emu project
TRANSCRIPT
WELFARE OF EMUS DURING THEIR TRANSPORT AND SLAUGHTER
05/03/2023FACULTY OF LAND AND FOOD
SYSTEMS
DEEPA RAJU MENON
Kingdom: AnimaliaPhylum: ChordataS.Phylum: VertebrataClass: AvesOrder: Struthioniformes / CasuariiformesFamily: Casuariidae/ DromaiidaeGenus: DromaiusSpecies: D. novaehollandiae
DEEPA RAJU MENONFACULTY OF LAND AND FOOD
SYSTEMS
SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION
Emu -- Some FactsNative --Australia. Second-- largest extant bird in the worldFlightless Height -- 6 feetWeight – 40-45 kilos
05/03/2023FACULTY OF LAND AND FOOD
SYSTEMS
Emu Industry in Canada
05/03/2023FACULTY OF LAND AND FOOD SYSTEMS
*Year Farms Emus & Rheas
1996 967 61,308
2006 182 4000
*Statistics Canada 2008
Emu productsOil -Breeding stockMeat – Hides and Feathers
Eggs
Slaughter yield from emus
Average carcass weight 35 kg
Dressed yield 53.75 %
Meat per carcass 12-14 kg @ $15-20.00/kg
Fat 5-6 kilos @ $90.00 per kilo.
Hide -0.7m2
Feather -0.8 kg
Several patentsCosmetics -moisturizing and therapeutic (AAFC,1999)Lowers cholesterol, dietary supplement
Dermatological conditions, epitasis and migraine Anti-inflammatory (Yoganathan et al., 2003) Wound healing (Qiu et al., 2005). Antioxidant properties (Bennett et al., 2008).
Recovery from Chemotherapy (Lindsay et al., 2010).
DEEPA RAJU MENONFACULTY OF LAND AND FOOD
SYSTEMS
Properties of Emu oil
High prices of breeding stock Requirement of investment, maintenance and overhead Markets for the oil, meat and other products Develop industry related specialities Maintains as a hobby or secondary source of income. Lack of market opportunities Processing facilities Transporting birds to slaughter – stress & weight loss
RESEARCH
DEEPA RAJU MENONFACULTY OF LAND AND FOOD
SYSTEMS
Challenges
DEEPA RAJU MENONFACULTY OF LAND AND FOOD
SYSTEMS
Stressor
Central Nervous system
Physiological ResponsesBehavioural responses
SA systemHPA Axis
Active response - fight/flight
Passive response abnormal behaviours
Catecholamines Adrenaline and nor adrenaline
CRH, ACTH, POMC , Corticosteroids
Handling Loading Unloading Unfamiliar animals Driving & roads Vehicle – Temperature Ventilation Noxious gases Darkness
Provision for water Resting Handling at
abattoirs Stocking density Novel environment Distance Stunning Slaughter
techniques
DEEPA RAJU MENONFACULTY OF LAND AND FOOD
SYSTEMS
STRESSORS
Reduction in live weight and carcass yield
◦ Fasting + metabolic changes Poor meat and fat quality
pH, texture, colour, glycogen, moisture, tenderness and palatability
Poor animal well- being/ welfare Corticosterone , catecholamines
DEEPA RAJU MENONFACULTY OF LAND AND FOOD
SYSTEMS
Why should we reduce stress
ObjectivesDetermine the current practices during the transport
and slaughter of emus.
Determine the level of welfare measures adopted during the transportation and slaughter of emus.
Determine the extent of stress experienced by emus during transport and slaughter.
05/03/2023FACULTY OF LAND AND FOOD SYSTEMS
Use of special diets to prevent the loss of body mass during transit
Efficacy of ACTH and CORT in the alleviation of adverse effects of stress in emus.
Recommendations for improving the welfare of emus during transport & slaughter
05/03/2023DEEPA RAJU MENON
Objectives- cont’d
A review of the current practices in the emu industry.
A survey of the processing plants. A pilot study to test the efficacy of ACTH
and DEX. A major transportation study comparing
the effect of synthetic diets and hormone therapies.
DEEPA RAJU MENONFACULTY OF LAND AND FOOD
SYSTEMS
Project plan
05/03/2023DEEPA RAJU MENON
Design of ExperimentWith Transportation Without
transportation
Treatments Dexona ACTH ACTH +
Dexona
Control-1 Control- 2
Treatment-1 Treatment-2 Treatment-3
Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female
Special
Diet 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
No special
Diet 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
PHYSIOLOGICAL ENDOCHRINOLOGICAL PARAMETERS PARAMETERS
Body temperature –IR Radiography
Blood pressure Heart rate Haematology- Hb, RBC, WBC, DC, PCV
•
AVTACTH Corticostreone Excretion of dexamethasone,
ACTH and metabolites
DEEPA RAJU MENONFACULTY OF LAND AND FOOD
SYSTEMS
Bio-chemical parameters
•Blood uric acid•Lactate•Blood glucose•Albumin globulin levels•Blood pH•Stress proteins
05/03/2023DEEPA RAJU MENON
Behavioural parameters
• Observation- scoring• Ease of movement• Vocalisation• Number of falls / slips • Fighting / Aggression• Lying down/ standing• Huddling
05/03/2023DEEPA RAJU MENON
Production parameters
• Carcass yield • Meat quality• Fat yield and quality• Changes in body mass • Blood splashes• Bruises
05/03/2023DEEPA RAJU MENON
Other ObservationsInside the truck• Ambient temperature, • Relative humidity• Vapour density and • Air composition (carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulphide, and ammonia levels)
05/03/2023
CHALLENGES Emu producersInformation BehaviourProcessing plantsScore cardNon-invasive
techniques
Farms to be covered
Sample sizeSample collection Hormones
( dosage)Special diet (inclusion level)Laboratory tests
DEEPA RAJU MENONFACULTY OF LAND AND FOOD
SYSTEMS
Behavioural patterns of emus in an experimental farm
• Objective Desktop\pilot study\emu behvr\Emu ethogram.docx
• Current Status • Sample• Focal animal / One-Zero sampling• Use of soft wares ??• Spread sheet prepared ..\Desktop\pilot study\New Microsoft Office Excel Worksheet.xlsx
05/03/2023DEEPA RAJU MENON
1. Pre–transportation challenging of the birds with ACTH, Dexamethasone, ACTH and Dexamethasone in combination would reduce the transportation stress in emus.
2 . Administration of Special Diets would result in reduced transportation stress and weight loss in emus.
3. Adopting of welfare measures during transport would improve the economics of emu production.
05/03/2023DEEPA RAJU MENON
Hypothesis
Surveys• Review of the management of emus during their transport and slaughter. Deepa Menon\Corrected questionnaire 5th May.docx
• Questionnaire • Sample ???• Score card for evaluation of the processing plants / abattoirs
05/03/2023DEEPA RAJU MENON
DEEPA RAJU MENONFACULTY OF LAND AND FOOD
SYSTEMS
DEEPA RAJU MENONFACULTY OF LAND AND FOOD
SYSTEMS
Emu & RheaProvince No. of Farms No. of birdsPEI 36 967NB 15 497Québec 79 1,394Ontario 356 44,495Manitoba 117 3,444Sask. 77 1,869Alberta 190 4,423BC 86 3,128Canada 967 61,308
Statistics Canada Census of Farms 1996
DEEPA RAJU MENONFACULTY OF LAND AND FOOD
SYSTEMS
Year 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997
provinces 1 4 7 7 7
Head 6 12 193 1,519 5,707
EmuDressed Weight (kgs)
82 130 3,295 n/a n/a
Ratites* Head - -
Slaughter in federally and provincially registered establishments
DEEPA RAJU MENONFACULTY OF LAND AND FOOD
SYSTEMS