Emus are farmed for oil, meat, and leather in Australia and increasingly worldwide, with welfare challenges from intensive confinement of these large, active birds with complex behavioral needs.
Farmed emus face welfare challenges from the fundamental mismatch between their natural ecology and intensive farm conditions. Birds adapted to roam kilometers daily are confined to paddocks that prevent expression of natural ranging behavior. Emus denied adequate space and enrichment become lethargic, develop stereotypic behaviors, or engage in damaging social aggression. As large birds with significant physical and cognitive needs, their welfare requirements are difficult to meet economically in intensive systems. Welfare standards for farmed emus are largely underdeveloped compared to other farmed species.