000667 Emu: The Other Red Meat?Massachusetts – Bostons’ NewsCenter 5's Rhonda Mann reports that the meat from the large, flightless birds has become increasingly popular, according to Gerry Roy, who runs one of three emu farms in the state. "It's a real low-cholesterol, low-fat red meat," Roy said. "It has the same texture as beef." He spent $25,000 for a pair of the birds five years ago, and now he has more than 100 of them. "They're characters," he said. "They'll dance for you, they'll roll over, they'll twist in the air." Emu meat has become a more popular choice for diners in recent years and is on the menu at a few Bay State restaurants already. The new dish is a hit because it's 97% fat-free and high in iron and vitamin B12. The birds provide other products than just food. Bill Beattie of Massachusetts Emu Distributors said the hide can be used for leather, the eyelashes can be used for paintbrushes, and bear-claw necklaces can be made from the toenails. Then there's emu oil. Researchers, including some in Boston, say it may help everything from sunburns to hair growth. The meat isn't a huge seller yet, in part because it costs about a dollar more per pound than a good cut of beef. Those who do buy it often choose it for the health benefits. "People who try it, they repeat," Harvey Slarskey of Tanuck Meat Market said. "It's a very healthy alternative for people with heart disease or [who have had a] heart bypass. They can eat this thing several times a week." By next spring, there should be 1,000 of the birds ready for harvest in Massachusetts.
E-mail: sflanagan@sprintmail.com |
