Most people think of ostriches as wild animals,but in fact ostriches have been farmed in South Africa since around 1860.At first they were produced for their feathers.In Africa they were used for tribal ceremonial dress and they were also exported to Europe and America where they were made into ladies' fans and used for decorating hats.Later,feather fans and big,decorated hats went out of fashion but ostriches were still bred,this time for their hide.This can be treated to produce about half a square metre of leather-very delicate,fine stuff of very good quality.

At the same time,some of the meat was used for biltong-the air-fried strips of meat popular in South Africa as a sort of fast food.