In America there are hundreds of people who own farms or ranches. On these farms they plant crops of corn and wheat as well as other things. They also may nurture creatures like pigs, chickens, and cows. Each farm is unusual and many of them care for these creatures before they sell them off for meat or utilizing their milk for cheese or for people who enjoy to drink milk.
One form of farming that we commonly do not know about is ostrich farming. The ostrich is a flightless bird that we all know and have seen on National Geographic episodes - but rarely are they seen in person. In fact several of us cannot even imagine them being farmed and being sold for meat like cows and pigs.
The ostrich is regarded to be a free wandering livestock that do not require much care when they have reached four months old. In fact many of these farmers feel that they are one of the best environmentally friendly creatures because they do not need as much food.
More than one hundred countries have put money into these farms and have worked hard to create a living from them. In the early 1990's it was believed to be rather profitable - but not long after the business died down because there was not enough who wanted their product. Without anyone to buy them many of the farms were forced to shut down.
However, not everything is hopeless. The few ostrich farms that are still running in the US are asking the government to make things simpler for them. They believe that if the USDA were to scrutinize the meat like they do with cows or pigs then the marketing price might be lowered. Individuals would be much more inclined to purchase them if the price were set to a lower amount. But for now all they can do is wait patiently and trust that something is done speedily.
Ostriches are a type of flightless bird and are very unusual. That is why it is unusual to hear about Ostrich Farms.
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