Ostrich farming is practiced on several continents for meat, leather, and feathers. The welfare challenges unique to this large, semi-wild species deserve more attention.
Ostriches retain many behavioral drives from their wild ancestors, requiring large spaces, varied terrain, and social companionship. Inadequate space causes stereotypic pacing and feather pecking. Inappropriate social groupings cause severe aggression injuries. Live feather plucking, where practiced, causes acute pain and stress with inadequate justification. Loading and transport of ostriches is notoriously stressful and carries high mortality risk from injury and heat stress. Welfare science specific to ostriches is underdeveloped compared to traditional livestock.