Ostriches and Rheas: Meat, Leather, Oil and Feathers — How to Explore the Farming of Ratitas in Brasil

The ratites — ostriches and rheas — are the largest birds in commercial farming, with high-value products in multiple markets: meat with a beef-like flavor and chicken-like fat, leather more durable and valued than cattle leather, oil with unique dermatological properties and feathers for fashion and decoration.

The ostrich produces 4 to 6 eggs per month — with each egg worth R$ 30 to R$ 80 in decoration and gastronomy. Ostrich meat has zero cholesterol, high iron content and a flavor that wins over premium restaurants. Ostrich leather is the most valued in the world — with an ostrich leather handbag costing R$ 3,000 to R$ 30,000.

When ostriches and rheas are raised with professional management and their products are marketed with identity (brand/certification), the economic sustainability of the activity, the final quality of the products and productive efficiency improve significantly. This segment can contribute greatly to job and income generation in Brazil.

Participate in our strategic actions to implement the best solutions in the Brazilian agricultural sector. Our activities, studies and advanced research cover 20 value chains and the 255 segments of the national agribusiness — from the grain chain to sustainable extractivism, including horticulture, fruit growing, livestock and much more.

The series Innovation for Brazil to Produce More was developed precisely to identify and implement the best solutions available in Brazil and worldwide, across the 255 segments of the agricultural sector — with accessible technical language, up-to-date data and a focus on practical results for producers, suppliers, policymakers and marketers.

1. Opportunities for Small Rural Producers

How to raise ostriches and rheas with efficient management and multiple products

The ostrich is a hardy bird with low feeding costs — it consumes 2 to 3 kg of feed per day and grazes in extensive areas. Females begin laying at 2 years and produce for 30 to 40 years — one of the animals with the greatest productive longevity in livestock.

✔ Extensive management in paddocks of 0.5 to 1 ha/animal

✔ Feeding: pasture + feed with 18% protein

✔ Artificial incubation of eggs — specific incubator

✔ Slaughter at 12 to 14 months — meat of maximum quality

✔ Registration with IBAMA — mandatory for commercial breeding

The E-Book 01 — Strategic Manual for the Small Rural Producer presents, in detail, the best solutions for the segment and the other 254 segments of Brazilian agriculture — focusing on method, cost reduction and progressive growth from Agro 1.0 to Agro 6.0. Access now for R$ 50 →

2. Opportunities for Micro and Small Local Suppliers

What equipment ratite farming requires

Ratites require high fences, specific incubators and specialized processing — with cold rooms for meat and tanneries for leather.

Solutions by engineering area applied to the segment

Our activities, studies and advanced research cover six major engineering areas — and the chain requires solutions in all of them:

Electrical Engineering and Computing — incubators for ostrich eggs;

Electronic Engineering and IoT — temperature and humidity sensors for incubation;

Control and Automation Engineering — automatic egg turners;

Mechatronics and Robotics Engineering — 1.8m high fences;

Renewable Energy Engineering — solar for incubators;

Data Science and Artificial Intelligence — batch management and IBAMA registration.

✔ Specific incubators for ostrich eggs

✔ 1.8m high fences

✔ Cold rooms for ostrich meat

✔ IBAMA registration and license for breeding

✔ Tannery for ostrich leather

The E-Book 02 — Strategic Guide for the Micro and Small Local Supplier maps, segment by segment, the business opportunities — focusing on IoT, energy, automation and specialized technical services. Access now for R$ 150 →

3. Opportunities for Municipal Governments

How the municipality can support ratites and create an alternative breeding hub

Raising ostriches and rheas is the alternative livestock project with the greatest visual and tourist impact — with ostrich farms being tourist attractions that bring visitors and sales of premium products.

✔ Ratite breeding program for diversifying ranchers

✔ Municipal IDM: exotic birds raised with registration as an indicator

✔ Ostrich farm as a rural tourism spot

✔ Ostrich Festival — identity and gastronomy

✔ Partnership with restaurants for premium meat

The E-Book 03 — Reference Guide for Municipal Governments presents the step-by-step so that municipal secretaries and managers implement effective public policies for the 255 segments of agribusiness. Access now for R$ 450 →

4. Opportunities for Small Agricultural Product Retailers

How ostriches and rheas generate business for fashion, gastronomy and tourism

Tanned ostrich leather is the luxury material with the greatest differential per m² in fashion — with ostrich leather bags and shoes reaching R$ 3,000 to R$ 30,000 in Brazilian luxury stores. The tanner who masters the process gains access to the country's most exclusive fashion market.

Grilled ostrich meat in premium restaurants is priced at R$ 60 to R$ 120/serving — with a beef-like flavor, zero cholesterol and an exotic narrative that high-end gastronomy customers love.

Products with high commercial potential

The main products derived from this segment for local retail and foodservice:

Premium ostrich meat— gastronomy; zero cholesterol;

Tanned ostrich leather— luxury fashion; R$ 3,000 to R$ 30,000/piece;

Ostrich oil for cosmetics— dermocosmetics;

Decorative ostrich eggs— R$ 30 to R$ 80/unit;

Ostrich feathers for decoration— fashion and decoration;

Ostrich farm tourism— rural attraction;

Profiles of retailers and their specific opportunities

✔ Premium restaurants: ostrich meat for haute cuisine

✔ Fashion designers: ostrich leather for premium handbags

✔ Cosmetics: ostrich oil for dermatological creams

✔ Rural tourism: ostrich farm as an attraction

✔ Exporters: leather and oil for the European market

✔ Specialty stores: ostrich products with farm identity

Growth strategies for the local retailer

The ostrich breeder who diversifies into tourism + gastronomy + leather has three premium revenues from the same animal — and tourism generates recurring income without the need for sale or slaughter.

PRONAF and Pronampe cover facilities. SEBRAE subsidizes IBAMA registration and market access.

The E-Book 04 — Strategic Guide for the Small Retailer of Agricultural Products maps 30 retailer profiles and details growth opportunities across all 255 segments of agribusiness. Access now for R$ 150 →

Network of Innovation and Technology

By purchasing any e-book in the series, you become a member of our Network of Innovation and Technology. Members who form groups can organize in-person strategic planning events to identify and implement the best solutions available in Brazil and worldwide. The minimum number of members varies according to the group's profile:

✔ Small Rural Producers: 100 members

✔ Micro and Small Supplier Companies: 33 members

✔ Municipal Governments: 10 members

✔ Small Agricultural Product Retailers: 33 members

⭐ Special offer: I will provide a 100% discount on the value of my hourly rate for the first 10 events held in Brazil, scheduled and confirmed by March 31, 2026.

Sincerely,

Ivo Alves

CEO · Master in Electrical Engineering and Computing · Specialist in Innovation and Technology Project Management

Teaching experience: IFPB and UFRN · 38 years of engineering experience