Paper presented at the 58th New Zealand Grassland Association Conference, 21-24 October 1996, Oamaru.Ostrich are currently being promoted as an
alternative to sheep, cattle and deer. Although
current bird prices are not sustainable, New Zealand
and overseas experience to date suggest ostrich
can be farmed successfully and profitability long
term. Climate and terrain of the east coast of New
Zealand suit ostrich physical requirements. It has
been suggested that production systems will
develop in which grazed herbage will provide 60%
or more of the nutritional requirements. The ability
to graze low-cost herbage combined with a
reproduction rate of about 25 progeny per hen per
year indicate that ostrich production systems may
be three times more efficient than beef or deer at
turning feed into lean meat. The low fat and low
cholesterol meat is likely to be the primary product
and is already being sold in international markets.
There is also a market for the leather, feathers and
oil by-products