All about ostriches
The global price of ostrich products: Hundreds of years ago, ostriches were hunted in Africa only because of their beautiful and valuable feathers, but by realizing the value of the high quality meat of this bird, as well as its very high quality skin, the value of the feathers has been placed next in importance. Today, the ostrich business has expanded in a more meaningful way and has been welcomed by livestock and poultry breeders for the following reasons:
1- The red meat of ostrich is actually similar to veal meat, with the advantage that it is similar to chicken and fish meat in terms of low cholesterol and fat, and in terms of high protein, it is compared to veal meat. Every 5 fattening chickens produce meat equal to one fattening calf.
2- The leather skin of this bird is used in the saddlery industry. The natural fat in ostrich skin makes it flexible and resistant to dryness and cracking. Ostrich skin is used in shoe and bag industries. The amount of skin of each ostrich is approximately 13 square feet (1/2 square meter), and the global price of each square foot of high-quality leather is approximately 35 dollars.
3- Ostrich feathers, which are usually plucked from the bird’s body twice a year, a total of about one kilogram of feathers is harvested per year, and each kilogram of it is bought and sold for around $1000 in the world markets, and these feathers are used in decorative works or production. Expensive brooms are used. In addition to ordinary dust, ostrich feathers can absorb all particles due to its electrostatic properties.
4- Ostrich eggs are one of the most consumed products in the world. Each ostrich egg weighs more than 1.5 kilograms, and it is about 24 normal eggs, and its taste is sweeter than eggs. African natives have been using ostrich egg as a food source and its shell as a dish (bowl) for centuries. The shell of the ostrich egg is as strong as chinaware, and artists and craftsmen paint it or decorate it with various jewels.
5- Medical uses of ostrich products are common, ostrich leg cartilage is used to replace human leg cartilage. The ostrich brain produces an enzyme that is used to treat the disease. South African ophthalmologists believe that because the structure of the ostrich eye is very similar to the human eye, and the cornea of the ostrich eye is the best choice for grafting and replacing the cornea of the human eye, it can be used for grafting, even though this operation seems strange. Considering the similar events that have happened many times in the medical world, this issue is worthy of consideration.
6- Ostrich oil is used in cosmetic industries and each ostrich sometimes produces about six liters of oil. Even though this big bird has been able to enter the markets of America, Europe, Australia, Central America and South America, China and other parts of the world, but currently Africa has taken the major part of breeding, production and export of this bird’s products.
What share do we have of this profitable global industry?
This post is written by Aryanalab