AAU runs down revenues with ostrich farming

The Arid Agriculture University (AAU) Rawalpindi, a Pakistan-based institution focused on agriculture, wildlife, and animal sciences, is looking to turn its academic resources into revenue with the launch of an ostrich farming project.

While the university itself is only using its hatching and incubation facilities for research purposes at present, it has said that it will provide training and support to anyone interested in farming the birds. Nasir Mukhtar, who is in charge of the Station for Ostrich Research and Development at the university, reckons that farming the imported birds could generate substantial revenues if supported by the government at the national level, which classified the imported birds as farm animals in 2011.

While the climate of Pakistan would mean chicks would have to be kept warm, fully grown ostriches would be perfect for farming in the country. Mukhtar noted that Ostrich skin is in high demand in international markets, that the birds are resistant to disease, and supply both plenty of meat and eggs.