All About Emus & Ostriches

About emus and ostriches

Did you know that around the world, emus and ostriches are farmed for their skin, feathers, flesh, eggs, and oil? These two incredible species are descendants from dinosaurs, and today, they are experiencing some of the most horrific treatment as their body’s are exploited for human use.

Emus and ostriches are known as ratites, a type of bird that has a flat breastbone without a keel and is unable to fly. Ostriches are only native to Africa [1], and sadly their population has been declining in the last 200 years. Emus are only native to Australia [2]. Despite being on Australia’s coat of arms, limited research has been conducted on emus in their natural environment and little is known about the species.

The industry

Due to the small scale of the industries, slaughter statistics across the globe are difficult to find. In 2008, approximately 371,000 ostriches were killed around the world, while 5,344 emus were killed in Australia [3, 4].

In Australia, most emu and ostrich farms conduct toe-trimming [5]. Toe-trimming is a common management tool used to “improve skin quality and worker safety and reduce birds stress” [6]. Both ostriches and emus may scratch others when walking around, trying to get food and water, or during fights caused by the unnatural crowded living conditions. As a result, they develop scars which reduce their “grade” and ultimately, farmers’ profits. As a way to combat this issue, instead of reducing the stocking densities and providing the animals with a more natural environment, the industry conducts toe-trimming. When chicks are one day old, a worker uses a heated blade to amputate part of each toe and nail to prevent the nail from growing back [7]. Alternatively, they can use “sharp clean shears, a beak trimming machine, or other suitable device, angled to retain the bottom part of the last phalanx within foot pad” [8]. There is no legal requirement to give emus or ostriches anaesthetic or pain relief.

Thankfully, the live-plucking of ostriches is unacceptable in Australia, however, the white wing feathers and darker bottom feathers can be removed by cutting above the bloodline. The reason this is done before they are slaughtered is to “prevent contamination of the quality feathers during slaughtering and processing stages”. All other feathers are removed after slaughter [9] In other countries, however, live-plucking does occur. The emu standards, however, have no mention of live-plucking.

All ostriches and emus must be electrically stunned or made unconscious by a captive bolt gun before being bled out [10].Ostriches are killed at 9-12 months old, cutting their lives short by over 49 years [11]. Due to the lack of slaughter facilities in Australia for ratites, emus are being killed on-site. As these farms are not approved slaughterhouses, their flesh cannot be used for human consumption - making their lifeless bodies “waste”. The farmers instead profit off their skin, feathers, and oil. This leaves the emus vulnerable to being killed in improper ways. Emus are killed at around 12-18 months of age, although some farmers keep them for 24-30 months [12], dramatically shorter than their natural lifespan of up to 20+ years.

The environment

As outlined above, chicks and breeders may be given more room than other species who are farmed. While this is better for the animals, it is more taxing on the environment as additional land has to be cleared or fenced off to support the farm. Land clearing and removing natural habitat is responsible for a dramatic loss in natural biodiversity [13]. On top of this, the land must be cleared to grow their feed. Australian species have suffered an extraordinary rate of extinction over the last 200 years for this very reason [14].

Ostrich and emu farms are a producer of emissions and waste. Inside the sheds, waste can accumulate, which produces water vapour, heat, ammonia, hydrogen sulphide, carbon dioxide, and dust particles. [15]. An international analysis of ostrich farming found that ostrich farms produced more pollutants than chicken farms. Ostrich farms produced 5 times more CH4, 10 times more N2O, 6.8 times more NH3, and 6.5 times H2S than those of the chicken production system [16].

Emus play a pivotal role in the Australian ecosystem. They help native species regenerate, as they disperse a large quantity of seeds over large distances, and could aid remnant vegetation by maintaining the necessary mix of different plant species in an environment. One emu scat can contain 1000 seeds, and these animals can travel over 50km [17, 18]. In just 100 years after colonists invaded Australia, emu varieties in Tasmania, King Island, and Kangaroo Island were driven to extinction. Coastal populations on the north coast are in rapid decline, with less than 50 birds left in 2016 [19, 20]. Current threats to emus include native vegetation clearing for both agricultural land and development, as their homes are destroyed and there are more barriers affecting their movements, an increase in vehicle accidents, and predation from species such as dingoes, eagles, snakes and other nest raiders [21].

Our health

Studies have found that ratites should not be farmed near other birds, from waterfowl to poultry, due to their susceptibility to disease and illnesses [23]. To reduce the chance of outbreaks, farmers can add antibiotics to their feed [24, 25], and vaccinate them. Emus are vaccinated against Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, and ostrich chicks are given a clostridial vaccination [26 doc]. The standards for emus and ostriches state that “where it is proposed to slaughter ostriches/emus that have received medication, advice should be sought from professionals of relevant government agencies to ensure that there is no residue in the meat” – meaning it is not mandatory and consumers could be ingesting the medication second-hand. In Victoria, an emu farm in Kerang killed at least 3,000 adult emus and 2,000 chicks after an outbreak of avian flu [27]. With the current Coronavirus pandemic, we should be working together to change our food system to reduce the chances of any future pandemics.

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Ratite Product Alternatives

Ostriches and emus are farmed around the world for their flesh, skin, feathers, and oil. This short article will explore some of the available alternatives to each of these products!

Meat

Aside from taste, many consumers eat meat for protein. Luckily for us, there are so many alternatives, which means we do not have to support the cruelty for any of these reasons. Most food bloggers say that ostrich and emu meat taste like beef, so if you’re someone who eats meat for taste, check out our vegan ‘beef’ recipes! We’ve also put together a list of some vegan, ‘chicken’, ‘pork’, ‘lamb’, ‘seafood’, ‘egg’, ‘duck’, and ‘turkey’ recipes.

If you’d prefer whole-foods, try some of these delicious protein-rich meals or add some of nutrient-rich fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes to your daily diet.

Oil

Both ostrich and emu oil is used in cosmetics and therapeutic treatments, such as body wash, soap, creams, hair products, deodorants, and pet products. Emu oil is also consumed to treat joint and muscle pain, arthritis, rheumatism, inflammatory bowel disease, skin irritations, and burns. For cosmetic and therapeutic uses, try Greemu, a vegan alternative to emu and ostrich oil!

The reason emu oil is used for anti-inflammation is due to its high fatty acid content and omegas. You can get both of these from vegan alternatives, like hemp seed oil capsules, hemp seed oil, or with vegan omega tablets, which can help with brain function, joints, heart health, immunity, and skin.*

*Please note, we are not health professionals, and if you would like professional advice, please reach out and we can put you in contact with someone!

Skin & Leather

Ostrich and emu skin is processed in a tannery and turned into leather for bags, belts, wallets, and shoes. Thankfully, entrepreneurs from all over the globe are experimenting with different plant-based materials. Desserto, by Adrián López Velarde and Marte Cázarez use leather from cacti, Pinatex, by Dr Carmen Hijosa, transforms pineapple leaves, while other inspiring innovators use leaves, apples, cork, mushrooms, soybeans, recycled paper, and of course, recycled plastic.

When shopping online, simply search for “vegan leather” or “faux leather”. Some of the leading brands are Matt and Nat, Thamon, Kinds of Grace, and Sans Beast. Excitingly, we can expect to see more ethical brands using these materials to replace animal-skin products in the near future.

Feathers

Ostrich and emu feathers are used by the fashion industry, as well as for cleaning tools and ornaments. Feathers are one of the hardest elements to find alternatives for, due to their unique nature. Sadly, many of these products are considered “eco-friendly”, as they would otherwise be discarded by the meat industry. Thankfully, companies are working on 3D printing them! Until they are release, you could try to make your own, with this beautiful cotton feather guide.