Four Saskatchewan ostrich producers are appealing a recent judgment against New-Life Feeds, hoping to increase the amount of compensation awarded to them.
Greg Anderson, who now lives near Red Deer, said he lost 400 birds at his farm near Rosetown, Sask., because of problems with feed supplied by New-Life Feeds.
New-Life was found negligent in the case, which dates back to 2001, and was ordered to pay $100,000 in damages.
It is also appealing the decision but declined to comment further on the case.
Anderson said his loss is worth double the damages awarded, which do not reflect the true value of the ostriches lost.
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The group is seeking $3 million.
“The damages are a joke,” Anderson said of the judgment rendered in the summer of 2006.
Birds had stunted growth and weak bones, osteoporosis, rickets and bone abnormalities that led to numerous breaks in the wings and legs.
Anderson suspects problems with mixing the feed because some samples that were tested contained high volumes of selenium while others did not.
He is upset over how long the case took to get to court and how devastating it was to the producers involved. Only one producer actively farms ostriches today.
The four farms lost 800 birds.
