The Sobolevsky family from the Vitebsk region raises ostriches on their household plot

In principle, ordinary ostriches are no longer a surprise for Belarusians. These birds are bred on special farms, and the owners of some agro-tourism estates also use these African birds to attract tourists. But to have someone raise "exotic" birds in their yard just like ordinary chickens, ducks, or geese, I had never heard of it before meeting the Sobolevsky family from the village of Lyubovo.

Alena and Oleg were born in the village of Kopti and have been used to working the land since childhood. The head of the family can be called a hereditary farmer; his parents were professionally involved in agriculture, and afterward, they "inherited" their business to their son along with the land. The young family successfully continued the labor dynasty. They cultivated a considerable-sized garden and engaged in animal husbandry, focusing on pig breeding. They sold surplus products at the market in the regional center. They built their own house and landscaped the adjacent plot. In general, as they say in fairy tales, they lived happily ever after until disaster struck – African swine fever. The Sobolevsky farm is located within a five-kilometer zone from the pig complex, so they had to forget about raising pigs.

– My husband decided that we would raise poultry, we bought adult geese, small ducklings, and soon the idea came to try something exotic, – Alena says.

– We hesitated for a long time, ostriches are not cheap. Young birds then cost about a hundred dollars each, and larger birds cost up to two hundred, – Oleg continues.

As a result, the Sobolevskys bought about 30 young African birds. They traveled to a farmer in Mozyr to get them. As an experienced ostrich breeder, he gave the beginners a short briefing and provided them with the necessary literature.

– Ostriches have very weak legs; they grow quickly, and their limbs sometimes cannot support their weight, and their knees often get injured. We have to treat them ourselves, as it is difficult to find a veterinarian who specializes in such large birds. A day's ration for an ostrich is about three kilograms of compound feed, vegetables, and grass. Because they also eat forage from the ground, it is necessary to carry out parasite prevention. The medications are expensive,

finding them here is not an easy task," shares the yard owner, detailing the problems. Therefore, dreams of large-scale ostrich farming had to be abandoned.

"There is no market. There is no particular demand for exotic meat in our market. Stores need regular, constant supplies, and by the time we raise them, deliver them... To sell meat, for example, in Russia, it is necessary to prepare a large package of documents, go through numerous instances, and in the end, it turns out that the game is not worth the candle. So we raise ostriches more for ourselves," admits Oleg.

Now, there are about ten African birds left in the Sobolewski household, more than half of them males.

"We haven't tried ostrich eggs yet, but we hope to succeed in the near future," says Alena.

However, the owner can boast of recipes for successful dishes made from the dietary meat:

"In taste, it resembles veal, game, or turkey. For minced meat for cutlets, it's better to add pork to it, so they turn out juicier. Roasts with vegetables and gravies are excellent. It will be tasty if the meat is simply fried with salt and pepper, and then stewed over low heat."

The family also has amusing stories associated with their exotic pets. Oleg now smiles as he recalls how he once had to search for and herd ostriches that had escaped from their enclosure and scattered throughout the forest. Back then, there was no time for laughter: try finding a frightened bird in a dense thicket and figuring out how to lure it home. Sometimes guests come to see the exotic birds: neighbors, acquaintances, and sometimes strangers who have accidentally learned about the unusual farm.

"Everyone first asks if ostriches hide their heads in the sand," says Oleg with a smile, also admitting that many are frightened when they hear the singing of the African bird. It turns out to be more like a lion's roar.

But ostriches arouse greater interest in children. The Sobolewski daughters, Violetta and Karina, have even prepared a research paper on the feathered birds for a school science competition. With it, they won first place at a regional conference, and now the girls are preparing to present it at the regional level.

The couple admits that although there is a lot of trouble with their feathered household, they even start sowing with fodder crops – beets, corn, grains, and only then do they get to the vegetable garden, they will continue to develop poultry farming. We wish these hardworking people success in any endeavor they undertake.

Natalia Kamleva. Photos by Anton STEPANISCHEV. "Vitebskiye vesti".