Dec 10
22
An Introduction to Ostrich Farming
Ostrich farming first started in the Eastern Cape, South Africa in the early part of the 19th Century. Ostrich feathers were in demand as a high value fashion item.
Soon after the Oudtshoorn area of the Klein Karroo region in the Western Cape developed large farms through the introduction of barbed wire and lucerne fields. This meant that ostrich feathers could be harvested annually rather than shooting birds for a single crop of feathers. The first exports commenced in 1838 but it took until 1863 for the industry to become truly organized. Feathers were regularly selling at more than £12 per lb (454g). To put this figure in perspective, a school teacher rarely earned more than £100 a year . The farmers became extremely wealthy, building large homes that became known as “Feather Palaces”.
Ostrich Feather Palace at Safari Ostrich Show Farm, Oudtshoorn
By 1913 ostrich feathers had become the 4th largest export from South Africa behind Gold, Diamonds and Wool. During this period ostrich were exported to Australia and the United States. With nearly all commercial shipping diverted to the war effort at the outbreak of WW1 and the advent of the motor car, the demand for feathers stopped almost overnight. With this collapse the ostrich in Australia were released into the wild.
Ostrich farming in South Africa only got started again after the end of WW2. To add value to the birds, they started to market the skins. Ostrich leather became another high value commodity, selling at high value and low volume. Single Chanel co-operative marketing system was established in 1959. Under this system only the co-operative could market ostrich products. Any farmer had to sell their birds to the co-operative. They built the first abattoir in 1964 and tannery in 1970. Prior to the building of the tannery, ostrich skins were sent to England for tanning. The single channel marketing was abolished in 1993.
The cooperative’s philosophy was to maintain production at very low levels to maintain a high price for the ostrich skins. The farmers unable to join became frustrated at this control forcing the development of ostrich farming first in Zimbabwe and South West Africa, which became Nambia in 1990 when it gained independence. These areas, along with ostrich eggs and birds of all ages were smuggled out of South Africa and became the foundation stock exported to the rest of the world. Hence the beginning of the ostrich farming industry in other parts of the world.
