May 11
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Ostrich Farmer Payment Options for Slaughter Birds when Ostrich Farming
The first activity when starting out in ostrich farming is to identify your market as discussed in “Designing an Ostrich Farming Marketing Plan. How is the ostrich farmer raising slaughter birds and selling to a slaughter plant paid?
There are a number of different payment methods:
Slaughter Bird – based on live or deadweight: The farmer is paid a price per bird, usually based on liveweight. Over the years this has proved unsuccessful and rarely used today. Currently liveweight is only a limited guide as to the meat yield or quality of that ostrich meat. Some birds carry an extensive amount of fat and others no fat. Genetics are also extremely variable at this time. As the ostrich skin is paid on a grading system, there is no way to assess the quality of that ostrich skin while the bird is alive. This method of farmer payment does not reward the quality bird adequately.
All other payment systems currently used separate the skin and the carcass for assessing the value of the farmer payment. The skin may be retained by the farmer to sell directly or the slaughter facility will pay the farmer as discussed here and here. In some slaughter facilities where volume is sufficient, the ostrich feathers will be valued independently, but usually they are included in the price paid to the farmer for the carcass and ostrich meat.
Carcass weight: Check out the definition of an ostrich carcass.
Payment by carcass weight maybe a set amount at the same weight per kilo for all birds, or it may be split into different weight classifications for a tiered payment structure. The latter is preferable as it is much fairer to the good farmer. It also encourages production of birds carrying higher meat yields, which are cheaper to process as illustrated here and return more revenue.
Boneless meat yield: This payment is based on the weight of the saleable meat removed from the carcass. If offered payment in this way, ensure there is a very clear definition of all that is included and how it is calculated. Payment on boneless meat yield will also have a weight classification system to enable a tiered payment structure.
This tiered payment structure passes on savings made in the processing back to the ostrich farmer as he produced a better quality bird.
The left hand carcass in the photo yielded 38% more meat, therefore 38% increased meat revenue and will have cost the same to slaughter and process.
In addition to a payment structure based on yield classification, carcasses should be graded for quality. Grading will consider Bird Age, Fat Colour, Muscle colouration, Heart Condition, Liver Condition, Presence of any Disease and any other condition that is not acceptable – such as bruising.
A fair payment system is essential to ensure the success of ostrich farming and encourage ostrich farmers to produce quality birds to optimise their revenue potential.
