Viral diseases of the Ostrich (Struthio camelus var. domesticus)

The ostrich is an important animal in many livestock industries. A significant threat to this industry is losses from diseases. Newcastle disease is a notifiable, highly contagious viral infection of ostriches. Avian influenza may be transmitted from waterfowl, shorebirds and gulls to ostriches. Borna disease virus is a viral neurotropic infection spread mainly by rodents and felines. Crimean‐Congo hemorrhagic fever is a viral disease transmitted by Hyalomma ticks to humans. Avipoxvirus afflicts ostrich chicks and is transmitted by mosquitoes or by direct contact with a pox lesion. Maintenance of a healthy and profitable enterprise requires the implementation, with assistance from the local veterinary authority, of comprehensive, practical and effective methods of health management and preventative medicine.     

Ostrich meat: Production,quality parameters,and nutritional comparison to other types of meats

The poultry industry is considered one of the most efficient industries in producing animal protein. Poultry production consists of several main segments: broilers, commercial eggs, turkeys, ducks, and other poultry, including geese, guinea-fowl, pheasants, quail, and ratites. Currently, ostrich meat is marketed as a healthy red meat because it is characterized by high polyunsaturated fatty acid contents, low saturated fatty acid content, and low cholesterol level compared with red meats, such as beef, while tasting similar to lean beef. Ostrich meat contains lower sodium and higher iron contents than other kinds of meat, making it preferable to hypertensive people and those with anemia. Taken together, ostrich meat is considered as an ideal red meat for individuals seeking healthier lifestyle. Moreover, many different ostrich products, such as leather and feathers, are used by people. The current review paper considers the quality characteristics of ostrich meat, including physical traits, and compares it to other types of meats, such as bovine and other poultry meats.     

非洲鸵鸟食管组织学观察

应用常规石蜡切片,H—E染色,对非洲鸵鸟食管组织结构进行观察并与家禽和哺乳动物的食管进行比较．结果表明：非洲鸵鸟食管黏膜上皮为复层扁平上皮,但角质化不明显,固有膜内食管腺丰富,由腺细胞围成的管泡状腺直接开口于黏膜上皮,分泌大量黏液．食管肌层非常发达,分为内环肌、中纵肌、外环肌3层,环肌很厚,与纵肌的比例约为3：1、外膜是一层薄的纤维膜,内含丰富的血管．淋巴组织和神经.     

非洲鸵鸟冠状动脉的解剖观察

采用血管铸型和组织透明方法对6羽非洲鸵鸟心脏冠状动脉的分支分布情况进行了研究,试验结果表明,非洲鸵鸟心脏左、右冠状动脉均开口于同侧主动脉窦内;左冠状动脉分为浅支(旋支)和深支(前降支),浅支先分出左心房支布于左心房,主干分支分布左心室的左缘壁和隔壁及右心室隔壁的部分;深支又依次分出动脉圆锥支、左缘支和前室间隔支,动脉圆锥支分布动脉圆锥及肺动脉干,左缘支分支分布于左室侧壁,前室间隔支分布于室间隔前1／3部,前降支主干分支分布于左心室前壁,右冠状动脉也分为浅支(旋支)和深支,浅支分出窦房结支和右心房支,主干延续为右室后支,窦房结支分布于窦房结和升主动脉,右心房支分布于右心房,右室后支分布于右心室的隔壁;深支分出后室间隔支,主干延续为右室前支,后室间隔支分布于室间隔后2／3部,右室前支分布于右心室前壁及心右缘壁。     

Granulomatous conjunctivitis in an ostrich

Ostriches lack meibom glands, but have small lacrimal glands ventral to the lateral canthus, with ductules that open into the inside of the lower eyelid. Chalazion is a chronic granulomatous inflammation of the meibom glands that may develop from blockage of the ductules into the conjunctiva. A 2-year-old female ostrich presented with chronic granulomatous conjunctivitis, with clinical and histopathologic findings similar to chalazion of other species. The granulomatous dacryoadenitic mass was excised and no recurrence occurred at 4 months. This is the first case of chronic granulomatous conjunctivitis reported in the ostrich.     

非洲鸵鸟的雌雄鉴别研究

对鸵鸟进行早期的性别鉴定，可以确保期望的鸵鸟雌雄性别比例，雏鸟雌雄分群饲养，加快鸵鸟驯养进程，提高育雏成活率都有着重要意义。本研究采用翻肛法，对人工饲养的1～3月龄育雏期非洲鸵鸟进行试验与研究。结果表明，在1月龄时就可根据有无生殖交媾器及其形态、大小的差别进行雌雄鉴别，打破了通常认为鸵鸟在4月龄时才可以进行性别鉴定的传统做法，为非洲鸵鸟的饲养管理提供了有利的依据。     

Examining the evidence for ecologically sustainable ostrich breeding practices on natural veld in the Little Karoo,South Africa

Land degradation in the Little Karoo is extensive. Overstocking of breeding ostriches on natural veld has been among the main causes of this. The National Department of Agriculture has set a general stocking rate of 60 ha LSU^?1 as a guideline for livestock on natural veld in the Little Karoo, which equates to 22.8 ha ostrich^?1. The aim of this review is to examine the scientific principles, data and assumptions the current recommended stocking rate for breeding ostriches on natural veld in the Little Karoo is based on and to investigate if there is a stocking rate (or range of stocking rates) that has been demonstrated to be ecologically and/or economically sustainable. We found no evidence that the recommended stocking rate of 22.8 ha ostrich^?1 is economically or ecologically sustainable in the Little Karoo. Most studies only addressed a single dimension of sustainability, and stocking rates deemed to be economically sustainable were several times higher than ecologically based recommendations. Given that economic and ecological objectives appear irreconcilable on open veld, an industry switch from extensive to intensive breeding practices may be a solution. Further research is required that integrates the socio-economic and ecological aspects of ostrich farming in the Little Karoo.     

沙地刚性轮构型仿生设计及牵引性能数值分析

为了提高车轮牵引性能,改善车辆在松散沙土介质环境的通过能力,该文以善于沙地奔跑的鸵鸟足部关键部位—足趾甲为仿生原型,通过仿生优化轮刺结构,设计出具有高牵引性能的仿生轮刺式沙地刚性轮,并以一种模拟月壤作为试验松散沙土介质材料,采用离散元软件PFC2D?的内置语言FISH和相关命令,建立了适用于非规则结构刚性轮的轮壤相互作用动态模拟系统,并获得试验验证。通过仿生轮刺式刚性轮与模拟月壤相互作用离散元模拟,并与矩形轮刺式刚性轮模拟结果对照,从轮下模拟月壤颗粒细观运动、接触力场、速度场以及车轮挂钩牵引力角度,验证了仿生轮刺式刚性轮具有优越的牵引性能,在车轮滑转率50%的稳定运行状态下,仿生轮刺式刚性轮的牵引性能可提高5.2%左右。该研究为提高刚性轮在松散沙土介质环境中的牵引性能提供了全新设计和研究手段。     

非洲黑颈鸵鸟原种繁殖性能研究

对1998~2004年间48只非洲黑颈鸵鸟原种繁殖性能进行了研究。结果表明非洲黑颈鸵鸟原种年平均产蛋47.13±23.20枚,变异系数49.23%,种蛋受精率70.93%±21.21%,受精蛋孵化率80.58%±22.62%,出雏鸟27.00±15.38只。研究了非洲黑颈鸵鸟产蛋曲线,以期为非洲黑鸵鸟的生产提供参考。