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Emu project
This document discusses the welfare of emus during transport and slaughter. It begins with the scientific classification of emus and some facts about them. It then discusses the emu industry in Canada, how emus are slaughtered, and the challenges involved in transporting and slaughtering emus. The document outlines the objectives and project plan of researching ways to reduce stress in emus during transport and slaughter by using special diets, hormone therapies, and improving welfare measures. It discusses the potential physiological, endocrinological, biochemical, behavioral, and production parameters that would be measured and the challenges of conducting such research.
Emu project
- 1. WELFARE OF EMUSDURING THEIR TRANSPORT AND SLAUGHTER5/9/2010FACULTY OF LAND AND FOOD SYSTEMSDEEPA RAJU MENON
- 2. Kingdom: AnimaliaPhylum: ChordataS.Phylum: VertebrataClass: AvesOrder: Struthioniformes / CasuariiformesFamily: Casuariidae/ DromaiidaeGenus: DromaiusSpecies: D. novaehollandiaeDEEPA RAJU MENONFACULTY OF LAND AND FOOD SYSTEMSSCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION
- 3. Emu -- SomeFactsNative --Australia. Second-- largest extant bird in the worldFlightless Height -- 6 feetWeight – 40-45 kilos5/9/2010FACULTY OF LAND AND FOOD SYSTEMS
- 4. Emu Industry inCanada*Statistics Canada 20085/9/2010FACULTY OF LAND AND FOOD SYSTEMS
- 5. Slaughter yield fromemusAverage carcass weight 35 kg Dressed yield 53.75 % Meat per carcass 12-14 kg @ $15-20.00/kgFat 5-6 kilos @ $90.00 per kilo. Hide -0.7m2Feather -0.8 kg
- 6. Several patents Cosmetics -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 SYSTEMSProperties of Emu oil
- 7. High prices ofbreeding 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 lossRESEARCHDEEPA RAJU MENONFACULTY OF LAND AND FOOD SYSTEMSChallenges
- 8. DEEPA RAJU MENONFACULTYOF LAND AND FOOD SYSTEMS
- 9. HandlingLoadingUnloadingUnfamiliar animalsDriving & roadsVehicle –TemperatureVentilationNoxious gasesDarknessProvision for waterRestingHandling at abattoirsStocking densityNovel environmentDistanceStunningSlaughter techniquesDEEPA RAJU MENONFACULTY OF LAND AND FOOD SYSTEMSSTRESSORS
- 10. Reduction in live weight and carcass yield Fasting + metabolic changesPoor meat and fat qualitypH, texture, colour, glycogen, moisture, tenderness and palatabilityPoor animal well- being/ welfareCorticosterone , catecholaminesDEEPA RAJU MENONFACULTY OF LAND AND FOOD SYSTEMSWhy should we reduce stress
- 11. ObjectivesDetermine the currentpractices 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.5/9/2010FACULTY OF LAND AND FOOD SYSTEMS
- 12. Use of specialdiets 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 & slaughter5/9/2010DEEPA RAJU MENONObjectives- cont’d
- 13. A review ofthe 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
- 14. 5/9/2010DEEPA RAJU MENONDesignof Experiment
- 15. PHYSIOLOGICAL ENDOCHRINOLOGICAL PARAMETERS PARAMETERSBody temperature –IR Radiography Blood pressure Heart rate Haematology- Hb, RBC, WBC, DC, PCVAVT ACTH Corticostreone Excretion of dexamethasone,ACTH and metabolitesDEEPA RAJU MENONFACULTY OF LAND AND FOOD SYSTEMS
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- 22. Behavioural parameters Observation- scoring
- 23. Easeof movement
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- 25. Number of falls / slips
- 26. Fighting/ Aggression
- 27. Lyingdown/ standing
Editor's Notes
- #2 Its a pleasure to welcome you all to my first thesis supervisory committee meeting. I m excited to present before you the proposal for my research.The suggested title is
- #4 Let me begin with a brief introduction of the subject of study the emusRatiteWithou the breast bone cartilage/ keel
- #5 1 million emus all over the world Dropped drastically over a decadeIndustry had a very quick growth phase and then matured to decline drastically Excessive speculationOil= medicinal therapeutic, anti inflammatory, rheumatic, Hair growth, anti oxidant, healing of tissues, scars, burns, cholesterol levelpatents
- #7 A bird with vast potential and good demand in many parts of Asia and Australia.Need to diversify -Create markets -Steady supply - producers were forced to establish their own retail marketsYet to get official health status by health Canada though there are no restrictions on its cosmetic use
- #8 Unable to establish distribution and market channels Oil needs to be processed Expertise is needed to harvest the fat completely Price of emu meat is double that of other meat Unable to convince consumers about the claimed benefits
- #9 Schematic representation of the stress mechanism in animals. Adapted from Squires, E.J (2003).Fig.1b shows the schematic representation of the action of HPA Axis to stress. When the hypothalamus is stimulated, it results in the release of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH or CRF), which in turn stimulates the anterior pituitary to release the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). This leads to the release of glucocorticoids from the adrenal cortex. Vasopressin or Arginine vasotensin (in birds) also potentiates the effects of CRH on pituitary to release ACTH as well as Beta endorphins {derived from pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC)} stimulating the release of glucocorticoids. Glucocorticoids act on a variety of target tissues and organs to maintain homeostasis. The HPA response is a comparatively slower than SA response and produces a generalised effect on the animal.
- #10 Stressors cause changes in psychological, physiological, endocrine, enzymatic, metabolic, electrolyte, thermoregulatory &hydration parametersThey tend to cause live weight loss and poor meat quality.
- #11 Both economic and benevolent reasons to reduce stress Cortisol driven events include – N:L ratio, Beta endorphins, thyroxin3 stages of stress- ALARM REACTION, RESISTANCE/ADAPTATION & EXHAUSTION or FATIGUE
- #12 In today's world there is increasing consciousness among consumers for meat produced in an ethical mannerAnimal welfare is increasingly been seen as a prerequisite to enhance business efficiency and profitability
- #13 Special diets are high in carbohydrates and provide electrolytes and vitaminsElectrolytes are similar to interstitial fluid in composition
- #15 Adult emus of 1 ½ yrs of age total of 64 + 12 emus are needed
- #25 axis and stress response in animals Adapted from Matteri, R. L., Carroll, J. A and Dyer, (2000)Stress responses in birds consists of three stages namely, the stage of alarm reaction, the stage of resistance and the stage of exhaustion. The rapid endocrine responses are mediated by the sympathetic nervous system activation of the adrenal medulla called as the SA system, resulting in the release of catecholamines, namely adrenaline and nor- adrenaline. The long term effects are due to the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA Axis), leading to the production of corticosteroids, glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids, the stress hormones. The schematic representation of the overall stress mechanism in animals is as given in Fig. 1a below.
- #28 Modified from (Hastein, Scarfe, and Lund, 2005)Factors