Emus are farmed commercially for oil, meat, and leather across Australia and North America, but welfare standards for these large ratites vary widely and their specific behavioural needs are often poorly met.
Farmed emus face welfare challenges arising from housing conditions that cannot replicate their natural ranging behaviour. High stocking densities prevent natural exploration and increase aggression. Emus are large birds that can inflict serious injuries on each other with their powerful kicks, making group management challenging. Access to dust bathing areas reduces feather condition problems. Like other ratites, emus are vulnerable to capture myopathy — a potentially fatal muscle condition triggered by intense stress during handling or restraint. Low-stress handling training for farm workers significantly reduces this risk. The emu farming industry lacks the extensive welfare research base available for mainstream poultry species.