Worldwide Slaughter Program
The Ostriches On Line Worldwide Slaughter Program is a unique program which is available to any farmer or breeder in any country in the world who purchase our high-pedigree African Black domesticated ostriches.

The Ostriches On Line Worldwide Slaughter Program is also available to all our clients in the Ostriches On Line Grow Out Program.

How do we offer such a program?
To give you some background information into our operations, Ostriches On Line:

• Own ranches where we breed, raise and grow high-pedigree African Black domesticated ostriches through the Ostriches On Line Grow Out Program
• Process our own meat and distribute it worldwide through our distributors and wholesalers in the Worldwide Ostrich Meat Distribution Program
• Tan our own hides, manufacture leather goods and distribute them through wholesale ostrich product distribution
• Offer a written contract to purchase all your offspring which is part of the Worldwide Guaranteed Buy Back Program
• Provide full training, seminars, videos and handbooks for all aspects of ostrich husbandry for farmers when you join the All you need to start an Ostrich Farm and Ostrich Farm Training Seminars Programs

As these programs are already in place, we are always in constant need of slaughter birds due to the ever-increasing demand for our ostrich meat.

Currently, we process thousands of birds per year around the world in many different abattoirs. With an average meat yield of 75 pounds, this equates to a considerable annual volume and it is ever-increasing.

When the birds are processed, the meat is sold to the USA domestic meat markets and our international markets through the Worldwide Ostrich Meat Distribution Program and we are planning to double production over the next year.

We have established a market, and we know the continual demand is there. With the current market trend toward a healthy red meat alternative, new genetic lines are necessary to secure a healthy, stable product.

In combination with line-breeding (selective breeding), a bird can be developed that is most suited for slaughter.

The bird of preference is a male, 10 to 12 months of age, weighing at least 250 pounds with a grow-out cost of less then $100 (US).

These selective slaughter birds are produced from high-pedigree African Black domesticated ostriches with ease (60% - 65% of all chicks are male), so we have already developed selective traits that produce a very economical alternative to other livestock.

Current trends in South Africa call for the birds to progressively reach slaughter weight at a younger age with less feed.

According to Peter Cunningham, an ostrich breeder and consultant in Zimbabwe, a bird that is 100kg (225 lbs.) live weight with a hide of 13 sq. ft, is considered to be ready to slaughter in South Africa.

Through selective breeding, South Africans have been able to reach this goal more economically in the past few years:

• 1991 slaughtered at 14 months --- 670 kg feed
• 1992 slaughtered at 9 months --- 430 kg feed
• 1993 slaughtered at 8 months --- 370 kg feed

Obviously these figures have a long way to go before reaching the ideal 1.5:1 feed conversion ratio. However, the efforts put forth to achieve the ideal slaughter bird have only just begun.

In South Africa, the threat of competition has prompted better management processes. In the USA, the population has only recently reached a point to make slaughtering feasible.

Another important consideration in raising birds to slaughter age is the cost of feed. When ostriches were commanding high prices, feed cost was of little consideration.

With the profit margin decreasing, many farmers are seeking alternatives to feeding pelleted feed exclusively. Several new feed products are emerging that can be mixed with locally purchased alfalfa and corn to make a complete feed at a reduced cost.

An exceptional reference book which covers all aspects of Ostrich and Ratite feeding is the Ratite Feed Book. By copying worldwide the Ostriches On Line Slaughter Program is now available and the criteria we require for your slaughter birds are:

• Under 14 months old
• Weigh 225 lbs or more
• Are free from 30 days medication
• Not feather pecked or have lesions to the hide
• Are in generally good physical condition

Then we will pay the going market rate for all birds delivered to the facilities we specify.