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Harrell's Ostrich Ranch
By Art Nadler
You've heard the commercials for pork, referring to that
"Other White Meat."And then there's the ad campaign
of "What's for dinner? The answer, of course, being "beef."
Don't be surprised if you soon begin hearing: "Ostrich-A
Healthy Alternative to Red Meat."
Huh?
You heard it right.
Ostrich.
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According to a USDA report, "Nutritional Value
of Foods,"3 ounces of ostrich meat only has 97 calories,
which is a lot less that chicken, 140 calories; turkey,
135 calories; beef, 205 calories and pork, 275 calories.
Dennis and Joy Harrell decided to pursue the healthful
benefits of Ostrich meat a few years ago when they and
two other couples purchased birds for $8,500 a pair. When
the Harrell's neighbors couldn't afford to house the long-legged
trotters, they sort of inherited the birds. Within a short
time, the Harrell's Ostrich Ranch was hatched. The ranch
is located in Yerington, NV., on five acres. Today, the
Harrells have 100 birds. It took two years before the
Harrell's original pair of ostriches started laying eggs.
During the first year the ranch was operational, a bacteria
hit and 23 chicks died in two weeks. It looked like the
Harrell's' ostrich business had stuck its head in the
sand and was about to go belly up.
"When you lose that many chicks, you lose a year
because it takes that long to raise them again,"Joy
Harrell says. But the couple persisted by selling ostrich
steaks ($9.80 a pound) and salami ($7 a pound) at county
fairs, food festivals, rodeos, craft shows and in the
Reno Butcher Boy and Blue Bounty Fish stores.
Besides these food products, the Harrells make Ostrich
skin wallets, purses and belts. They've also contracted
with a company in Texas to craft western boots. In 1999,
the entrepreneurs made $45,000. Unfortunately, Joy still
has to work another job to make ends meet. Eventually,
the couple hopes the ranch will become their primarily
source of income.
Ostrich meat is red like beef, similar in flavor but has
40 percent less fat. The meat is currently a popular item
in exclusive European and American restaurants "This
is our seventh year in business,"Joy Harrell says.
"We spent six months just getting our USDA government
approval."
For information contact:
Dennis and Joy Harrell, Harrell's Ostrich Ranch, 55 Miley
Road, Yerington, NV. 89447. Phone: (775) 463-3541. Fax:
(775) 463-2575. E-mail: [email protected].
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