Ostrich industry is another feather in the cap for farms

The world's largest living bird is increasingly becoming popular among UAE national farmers in Al Ain.

The ostrich, indigenous to Africa, has been successfully adapted by some farmers in the UAE and is currently breeding in five farms in Al Sa'ad district of Al Ain.

It is fascinating scene when a flock of around 30 mighty ostriches sprint towards a caretaker at Al Khaleej Birds and Animal Farm in Al Sa'ad.

A signal by the caretaker standing at the fence of the pen is all it takes for the birds to rush for a meal of fresh foliage.

"Isn't it amazing to see how fast they run," says Sameh Mohammad Saleem, manager of the farm.

He sees an exciting opportunity for sporting activity in the birds: "Ostriches could gain popularity among racing enthusiasts as they can run at full speed even while carrying a person on its back."

Ostrich race, says Saleem, is a popular sport in many African countries.

A group of enthusiasts had, in fact, organised ostrich races in February 2002 in Al Ain and Dubai. The events received a good public response, but no efforts have been made to organise races after that.

Fun and frollic apart, the bird makes good business sense as well.

The first ostrich farm in the UAE opened in 1997 in Al Ain, with a flock imported from Namibia. "The investors had taken a big risk in introducing a new type of low cholesterol meat in the UAE," says Saleem.

Since then, ostrich meat has gradually gained popularity, especially among nationals, but not to the extent the industry would like to see.

Saleem says the market for ostrich products is not big yet, and farmers are selling the birds, their meat and eggs mainly to the visitors coming to the farms.

Growing number

"With the growing number of ostrich farms in the UAE, the day is not far off when ostrich meat and allied products would hit the supermarket shelves," Saleem says.

Ostrich meat is widely regarded as high in protein but low in cholesterol. It presents an excellent alternative to high-cholesterol meat of cows, sheep and goats, the farm manager says.

Laboratory analysis has shown that ostrich meat comprises 75 per cent water, 1.2 per cent fat, 21.7 per cent protein and 104 calories per 100 gram. "The ostrich is a unique species in many respects ... it should not be considered only as poultry," says Saleem.

A hundred grams of other poultry meat contain 60 to 90mg of cholesterol, but ostrich meat normally contains just 37mg. "This nutritional composition makes it the third best meat after fish and deer," he says.

Saleem says the apparent look of an ostrich gives the impression that it would be a difficult creature. However, it is not a demanding bird and can easily be handled. "They also only need to be fed twice a day in the morning and in the evening," he says.

Based on its appearance, scientists have included ostrich in the family of flightless birds called ratites. They are the largest birds on earth and also lay the largest eggs.

Ostrich, known scientifically as Struthio Camelus, is believed to have evolved from reptiles millions of years ago and it also has reptile-like scales on their legs and feet.

"We have more than a hundred ostriches in the pens of our Al Sa'ad farm. The experience has shown that they are immune to many common diseases," says the manager.

Despite originating from Africa, the bird's presence in the Arabian peninsula can be traced back to centuries. Ancient Arabic poetry reveals that people kept bird at home as pets.

The bird's skin is known worldwide for its durability and smoothness. It is used to make wallets, shoes and similar products. Ostrich feathers also have a variety of uses.

A female ostrich starts laying eggs when it reaches the age of two years. On average, it lays 60 eggs in a mating season. One ostrich egg, which weighs up to 2kg, is equal in weight to almost 30 chicken eggs and has almost the same taste.

Trained people

Saleem says ostrich farming is not difficult but needs trained people to oversee breeding, hatching and other issues. "This farming could be new to the UAE but has centuries-old history in some parts of the world," he says.

South Africa has been in the business of ostrich farming for more than 150 years.

In the beginning, the farming was just for feathers. The farming, however, took a new turn when ostrich hide began to be used in manufacturing leather products. It is now a well-established industry in the world and South Africa is still the major player.

"I think ostrich farming offers an opportunity to develop a range of value-added products in the UAE and deserves a serious look as a livestock diversification option," says Saleem.

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