The Ostrich Industry has been a viable commercial agricultural industry for over 100 years in South Africa, but references to ostrich and their by-products can be found as far back in time as that of the Pharaohs in ancient Egypt. Captive breeding of ostrich started in the mid 1800s in South Africa, with the establishment of several farms in the Karoo and Eastern Cape districts. Currently, the industry is once again expanding rapidly in the Little Karoo, this area has held a virtual monopoly on the world market for ostrich products for many years. In 1987 the monetary value of these birds had increased by over 100%. Ostrich products have been in demand for many years, the supply however, has never caught up with the demand.

Currently the ostrich industry is growing at a remarkable pace in North America and in other parts of the world. The South African domination of the world market for ostrich products, through the Kline Karoo Cooperative, will decrease over time as more producers from around the world shift from a breeding market to a commercial market. At this point in time the industry is still in the early stages of development in North America. The current breeders market will continue to grow for at least another three to five years, but at a much slower rate than it has in the past. The development of a fledging meat and leather industry is extremely important for the industry to continue to grow.