The South African Ostrich Business Chamber has denied allegations made by the National Council of the SPCA's Farm Animal Protection Unit, that ostrich-chicken's toenails are being amputated instead of being clipped.
Senior Inspector, Grace de Lange says new charges of animal cruelty will be laid against ostrich farmers and the Ostrich Business Chamber in the Western Cape.
The NSPCA recently obtained ostrich-chick toe nail samples from hatcheries and submitted them for pathology analysis.
A warning letter dated 23 March 2015 to the Ostrich Business Chamber was distributed, advising them that the current method being applied is inhumane and that such practice should cease and that criminal charges for animal cruelty will be instituted.
The industry claims clipping of the toe nails is necessary in order to prevent the scratching of the skin (leather) of other birds, which causes a loss of quality of the end product, the leather. South African Ostrich leather is exported to countries like the USA, Mexico, Europe and the Far East. Known international buyers are Domus Acadamy, in Milan, Via La Moda in Australia and Busby (Frasers) as well as trade that takes place on the well-known internet site, www.gumtree.co.za.
The NSPCA says this amputation performed on the ostriches is in contravention of the Animals Protection Act 71 of 1962 and the Code of Conduct for the Commercial Production of Ostriches South Africa, (2011). The current method is painful, causing unnecessary suffering.
