Despite a below average throughput, the Namibian Ostrich industry seems to have benefited a great deal, thanks to the ban slapped on South African ostrich exports.
Managing director of Karas Tannery and Abattoir, Frikkie Mouton told New Era in an interview that the industry currently experiences one of its brightest moments on the international market.
"We experience an increase in prices, the demand is very good," Mouton noted, adding that the industry normally slaughtered 27,000 birds for export to the international market, but could not do so this season because of problems the industry experienced in the past.
"We have only 16,000 birds available for export," he added. Mouton cited the expensive production costs among others handicaps.
"The cost to raise an ostrich chicken is too expensive." He suggested that his company's profit margins could have been much better had it not been for the high production costs.
The former managing director of AgriBank said despite the high demand for ostrich meat as well as the good prices, the industry does not earn enough money to pay for the production costs. "But, we believe that there is a cheaper way to raise ostriches."
Mouton cited the rising Rand as one of the factors that make exports more expensive.
Local and South African exporters grumble that the strength of the South African Rand against the US dollar and Euro is not good for export-oriented industries, especially for the prized ostrich leather. The industry is dependent on imported fodder feed.
Mouton noted that the industry is exposed to price fluctuations that are beyond its control. This scenario renders the industry vulnerable and the risks could only be minimized once the country produces its own fodder for poultry, ostrich and pig farming.
He noted that the former Ostrich Production Namibia factory exported 17 kg of prime cuts and 23 kg of other meat cuts from one bird.
Asked what precautionary measures have been taken for the winter season, Mouton said the farmers have to meticulously look after the health of their birds. The ostrich is susceptible to extreme weather conditions and is disease-prone in abnormal weather conditions.
As if to blow his own trumpet, Mouton said the hygienic standards of the ostrich industry in Namibia are rated very high internationally. The ostrich abattoir, situated some 25 km outside Keetmanshoop, at maximum capacity slaughters 30 000 ostriches.
The abattoir exports bone meal, ostrich hide, ostrich carcass meal and oil and the plumes.
Ostrich feathers are back in fashion in the entertainment industry, with growing demand from theatres such as the famed Moulin Rouge cabaret in Paris. The Rio carnival in Brazil uses about 15 tonnes of feathers for costumes - the equivalent of feathers from 100,000 ostriches.
The Namibian ostrich industry was presented with an ideal opportunity when the European Union imposed a ban on ostrich products from South Africa in August last year, after the avian bird flu was discovered in the country. South Africa is the undisputed world leader in ostrich products, accounting for about 80 percent of the world market.
The country boasts annual exports worth N$1.2billion. Available statistics reveal that 70 percent of the value is in leather, 20 percent in the meat and 10 percent in the plumes.
The EU ban was introduced in August after a less dangerous version of the bird flu that has devastated Vietnam was found on a farm in the Eastern Cape province and has taken a big toll on the once thriving ostrich meat trade. The ban on South African ostrich meat is expected to be lifted in June.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that Oudtshoorn deep freezers are full of ostrich meat - it is apparently too pricey for the locals.
