Emus are farmed for meat, oil, and leather primarily in Australia and North America. As large, intelligent ratites with significant space requirements, their welfare demands specific attention.
Emu welfare in commercial farming requires attention to their active, curious nature and significant space requirements. As large ratites capable of running at speed, they experience frustration in small enclosures that prevent normal locomotor behavior. Group management must consider their social dynamics — emus can be aggressive and require sufficient space to avoid conflict. Enrichment through foraging opportunity, substrate variety, and novel objects engages their inquisitive nature. Slaughter welfare requires methods appropriate for their size and strength. The small scale of the emu industry means welfare regulations are largely absent, and producers operate with minimal oversight. Consumer demand for emu products with welfare certification would provide market incentives for better standards.