A three-lb. ostrich egg has about the same nutritional value as two dozen chicken eggs.
The U.S. ostrich industry has been quietly growing since the early 1990s. Farmers who raise the 250- to 300-lb. birds have developed a market for ostrich meat, which contains nearly the same level of protein as chicken, beef and pork but fewer calories and less fat and cholesterol. Ostrich farmers also supply the demand for ostrich hide, a high-quality leather known for its unique pattern of feather sockets. More recently, consumer interest in fresh ostrich eggs and their nutritional value has began to grow.
Calorie Count
Food scientists and ostrich farmers generally agree that despite the similar nutritional value of ostrich eggs to that of chicken eggs, one major difference is calories. One large uncooked chicken egg contains about 72 calories, while an ostrich egg has 2,000 calories. However, an ostrich egg weighs an average of 3 lbs.---roughly equivalent to two dozen chicken eggs---so the pound-for-pound calorie count remains close.
Similarities to Chicken Eggs
Fresh ostrich eggs cost anywhere from $20 to $45 each---the equivalent of dozens of chicken eggs. While price is a major difference, the two types of eggs contain similar amounts of protein and fat. Ostrich and chicken eggs also have comparable amounts of calcium, phosphorus, vitamin A and folic acid.
Cholesterol
Some businesses market ostrich eggs as a healthy, low-cholesterol alternative to chicken eggs. Scientist at the University of Naples analyzed the eggs of 15 ostriches during a laying season and found they contained less cholesterol than chicken eggs. However, they also found that ostrich eggs have a higher content of polyunsaturated fat.
Vitamin E and Pantothenic Acid
One animal feed industry study found that ostrich eggs have significantly lower levels of vitamin E and pantothenic acid than chicken eggs. The study suggested that chicken feed has undergone fine-tuning to deliver maximum nutritional values and that ostrich feed will inevitably undergo a similar process.
More Iron
Studies that compared the nutritional value of eggs also found that, for some important nutrients, ostrich eggs came out ahead. Chicken eggs contain 91 mg of iron, while ostrich eggs have 111 mg. A chicken egg contains 490 mg of magnesium in a chicken egg, while an ostrich egg contains 540 mg. Ultimately, these differences are small, and both ostrich and chicken eggs can contribute to a healthy, balanced diet.
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