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Why
South Africa king of the Ostrich industry ?
One
of the main reasons for South Africa's ostrich success is the strong
development over the past +100 years, it has provided a strong foothold
in today's difficult global climate.
The
main ostrich industry in South Africa originates from a region called
the Karoo, the central high-plateau of South Africa, is surrounded
by a mountain
escarpment. This area is ideal for the farming of ostriches. In
1890 Max Rose established a trading post in the town of Oudtshoorn
in the Karoo. Rose was one of the few to start ostrich farming in
the karoo area, he later harnessed the ability to irrigate vast
areas of luerne land with canal irrigation. This method of agriculture
made it ideal for large-scale ostrich farming. The warm, dry summers
and sunny winter days made it the ideal breeding ground for the
Ostrich. The dry climate also helps curb the ostriches being susceptible
to diseases.
Over
400 ostrich farms were established with supporting agriculture infrastructure
and has spread as far a field as Port Elizabeth (Port Elizabeth
has the largest feather market hall).
Click on the below graphic to view a panarama of Oudthoorn, the
main city of the ostrich industry in the Karoo.
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