Ostriches are farmed for leather, feathers, and meat in South Africa and other countries, with welfare concerns about confinement of large, highly mobile birds.
Ostrich welfare in farming is compromised by the mismatch between their natural ranging behavior and the confinement of farm paddocks. Feather plucking from conscious birds causes acute distress evidenced by behavioral responses. Luxury brands sourcing ostrich leather bear responsibility for auditing welfare conditions throughout their supply chains. Consumer awareness of ostrich farming welfare is generally very low.