Japan’s largest ostrich farm in Ishioka City, Ibaraki Prefecture, aiming to make ostrich 4th meat in Japan

In its 3.5-hectare farm, Speedia has approximately 40 rectangular fields, each 30 to 40 meters long, to house Japan’s largest number of ostriches. In the fields, which Speedia calls paddocks, the birds with lovely big eyes and long, beautiful eyelashes were waiting for us, reporters.
Ostriches are adaptable to adverse climates like rain and snow, so you can keep them outside year-round. A baby ostrich that weighs approximately one kilogram will grow quickly to a two-meter-tall, 120-kilogram adult in approximately one year. Then, 40% of the weight can be shipped as meat.

They are highly feed-efficient birds that require only one-fifth the grain to produce one kilogram of meat compared to beef cattle. So, the farm feeds approximately two kilograms of compound feed containing corn and alfalfa hay per bird daily to grow them.

Ostriches are easy birds to raise, too. The maintenance is minimal after the initial three months of care for artificially hatched chicks. They are gentle and resistant to disease, requiring only feeding and paddock cleaning in the morning, which takes only three hours daily. Their droppings have a slight grass smell that can be sensed only at a close distance. According to Tomohiro Osaki, a 45-year-old head ostrich breeder there, taking care of droppings of adult ostriches is unnecessary, making the process even easier for workers.

In 2024, Yoshinoya served a time-limited special offering of ostrich donburi (ostrich rice bowl) at some outlets, which became popular. So, it is still on the menu at approximately 30 Yoshinoya restaurants nationwide.
Ostrich supplies many products other than meat. Their fat and feathers are used as materials for skin care products, as their ingredients are close to human skin and absorbed quickly to keep skin moisturized. Their bones can make great broth, and research is underway to develop artificial blood vessels using the carotid artery in the neck.

Toshiaki Hirata, president of Speedia, stated that the company aims to increase the number of ostriches at the farm to 10,000 while promoting meat and other products. “Ostriches are very easy to raise. We are happy to help if anyone is interested in breeding them,” he said.

An ostrich eating feed. They eat comparatively less for their weight. (In Ishioka City, Ibaraki Prefecture)