Six different muscles from the left legs of 19 African Black ostriches were analysed for cholesterol content and fatty acid composition. Cholesterol content differed (p < 0.05) from 56.61 mg/100 g in the M. femorotibialis medius to 71.12 mg/100 g in the M. iliofemoralis. Although the percentage of individual fatty acids differed (p < 0.05) between muscles, and variation were found within muscles, the percentage of total saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids were relatively constant between muscles. The M. iliofemoralis presented a w6:w3 ratio of 5.21, while this characteristic was constant around a mean value of 3.93 in all other muscles.