Farmed Ostrich and Ratite Welfare

Ostriches and other ratites are farmed for meat, leather and feathers. Their welfare needs differ significantly from conventional livestock and are poorly regulated.

Key Facts

World ostrich meat production is approximately 25,000 tonnes annually, mainly in South Africa
Ostriches can live 40-70 years in the wild but are slaughtered at 10-14 months
Their flight response is extreme: ostriches run at up to 70km/h when alarmed
Live plucking of feathers for fashion is practiced in some facilities causing significant pain
South Africa hosts approximately 90% of commercial ostrich production globally

Welfare Considerations

Ostriches are highly adapted to open arid landscapes with strong flight responses. Captivity in small enclosures causes chronic stress in these sensitive, fast-moving birds. Standard livestock handling equipment is inappropriate for ostriches whose kicks can be lethal; handling stress causes injury and cardiac events. Live feather plucking causes acute pain and is banned in some jurisdictions but persists in others. Welfare-focused ostrich farming requires large enclosures, minimal handling, appropriate social grouping and pre-slaughter protocols developed for ratite-specific physiology.

What You Can Do

Avoid fashion and decorative items using live-plucked ostrich feathers
Support regulation requiring minimum space and handling standards for ratite farming
Choose ostrich meat from certified welfare-aware producers when consuming ratite products
Engage with South African welfare organisations on commercial ostrich farming standards
Advocate for extension of live plucking bans to all feather production globally