Ostriches are farmed globally for leather, feathers, and meat, with welfare challenges arising from their size, social needs, and the often-intensive conditions of commercial operations.
Ostrich welfare in commercial farming is compromised by the tension between their natural behaviors and production requirements. As large, fast-moving birds evolved for open savanna, commercial enclosures restrict movement significantly. Live feather plucking — practiced to maintain a constant supply of premium feathers — causes acute pain and distress, and the procedure is performed repeatedly throughout the bird's life. Luxury brand demand for ostrich leather drives intensive production with little welfare oversight. The environmental and social conditions of intensive ostrich farms often fall far short of species-appropriate standards. Consumer awareness of live feather plucking practices has begun to create pressure for more humane production standards.