Emu's for meat?

[salshep20]

Is it worth it to raise Emu's to harvest them for meat? For my family or to sell to make a living?

 

[ColtHandorf]

Funny you should ask...lol
Emu Market Crash Google Search Results

"COLLEYVILLE, Texas —
This is how insane the emu market was a few years back, just before the Vinson family got into the business of raising flightless birds:

An unhatched chick could fetch up to $4,000. Mature breeders were being insured at more than $50,000 a pair. Microchips had to be embedded under each animal’s skin to guard against rustlers. And boosters, flush in their diamonds and denim, seemed to be at every livestock show in the nation touting the lean red flesh of this ostrich-like creature as “the meat of the future.”

This is how insane the market is today, now that the novelty has worn off and America still favors a nicely marbled sirloin:

Thousands of emus are roaming the Texas countryside, set loose by ranchers unwilling to spend another dime on feed. Hundreds of others have been allowed to starve to death, their emaciated remains found in breeding pens that once drew eager investors. And the Vinsons? They became a symbol of the industry’s frustration this year after police caught them “euthanizing” their worthless flock--with an aluminum baseball bat."

^ Excerpt from the article Emus: The Craze That Didn't Fly

And from National Geographic, What Ever Happened to Emu, The Next Red Meat

"In the 1990s, emu was billed as America’s next red meat. Environmentalists touted its eco-friendliness, nutritionists gushed over its health benefits, and chefs praised its tender meat.

But more than a decade later, emu still can’t compete with beef when it comes to space on the dinner plate.

What’s contributed to the downfall of emu farming? Insufficient marketing, farmers aging out of the business, the lack of emu-meat processing facilities, and an unstable consumer base, for starters. Like kangaroo meat, (see Kangaroo: The Next Alternative Meat?) it seems to suffer from image problems.

There are only 13,300 emus in the U.S.—a 72 percent decrease in ten years."

There are something like 29 million beef cattle alone in the U.S.

 

[salshep20]

Funny you should ask...lol
Emu Market Crash Google Search Results

"COLLEYVILLE, Texas —
This is how insane the emu market was a few years back, just before the Vinson family got into the business of raising flightless birds:

An unhatched chick could fetch up to $4,000. Mature breeders were being insured at more than $50,000 a pair. Microchips had to be embedded under each animal’s skin to guard against rustlers. And boosters, flush in their diamonds and denim, seemed to be at every livestock show in the nation touting the lean red flesh of this ostrich-like creature as “the meat of the future.”

This is how insane the market is today, now that the novelty has worn off and America still favors a nicely marbled sirloin:

Thousands of emus are roaming the Texas countryside, set loose by ranchers unwilling to spend another dime on feed. Hundreds of others have been allowed to starve to death, their emaciated remains found in breeding pens that once drew eager investors. And the Vinsons? They became a symbol of the industry’s frustration this year after police caught them “euthanizing” their worthless flock--with an aluminum baseball bat."

^ Excerpt from the article Emus: The Craze That Didn't Fly

And from National Geographic, What Ever Happened to Emu, The Next Red Meat

"In the 1990s, emu was billed as America’s next red meat. Environmentalists touted its eco-friendliness, nutritionists gushed over its health benefits, and chefs praised its tender meat.

But more than a decade later, emu still can’t compete with beef when it comes to space on the dinner plate.

What’s contributed to the downfall of emu farming? Insufficient marketing, farmers aging out of the business, the lack of emu-meat processing facilities, and an unstable consumer base, for starters. Like kangaroo meat, (see Kangaroo: The Next Alternative Meat?) it seems to suffer from image problems.

There are only 13,300 emus in the U.S.—a 72 percent decrease in ten years."

There are something like 29 million beef cattle alone in the U.S.

Is there any market left to sell them anymore in sc? Is it practical and affordable to raise me one and eat him or am I better off raising a cow and eating it

 

[ColtHandorf]

Is there any market left to sell them anymore in sc? Is it practical and affordable to raise me one and eat him or am I better off raising a cow and eating it

I'm not an expert in the field of the market for meat in South Carolina or any state for that matter, but it was certainly not a profitable business venture for most of the people who attempted it in the 90s in Texas. The first article stated that they couldn't even give the emus to slaughterhouses in Texas. It would probably be much easier to grow a steer up and eat it. The feed is more easily obtainable than emu feed at most feed stores. Fencing for emus is more complex (and expensive) than cattle fencing as well. Plus any leftover meat could be sold to cover the cost of raising the steer/s to slaughter weight.

 

[lost-duckling]

economicaly cows are better emus are just cool the only way to make money on emus is to sell the live animals but that can and did in the 90 run out of cosomer base real quik

 

[samanthaoverton]

Intriguing..

Funny you should ask...lol
Emu Market Crash Google Search Results

"COLLEYVILLE, Texas —
This is how insane the emu market was a few years back, just before the Vinson family got into the business of raising flightless birds:

An unhatched chick could fetch up to $4,000. Mature breeders were being insured at more than $50,000 a pair. Microchips had to be embedded under each animal’s skin to guard against rustlers. And boosters, flush in their diamonds and denim, seemed to be at every livestock show in the nation touting the lean red flesh of this ostrich-like creature as “the meat of the future.”

This is how insane the market is today, now that the novelty has worn off and America still favors a nicely marbled sirloin:

Thousands of emus are roaming the Texas countryside, set loose by ranchers unwilling to spend another dime on feed. Hundreds of others have been allowed to starve to death, their emaciated remains found in breeding pens that once drew eager investors. And the Vinsons? They became a symbol of the industry’s frustration this year after police caught them “euthanizing” their worthless flock--with an aluminum baseball bat."

^ Excerpt from the article Emus: The Craze That Didn't Fly

And from National Geographic, What Ever Happened to Emu, The Next Red Meat

"In the 1990s, emu was billed as America’s next red meat. Environmentalists touted its eco-friendliness, nutritionists gushed over its health benefits, and chefs praised its tender meat.

But more than a decade later, emu still can’t compete with beef when it comes to space on the dinner plate.

What’s contributed to the downfall of emu farming? Insufficient marketing, farmers aging out of the business, the lack of emu-meat processing facilities, and an unstable consumer base, for starters. Like kangaroo meat, (see Kangaroo: The Next Alternative Meat?) it seems to suffer from image problems.

There are only 13,300 emus in the U.S.—a 72 percent decrease in ten years."

There are something like 29 million beef cattle alone in the U.S.

 

[ShannonsChimkens]

Emus are more of a cool farm animal than anything. Yes they lay eggs that can be sold for a good amount (depending on where you are) but you have to have buyers for these said eggs. There aren’t enough people that want eggs, chicks or meat. Most people don’t know that they taste good, make good livestock or that they’re fun to raise.

I get the question all the time “Is that an Ostrich or something?” Most people have no clue what they are and what they’re good for. Unless they’ve watched the Liberty Mutual commercials

 

[samanthaoverton]

I wish I could have one...too bad they can't free range..

 

[ShannonsChimkens]

When it comes to raising for personal consumption, I would do it. They’re supposed to be very tasty. A couple emu chicks will cost you $400, which is a lot less than two calves. The length of time for getting adult sized birds is less than cattle. Feed is most likely about the same or less over time.

 

[salshep20]

When it comes to raising for personal consumption, I would do it. They’re supposed to be very tasty. A couple emu chicks will cost you $400, which is a lot less than two calves. The length of time for getting adult sized birds is less than cattle. Feed is most likely about the same or less over time.

Thanks a lot!