Ostrich, a red meat, is lower in calories, cholesterol and fat than skinless chicken while remaining high in iron and protein. Various ostrich meat items will be sold from its four outlets and 50 sales partners around the valley.

The company, which started commercial ostrich farming in Rupandehi district seven years ago, has targeted selling 500 kg of ostrich meat daily in the valley.

According to Ostrich Nepal, the bird’s meat with bone costs Rs1,110 per kg and without bone Rs1,700 per kg. Tenderloin has a price tag of Rs2,500 per kg. The company has launched an introductory offer under which customers get a discount of Rs200 per kg which they can redeem on the next purchase.

“As ostrich meat has been gaining popularity among health conscious red meat lovers in Nepal and the world, we started ostrich farming in 2008. We are now ready to sell our products in Kathmandu,” said CP Sharma, founder and managing director of the company.

Ostrich Nepal’s products are also available in department stores like Saleways, Stuti Mero Mart and Namaste Supermarket besides various meat marts located in Jawalakhel, Patan, Kumaripati and Jhamsikhel, among other locations.

“We received an encouraging response from customers even before the launching,” said Sharma. He added that demand had been increasing because ostrich meat is rich in omega

3, 6 and 9 and protein and has a low saturated fat content of 0.5 percent.

“The people’s food habits have been changing day by day, they want to try different food items having the taste of world class meat, and it is a delicious feast for meat lovers. On the other hand, it is a healthy meat too,” said Sharma. The company currently has more than 4,000 birds and has a capacity of slaughtering 100 weekly. It has an investment of Rs1 billion and conducts breeding, slaughtering, processing and packaging on 150 bighas of land.

“We have started contract farming with the aim of benefiting local farmers, and 700 farmers are associated with us. They supply fodder and feed for the ostriches,” added Sharma.

According to Sharma, an ostrich chick takes three to four years to grow fully and has a maximum life expectancy of 80 years. The company aims to sell ostrich meat worth Rs5 billion by 2018. Ostrich Nepal maintains outlets in Gongabu, Maharajgunj, Chabahil and Tinkune.