However,recently there's been more and moreinterest in the development of ostrich farming inother parts of the world,and more people arerecognising its value as a food source.Ostrich meatis slightly higher in protein than beef-and muchlower in fats and chlesterol.It tastes good too.Aseries of European tast tests found that 82% ofpeople prefer ostrich to beef.And one ostrichproduces a lot of meat - from around 30 to 50kg,mostly from the hindquarters of the bird.
Farmed ostriches don't need African climates,and infact ostrich farming is now becoming well established in other parts of theworld.However,setting up an ostrich farm isn't comething to embark on lightly.Maturebreeding birds are very expensive - even a fertilised ostrich egg isn't cheap so you need quite abit of capital to begin with.Then the farmer needs special equipment such as incubator for theeggs.The young chicks are very dependent on human minders,and need a lot of attention fromthe people looking after them.In addition,ostriches can't be intensively farmed - they needspace and exercise.