Ostrich farming has potential economic benefits for Pakistan but is currently hindered by regulations classifying ostriches as wildlife. The document argues that ostriches should be classified as livestock based on opinions from experts in wildlife conservation and agriculture. Doing so would encourage ostrich farming in Pakistan and help address future meat demand and export opportunities while benefiting related industries. Immediate action is needed to classify ostriches as livestock to develop the ostrich farming industry in Pakistan.

1. IFI Consultants - MOC - Division of IFI
Consultants
MOC Sponsors:
Mr. Shahid J. Kazi - President
Mr. Umar Sultan - Head Operations
Mr. Azhar Khan Burki - Head Project
Farms:
Principal Office: 7B, LDA Homes, Block D, 1 - Badian Road, Behind DHA Phase V,
New Muslim Town, Lahore – 54600, Pakistan Natha Singh Wala Village, Lahore,
Pakistan
Pabx: +92 42 3583 1134- 36
Fax: +92 42 3586 5956 2 - Chak# 22/10R – Rajawala
Dir: +92 42 35864724 Mian Chanu, District Khanewal, Pakistan
Cell: +92 321 442 6632
E-mail: sjkazi@moc-ifi.com 3 -V.P.O Sanghoi, Tehsil & District
Web: www.moc-ifi.com Jehlum, Pakistan

2. MOC- Sponsors Profile
Mr. Shahid J. Kazi - President:
In addition to being a Chartered Accountant and a law graduate with professional
experience spreading over almost 30 years Mr. Kazi has also been the CEO of a public
limited company which was active in agri products across Pakistan; where he was also
instrumental in experimenting modern scientific techniques such as tissue culture
farming on sugar cane etc. He has also headed the operations of the first mega
departmental store “under one roof” in Pakistan. The store managed sale of poultry in
addition to more than 150 small and 15 large heads on a daily bases; along with
managing a company owned abattoir maintaining a cold chain.
Mr. Umar Sultan – Head Operations:
In addition to being a finance masters having spent 11 years in New York, He belongs
to a farming family with presence in north and south Punjab. As you may be aware that
south Punjab is the back bone of Pakistan’s agriculture with its fertile land and
irrigation – canal system. His educational and professional experience in USA is
enabling him to think outside the box.
Mr. Azhar Khan Burki – Head Project:
An entrepreneur and an ex-professional cricket player; he has been associated with
different lines of trade in Zimbabwe, South Africa and USA. Part of his family is also
settled in Zimbabwe where he spent almost 25 years.

3. Case for
Classification of
Ostrich as Livestock in
Pakistan

4. Ostrich Introduction
• A hardy desert bird tolerant to temperature from
-2°C to 55 °C
• Favoured by the Prophet (SAW) for its quality
halal meat
• Much sought after for its quality meat and valuable
skin
• Economically viable:
• breeding lifecycle of over 40 years
• reaching adulthood within a year
• Less susceptible to diseases as compared to
other livestock and poultry
• A worthy candidate for biodiversity and best option
for organic agriculture

5. Ostrich Characteristics
• Feed Conversion Rate (FCR) is better than
livestock and comparable versus poultry
• More efficient feed cost and higher growth rate to
livestock while comparable with poultry
• Negligible cost of medicines, vaccines and housing
when compared with control sheds for livestock
and poultry
• Immune system is much stronger than livestock
and poultry
• Its valuable skin is globally sought after
• It gains upto 200 times its birth weight within a year
• It lays 40 - 100 eggs in a season

6. Other Characteristics
Ostrich Oil
High in Omega 3, 6 and 9, the skin loving essential Fatty
Acids. Research indicates that essential fatty acids,
facilitate the healing of wounds and is a muscle relaxant.
Ostrich Feather used for :
• The colorful industrial / daily-use feather dusters
• Fashionable wear – hats and caps

8. Ostrich Meat
• Ostrich meat is red meat, similar in colour and taste to
undercut beef
• It is healthy meat lower in:
• Cholesterol,
• Calories and
• Fat
Slaughtered at
MOC Farm
• Higher in iron

9. Nutrient Comparison
Nutrient Comparison
Species Meat- Choleste Calories Fat - g Iron(mg) Protein
description rol(mg) - kcal %
Ostrich Cut Comp 81 142 3.0 3.2 26.9
Beef Tenderloin 83 209 10.5 3.0 28.1
Chicken Whole no 89 190 7.4 1.2 28.9
skin
Lamb Loin Chop 95 215 9.4 1.2 30.4
Source USDA Agriculture hand book#8 and Nutrition Associates of Florida, USA

10. Global Farming
Ostrich farming originated from Africa. South Africa
specializes in farming since over 150 years and today is
the largest producer of ostriches in the world
Though Ostriches are not indigenous to Australia, USA,
China, Iran, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia and India, yet,
Ostrich Farming is flourishing in these top ranking
countries at very impressive rate and generating high
returns for these economies

11. Export Potential - Meat Consumption Gap
(000 Tons)
Country Production Consumption GAP
Egypt 440,000 533,000 93,000
Saudi Arabia 25,630 75,630 50,000
UAE 9,500 43,185 33,658
Oman 4,148 18,000 13,852
Bahrain 1,440 4,600 3,220
Source ; World trade Atlas

12. Ostrich Farming in Pakistan
At present more than three dozen farmers are raising the birds on
small scale
Muflihon Ostrich Company - MOC in Pakistan :
MOC a division of IFI – Consultants, with a humble beginning,
set out on this journey in November 2010 . We have since
imported 150, day old quality cross breed birds from Australia &
also acquired 50 plus breeders; some of them have started laying
eggs which were set in our incubator, placed with the University
of Veterinary Sciences, Lahore – UVAS
MOC Team:
Mr. Shahid J. Kazi - President
Mr. Umar Sultan - Head Operations
Mr. Azhar Khan Burki - Head Project
Dr. Ghulam Rasoul - Project Supervisor
Ms. Rubina Yasmeen - Research Associate

13. Fortnight Old Ostrich Chicks MOC - FARM

14. Six Months Old Ostrich MOC - FARM

15. Male Breeders MOC - FARM

16. Female Breeders MOC - FARM

17. Economic Benefits of Ostrich Farming
in Pakistan
Ostrich Meat - Healthy meat for consumers
New exotic meat outlets
New slaughter houses
Meat export potential
Poultry Feed industry - Additional specialized feed
consumption
Ostrich Skin - Boost Leather industry
Increase volume of value added
leather products
Ostrich Feathers- Enhance Fashion industry
Oils- Basic raw material for new
pharmaceutical industry
Medical Benefits- Eye treatment (cornea transplant
to human)

18. Meat Consumption GAP in Pakistan
The meat demand for Pakistan domestic market
is growing at a rate of 2.73% for beef, 2.90% for
mutton and 6.10% for poultry
This domestic demand is growing faster than the
population growth rate (000 tons)
Products 2003 2020
Supply Demand Gap Supply Demand Gap
Beef 1,050 1,210 160 1,430 3,740 2,310
Mutton 700 800 100 1,030 2,500 1,470
Source: http://www.sbi.gos.pk/pdf/sector-brief-meat.pdf

19. Principle Problem of Ostrich Industry
In pursuance of the Punjab Wildlife Act 2007,
the Department has claimed a fee of Rs 5,000
per day old Ostrich chick imported into Pakistan.
This is under the pretext that Ostrich is an Exotic
bird defined as “…wildlife species not native to
Pakistan…” and hence it is classified in the
“Others” categories in the schedule of charges in
the Punjab Wildlife Act 2007.
THIS IS A MAJOR OBSTACLE IN GROWTH
OF THIS INDUSTRY IN PAKISTAN

20. Opinions ….
1. World Wildlife Fund - WWF
“……WWF PAKISTAN HAS NO
OBJECTION IF THE OSTRICH IS
CATEGORIZED AS LIVESTOCK AND
NOT WILDLIFE….”.

21. Opinions ….
2. CITES – Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species
OSTRICHES IN PAKISTAN ARE NOT INCLUDED IN ANY OF THE
APPENDICES OF CITES
Appendices
I II III
Common name: Ostrich
Scientific name: Struthio
Nil Nil
camelus
Distribution: Australia, Africa
CITES listing: Appendix I
(only populations of Algeria,
Burkina Faso, Cameroon, the
Central African Republic,
Chad, Mali, Mauritania,
Morocco, the Niger, Nigeria,
Senegal and the Sudan)

22. Opinions ….
3. Animal Husbandry Commissioner-
Ministry of Livestock & Dairy Development Government of Pakistan
“……Ministry of Livestock & Dairy
Development is of the considered view that
Ostrich farming for meat purpose may be
treated as an alternate and equivalent to
poultry farming on the basis of the fact that
Ostrich has become domesticated and its
commercial farms have been established all
over the world including Pakistan. Therefore,
the Ostrich may be justifiably considered as
part of livestock and poultry…”

23. Opinions ….
4. Vice Chancellor UVAS, Lahore
“….there are number of people who are
involved in organized ostrich farming in
Pakistan. Declaring this avian species as
domesticated livestock ( which traditionally
includes avian species) will exempt the
importer and farmers from various levies
imposed by wildlife department. Therefore, it is
suggested that department of L &DD may
adopt appropriate, measures for classifying
ostrich as domesticated livestock .”

24. Required Immediate Action for
the Nation
OSTRICH FARMING INDUSTRY
NEEDS TO BE
TREATED AT PAR
WITH LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY INDUSTRY
TO BE
ENCOURAGED IN PAKISTAN

25. Summary
• Ostrich Introduction
• Ostrich Characteristics
• Other Characteristics
• Ostrich Meat
• Global Farming
• Export Potential -Meat Consumption Gap
• Ostrich Farming in Pakistan
• Economic benefits of Ostrich farming in
Pakistan
• Meat consumption Gap in Pakistan
• Problems of Ostrich Industry in Pakistan
• Opinions- WWF, CITES, L & DD, VC- UVAS
• Required Immediate Action for the Nation