A visit with the ostriches of the Rhineland
Germany isn't the first place you'd expect to spot the distinctive black and white plumes of Africa's biggest bird. So when DW reporter Irene Banos Ruiz heard about Mhou Farm she was determined to find out more ...
Baby love
Adorable scenes like this were one my motivations for visiting Mhou Farm in the southwestern German town of Rülzheim. But once I'd been introduced to these cuties, would I be able to stomach a plateful of ostrich?
Local pride
After a journey by bike across the Rhineland's wide-open landscapes, road signs confirmed that Mhou Farm is more than just a breeding farm - it's also a tourist attraction, drawing visitors to meet and greet the exotic livestock.
Crossing continents
From the moment you enter the farm, details are perfectly arrayed to evoke the ostriches' wild home. A palate of browns and greens invites visitors to step into an imagined Africa, where the world's biggest bird is the star of the show.
Close encounter
And finally, face-to-face with the main attraction. Up close, they have something of a dinosaur feel about them: Long spindly legs, a round body fluffed up with feathers, and a winding neck leading to a peculiar little head. Their default expression isn't exactly friendly. More like they've just gotten a whiff off stale Limburger cheese.
Ostrich mother
Uschi Braun cares for the birds almost every day, whether rain or shine. Braun took time out of her busy schedule to tell me about Mhou Farm's history: Braun and her husband Christoph Kistner fell in love with the strange birds more than two decades ago. After visiting several farms in South Africa, they decided to start their own feathered family back home.
Bed time!
Cuddly as they look, I had to make do with viewing the chicks through a window, as they are brought in to settle down after an exciting day exploring the great outdoors. But as the parent of any baby learning to walk won't be surprised to hear, sleep doesn't seem to interest them much. It's exhausting just watching them!
From sweet to meat
For all their energy, one day the chicks will end up on someone's plate. At about 10 months old, they're driven to the slaughterhouse by night. When they return to Mhou Farm, they do so packaged and ready to cook. But their meat doesn't come cheap - these steaks cost around 25 euros apiece.
Fancy a taste?
The tender ostrich meat raised at Mhou Farm can be sampled at the on-site restaurant, in a range of exotic organic dishes. Braun and Kistner also suggest recipes to prepare at home - think of it as the latest word in German speciality cuisine.
Nothing wasted
Just about every part of the giant bird seems to find its way into the Mhou Farm shop. The feathers make luxurious dusters, the fat is used in cosmetics, the skin for leather products, and a huge ostrich egg makes a striking ornament. Braun and Kistner also sell products from artisan cooperatives in South Africa.
Don't be a stranger
My day at the ostrich farm was certainly an eye-opener. Is it ethical to keep these formidable African birds captive in Germany? That's a debate which is likely to go on for some time. But if you're ever in Rülzheim, Uschi and Christoph will be happy for you to come visit, and make up your own mind.