challenges for large, active birds with strong wild behaviour motivations.
Ratite welfare sits in a regulatory gap between poultry welfare — which applies in some jurisdictions — and large animal welfare — which applies in others. Ostriches and emus are large, cognitively complex birds with strong motivations for running, foraging, and social behaviour that commercial farming systems rarely accommodate well. The live feather plucking practised in the fashion industry causes acute welfare harm that has been documented by welfare organisations and has prompted some brand commitments to avoid ostrich feathers. Slaughter welfare for ratites is poorly regulated and poorly monitored; the combination of large animal size, flight response, and unfamiliar handling systems creates conditions for severe pre-slaughter welfare compromise. Consumer awareness of ratite welfare is low, making informed purchasing decisions difficult without better supply chain transparency.