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