Emus are farmed for oil, leather and meat in several countries. Their welfare requirements as large, active ratites differ substantially from conventional poultry.
Emu welfare is often poorly addressed because regulatory frameworks designed for chickens and turkeys do not account for ratite biology. Emus need large outdoor spaces, environmental complexity, social companions and opportunities for dust bathing and foraging. Intensive confinement causes severe welfare compromise including feather loss, stereotypic pacing and aggression. Pre-slaughter handling of these powerful birds requires specialist training to prevent both bird injury and handler injury. Welfare science specific to ratites is limited and represents a significant research gap.