Farmed Ostrich Welfare in Commercial Production

Ostrich farming for leather, feathers, and meat raises specific welfare challenges given the unique biology and behavior of the world largest bird.

Key Facts

Ostriches are the world largest birds, capable of running at 70 km per hour over sustained distances
Commercial ostrich farming is concentrated in South Africa, which supplies the majority of global ostrich leather
Ostriches are highly stressed by capture and handling, with stress-related mortality common during restraint
Low stocking density, visual barriers, and calm handling dramatically reduce stress in farmed ostriches
Ostrich feather harvesting can be done without killing the bird, but leather requires slaughter

Welfare Considerations

Ostrich welfare in commercial farming is shaped by the profound stress responses of these large, flighty birds to handling and confinement. Ostriches have limited capacity to habituate to human presence, and capture for veterinary or production purposes regularly causes significant stress and sometimes capture myopathy — a fatal muscle breakdown syndrome triggered by extreme exertion during restraint. Farms that minimize handling frequency, maintain low stocking densities, and use low-stress handling techniques achieve much better welfare outcomes. The luxury leather market does not automatically translate into welfare investment in ostrich farming systems.

What You Can Do

Avoid ostrich leather products given welfare concerns during production and slaughter
Support certification schemes that audit handling and slaughter practices in ostrich farming
Learn about capture myopathy risk in ostriches to understand the stakes of poor handling practices
Advocate for ostrich farming welfare standards to be developed within existing large bird frameworks