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Fatty acid profile of emu fat collected in November. a Sample size too small for statistical analysis.
Source publication
Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) has seasonal fat deposition (April - August in North America). Back and abdominal fat of farm emu is rendered into oil, which has good anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and has been used widely in cosmetics as a carrier. The objective of our research is to identify and study candidate genes that may be use...
Context in source publication
Citations
... Adult emus in the present study (Table 1) yielded more fat, but similar amounts of meat and bone, than younger birds (Blake & Hess, 2004;Dingle, 1997;Sales et al., 1999). However, previous studies showed great variability in fat yields (from 12% to 28%; Blake & Hess, 2004;Mincham et al., 1998;Sales et al., 1999), likely reflecting seasonal changes in their fat deposition (Kim, Douglas, Bennett, & Cheng, 2012). Therefore, for producers to get better economic returns, it is essential to time the slaughter when the fat deposits are maximal (late August to early September in Canada; Bennett et al., unpublished data). ...
ABSTRACT Many emu farms are located in areas lacking processing facilities that can handle these birds.
Thus, long-distance shipping of birds to an abattoir is necessary. Two experiments were conducted, wherein emus were transported in a modified horse trailer for 6h to an abattoir. Changes in the indices of stress and metabolic homeostasis (hematology, serum biochemistry, enzymes, and body temperature and weight) were used to evaluate the physiological response to transport. The activities of enzymes alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and creatine kinase increased significantly (P < 0.001) from pretransport to slaughter, indicating muscle cell wall damages. The body temperature of emus was significantly (P < 0.001) increased from 37.0 to 39.6°C after transport in experiment 1 and from 37.2 to 38.9°C in experiment 2. Transport resulted in significant weight loss in both experiments (P < 0.001; 2.1 ± 0.2 kg vs. 0.6 ± 0.2 kg) and posttransport resting at lairage led to slight regaining (P < 0.01) of BW. Oral administration of supplements before and after transport was effective in protecting against muscle damage and faster recovery of BW losses during lairage. The clinical findings were suggestive of the incidence of exertional rhabdomyolysis and thus underlined the need for careful handling and improved transport conditions of emus.
Emus, a ratite native to Australia, are being farmed around the world
primarily for the oil obtained from its fat. Emus have a high total body
fat content which, depending on the season, may reach up to 30%.
Hematology and blood biochemistry is an important tool to evalu
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ate the health and nutritional status of the bird, but baseline data are
presently lacking. The current study was undertaken to determine the
hematology and blood biochemistry of emus immediately before the
beginning of the breeding season (December) and whether there exists
any differences between the 2 sexes. Blood samples were collected
from 24 farm emus between 3 and 4 years of age and evaluated using
an autoanalyser (Siemens, Dimension RXL). Blood samples were col
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lected in heparin coated tubes and blood smears stained using the Diff
Quik method. Between sex differences was analyzed using Student-
t
-
test (MYSTAT). The mean WBC count was 12.3 ± 0.7x10E9/L, while
the PCV was 52.5 ± 2cL/L. The mean differential counts were 62.9
± 1.7% (heterophils; H), 30.7 ± 1.3% (lymphocytes; L), 5.1 ± 0.5%
(monocytes), 1.1 ± 0.3% (eosinophils) and 0.2 ± 0.1% (basophils),
respectively. The H:L ratio was found to be 2.2 ± 0.1. The mean glu
-
cose, total protein, ALT, AST, CK, creatinine and uric acid levels were
found to be 10.1 ± 0.2mmol/L, 51 ± 0.8g/L, 19.8 ± 1.5IU/L, 208.5 ±
9.6 IU/L, 387 ± 46.2 IU/L, 9.7 ± 0.9μmol/L and 136 ± 13.2 μmol/L
respectively. Plasma triglyceride level in males was 1.9 ± 0.6 mmol/L
and was significantly different (
P
< 0.01) from that of females (4.6 ±
1.1 mmol/L). These data should provide a useful diagnostic tool for
veterinarians.
Blood profiling is a helpful tool in detecting the health status, metabolic diseases, nutritional deficiencies, and welfare of animals. Body weights, body temperatures, hematological and serum biochemical parameters, enzymes, and electrolytes in both sexes of farm emus at the beginning of their breeding season (November in Canada), were determined. The reference interval for each analyte was also calculated. Emus have lower body temperatures (37.2 ± 0.2) than other poultry species. There was no significant between-sex difference in BW, body temperature, and all the hematological and enzyme parameters measured. However, females had significantly (P < 0.001) higher serum calcium, phosphorus, albumin, total protein, globulin, and triglyceride levels than males, probably in preparation for egg laying. We also examined our findings in light of their sex-role reversal in incubation and brooding. Contrary to other avian species in which only females incubate and brood, there was no sex difference in the hematological and enzyme parameters measured in emus. We found that emus are similar to other ratite species with respect to the changes in protein, globulin, triglyceride, and calcium levels. The findings from our study contribute to the database for reference emu hematological and serum enzyme, metabolite, and electrolyte values.
