Ostrich industry not burying its head in the sand

Decimated by the impact of the bird flu virus which resulted in a R4-billion trade loss, the ostrich industry has come back fighting. Since the outbreak of the flu three years ago – and the heavy restrictions imposed by the European Union (EU) which represents about 90% of all ostrich meat exports – meat prices have plummeted and it is simply not as profitable to run a farm," said CEO of the South African Ostrich Chamber of Business, Piet Kleyn. To counteract the loss of income, South African ostrich farmers have introduced a new heat-treated ostrich meat product which two producers have already begun exporting to Europe. “It has been scientifically proven that the viral bacteria is destroyed if the meat is heated up to 70 degrees celsius over a short period,” noted Kleyn. He said that the quality was just as good as the fresh or frozen variety but that it offered added benefits of peace-of-mind around food safety and convenience. “Since the meat is already partially cooked, it can be heated und consumed within minutes.” Kleyn said the industry was working with government to market the new product in Europe and ensure that ostrich meat exports were sustainable over the long-term. “Meanwhile the industry is exploring alternative export markets, such as the Far East. And we are also focusing more strongly on the domestic market,” he said. According to Kleyn, the industry has made “huge strides”, in conjunction with the department of agriculture’s veterinary sector, towards containing the outbreak over the past few years. “Outbreaks are now occurring sporadically and then manifest as low pathogen outbreaks versus the more serious high pathogens.” This is largely due to the new system of tracking which identifies each bird individually, tracking it to the farm of origin and providing regular updates on any changes to the bird’s condition. INSERT & CAPTION The industry is exploring alternative export markets. – Piet Kleyn CAPTION The ostrich farming industry is slowly recovering after taking a huge knock over the past 3.5 years due to avian influenza.