Jan 11
18
Ostrich Meat
ostrich meat is the primary product of ostrich when ostrich farming. How much does a single bird produce? What is the colour of the meat? What are the muscles? Is ostrich just a big turkey with long legs?
This ostrich carcass illustrated is hung by the wings. It has been deskinned and eviscerated. The legs below the hock have been removed. At the time of the photo, the neck is still on, but hung on the far side of the carcass. As can be seen the majority of the meat comes from muscles on the thighs and across the back.
However, there is still +/-10 kilos of meat on the breast area. This illustrates the significant variation from poultry, where the breast meat provides the prime meat. Meat is muscle….ostrich do not fly and therefore develop limited muscle meat in the wings and breast by comparison to birds of flight.
Note the fat, white in color, down the spine and other clearly defined areas. As with poultry, ostrich do not have intramuscular fat. The majority of the ostrich fat reserve – essential for good health – is deposited on the underside of the bird as a large pad. This provides an essential source of energy for the birds at times of stress. From a commercial viewpoint, this fat pad is potentially an excellent source of revenue.
How much meat does an ostrich produce?
Currently this is extremely variable. Some slaughter birds have yields from as little as 18kgs total boneless meat, whilst others can achieve in excess of 50kgs total meat yield. There are a number of reasons for this variance, including the fact that the ostrich farming industry has not yet had sufficient commercial levels of production to support genetic improvement programs.
What is the colour of ostrich meat?
Ostrich produce a meat that is red in colour. However it must be remembered that the diet any animal is fed does influence the intensity of the meat color and the number of days it maintains that color once oxidised. In recent years packaging technologies have also influenced the time meat holds its color.
What are the Muscles?
As with all livestock providing us with meat, there are a number of different muscles. These muscles all provide meat at varying degrees of tenderness depending on where they are located on the body. The Ostrich Meat Chart identifies the different muscles.
Is ostrich just a big turkey with longer legs?
Ostrich do not have the ability to fly, so the answer is clearly no. As the illustration shows there is minimal meat (muscle) on the breast area.
Summary
A young well produced slaughter bird provides a tender red ostrich meat with a great flavor. The ostrich farmng methods used to raise ostrich will influence the meat yields, days taken to achieve commercial slaughter weights, the taste and the quality of that meat.
