Oslinc: Home of the Lincolnshire Ostrich
Ostrich meat is growing in popularity throughout the UK as the health benefits become more widely known. Photo: British Domestic Ostrich Association
When most people think of Lincolnshire, they think, of rolling fields, herds of cows and good food, or at least that’s what I think of. However, at Oslinc you will find creatures that seem almost entirely out of place in this county, because Oslinc is an ostrich farm.
Owned and operated by the Grundy family, Oslinc have been breeding ostriches since 1994. They have 27 breeding ostriches that spend their days grazing in the fields sell all manner of ostritch related produce, from ostrich eggs to ostrich steak to feather dusters made from ostrich feathers. They also sell Bill Grundy’s Real Dairy Ice Cream, handmade at the farm and named in honour of the Grandfather of Lillian Grundy, the current owner.
While ostriches may seem like an unusual choice of livestock for Britain, ostrich farming in the UK dates back to 1980. The birds had been farmed in small numbers in the UK for over 150 years mainly for their feathers but the market only really took off After World War 2. Ostriches were bred at first for their skins and feathers but during the 1980’s people began to realise the health benefits of their meat and their eggs.
The British Domesticated Ostrich Association was established in 1992 to support the growing industry. Today, ostriches are bred all over the world and their meat is readily available in countries such as the US, Australia and Canada.
Lillian Grundy, owner of Oslincs is very keen to emphasise the health benefits of Ostrich meat “Ostrich meat is very low in fat,” she told me in an interview:
“It’s lower in cholesterol than both chicken and turkey and it’s red meat too. Plus it cooks so quickly and it’s really tender. For my money there isn’t a better alternative on the market.”
Oslinc mainly sells its produce over the internet but also has a stall in the Lincolnshire Farmer’s Market where they sell ostrich burgers as well as frozen ostrich steaks and eggs.
“We have quite a few regular customers who have a standing order with us which is good,” says Lillian:
“We also have plenty of people wanting to try ostrich meat just because of the novelty of it, I think people really like the idea that it’s something new for them to try as an alternative.”
No matter how out of place Oslinc and its unusual livestock seem in Lincolnshire, it’s clear they are here to stay.