Ostrich industry in limbo

remaining birds being kept in private wildlife parks, an official said on Sunday.
Ostrich Producers’ Association of Zimbabwe (Topaz) president Mr Brendon Cutteral said that the recession being experienced throughout the world had seen prices of ostrich skin and meat tumbling.
“There is no ostrich industry to talk about. It is only left in the wildlife context,” he said.
Mr Cutterall said most abattoirs had closed and breeding of the birds had stopped, as prices that ostrich skins and meat were fetching on the international markets did not make the business viable.
“It is not a Zimbabwe problem. The market is overseas, both for the meat and skin,” he said.
Ostriches are flightless birds, with their great body size and reduced wing size rendering them incapable of flying.
They have a long neck, long bare legs and two toes. Their strong legs allow them to run up to 70km per hour when necessary, with strides of up to eight metres.
Its neck and thigh muscles are well developed and not feathered. Ostriches are raised commercially for their meat, hide and feathers.
Ostrich feathers are used for cleaning fine machinery and equipment as well as for decorations and in the fashion industry.
The quality of feathers produced from ostriches raised in Europe and North America differs from those produced in Africa. The best feathers come from the more arid regions of the world.
Ostriches produce red meat, which is very similar in taste and texture to veal and beef depending on the age at which they are slaughtered.
The skin (hide) is considered to be one of the most luxurious leathers, and some even place it on a par with crocodile and snakeskin.
Ostrich leather is thick, durable and extremely soft and can be manufactured into a variety of products, such as shoes, bags, purses and jackets. – New Ziana.