However,recently there's been more and more interest in the development of ostrich farming in other parts of the world,and more people are recognising its value as a food source.Ostrich meat is slightly higher in protein than beef-and much lower in fats and chlesterol.It tastes good too.A series of European tast tests found that 82% of people prefer ostrich to beef.And one ostrich produces a lot of meat - from around 30 to 50 kg,mostly from the hindquarters of the bird.

Farmed ostriches don't need African climates,and in fact ostrich farming is now becoming well established in other parts of the world.However,setting up an ostrich farm isn't comething to embark on lightly.Mature breeding birds are very expensive - even a fertilised ostrich egg isn't cheap so you need quite a bit of capital to begin with.Then the farmer needs special equipment such as incubator for the eggs.The young chicks are very dependent on human minders,and need a lot of attention from the people looking after them.In addition,ostriches can't be intensively farmed - they need space and exercise.