Ostriches prove their worth in harsh drought

While earnings from ostrich production have declined following the fresh meat export ban caused by the highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak, the birds remain a valuable income contributor. Glenneis Kriel spoke to farmer Jolian du Preez, who survived the tough times and is now expanding his operation.

- Glenneis Kriel

FAST FACTS

Mixed farmer Jolian du Preez rotates vegetable seed, vegetables and lucerne to break disease cycles.

Sheep and ostriches add value to land not used for vegetables or vegetable seed production.

Ostrich production requires much time and effort, but this enterprise, being more drought-resistant, has proved invaluable to Du Preez during the region’s extended drought.

When Klein Karoo farmer Jolian du Preez bought his farm, Boetie Hutties, in 2017, his primary objective was to farm vegetables, vegetable seed, ostriches and sheep.

Today, vegetable seed is his most lucrative crop, while vegetables provide a good cash flow booster by generating income over shorter time frames. The production of these commodities is limited, however, by the availability of water and land, as the crops are rotated on 50ha under irrigation.

For this reason, diversifying into ostriches and sheep has made all the difference, as they utilise the 33ha of veld and land not under vegetables or vegetable seed production to boost farm income.

“We send the ostriches into the camps, then use the sheep to clean up what the ostriches have left behind,” says Du Preez.

The ostriches, in particular, were invaluable during the drought, which had already started in the region before he bought the farm, but started affecting his operations significantly from 2019.