Biochemical composition of urine from farmed ostriches (Struthio camelus) in Botswana.

Biochemical and qualitative evaluation of the supernatant of urine from hydrated farmed ostriches (Struthio camelus) indicated that the urine was comparable to that described by other workers. The disparities obtained between the biochemical constituents in the present and previous studies were partly attributed to the state of hydration influenced by climatic factors. Results of the cytological examination of the supernatant and the sediment concurred with the observations of other workers. It was therefore concluded that parameters from both the quantitative and qualitative analyses could be used as a guideline to monitor the health status of farmed ostriches in Botswana.

Mechanisms of excreta formation and elimination in turkeys and ostriches.

Undigested feed and precipitated uric acid are excreted together in domestic turkeys, whereas in ostriches, liquid urine then discrete fecal boli are excreted in rapid succession. Gross anatomy and physiology of the cloacal structures of these two species also differ, providing an explanation for the differences in their waste products.

Urinary excretion of diethylstilbestrol in the ostrich.

Stilboestrol tablets (20 x 1 mg) were given to 4 ostriches. Urine was collected over a period of 8 days and stored frozen at-20 degrees C pending analysis. Analyses were performed on a gas chromatograph-mass selective detector for the presence of parent compound and/or metabolites. Diethylstilbestrol and its metabolite, dienestrol, were detected in urine; dienestrol only for 1 day but diethylstilbestrol for 8 days after administration. Residue analysis for the use of diethylstilbestrol as growth promoter can be performed on the urine of ostriches by scanning for parent compound only since it can be detected longer than the metabolite.