CALGARY (Staff) – Ostrich producers are anxious to move to the next phase of their industry – quality breeding, says the president of the Alberta Ostrich Association.
Up to now ostrich farmers were bird multipliers, not breeders, said Esper Espersen.
“The true breeder market will be developed a lot more to its potential. We have to start culling birds out because not every chick that hits the ground is a breeder bird,” said Espersen.
Last spring a steering committee was established to find slaughter plants willing to process the birds. Federally inspected plants at Warburg, Edmonton and Innisfail were contacted. Agriculture Canada also agreed to help plants set up a procedure for handling the birds.
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In order to supply the commercial meat market, thousands of birds are necessary. In Canada there are only 8,000 birds, of which half are in Alberta, he said.
“If we can show (the packing plants) where we can get enough numbers where it pays them to set up specifically for a kill at a certain time per month, I’m sure something can be arranged.”
Espersen isn’t sure ostrich meat will ever be available in retail stores. It may always remain a specialty item in high-end restaurants.
Last year, a three-month-old ostrich pair cost $12,000 to $15,000. Today those birds would sell for about $5,000, which Espersen said is more realistic.
He predicts the industry splitting into various specialities of purebred breeders, people in the hatchery business and others supplying birds for the commercial meat and byproducts market.
