Ratite farming for meat, leather, and feathers raises welfare concerns around social housing, transportation, and slaughter — with limited regulatory oversight in most producing countries.
Ostriches and emus are highly motivated social birds with specific behavioral needs — group living, space for running, and minimal handling. Commercial ratite farming often confines these large birds at densities incompatible with natural behavior, and transport causes significant mortality and stress. The luxury leather and feather market drives production with little consumer visibility of welfare conditions.