The source of a reliable supply of seed is one of the most important factors determining the success of aquaculture. At present mud crab culture is reliant on wild caught juveniles, which limits the expansion of mud crab farming globally. This, coupled with the paucity of knowledge of the spawning and egg characteristics of mud crabs, prompted the investigation into the captive spawning, incubation and egg quality of Scylla serrata in South Africa. A total of 112 mature females were caught from three estuaries in northern KwaZulu Natal and acclimated to captive conditions. Mature females were present in the estuaries throughout the year and ranged from 90 to 200 mm carapace width. Except for 40 crabs all the females spawned in captivity. On average spawning took place 38 ± 23 days after capture but was not dependent on crab size. Fecundity was significantly correlated to crab size (p = 0.026), with larger females producing more eggs. The average fecundity per batch was 5.79 ± 2.07 million eggs. Hatch success rate for all egg batches was high averaging 84 ± 6 %. Egg dropping occurred in all egg batches during incubation. On average 6.5 % of the egg mass was dropped during incubation. At the average temperature of 27⁰C eggs in the incubation system hatched within 292 ± 12 hours after extrusion. In-vitro incubation of eggs proved to be an ineffective means of incubating Scylla serrata eggs with a hatch success rate of only 25 ± 5 %. Egg quality was assessed both directly, using variables such as hatch success rate and hatch synchronicity and retrospectively by using stress tests and comparing survival of larvae from different coloured egg batches. Lipid class composition and fatty acid methyl ester content for 28 batches of eggs and 16 batches of larvae were analyzed. The biochemical composition of the egg was correlated to survival of larvae in the stress tests to ascertain if the lipid content of the eggs determines their quality. Stress tests were used to retrospectively assess egg quality. Four stressors were administered to newly hatched larvae and the LD50 values recorded. An average LD50 of 64 hours was recorded for the starvation tests, 40% for the salinity tests, 37 ppm for the formalin tests and 39.7 mg/l NH3 for the ammonia stress tests was recorded. Egg colour ranged from pale yellow to orange-red. Egg colour was not influenced by female size or the time the females spent in captivity prior to spawning. Egg colour can therefore not be used as an indicator of quality. The lipid profiles of newly extruded eggs had no effect on hatch synchronicity or hatch success rate. However, the stress tests identified female size (p ≤ 0.02), DHA content of the egg (p ≤ 0.02), Σ omega-3 fatty acids of eggs (p ≤ 0.02) and EPA content of eggs (p ≤ 0.007) as possible determinants of egg quality. Larger crabs tended to produce poorer quality eggs. Egg quality also decreased as the amount of DHA, EPA and the Σ omega-3 fatty acids decreased in the eggs. To summarize, the results of this study indicated that the following parameters affect egg quality - crab size, DHA, EPA and Σ omega-3 fatty acid content of eggs.

The ductus arteriosi (DA) are two blood vessels connecting the pulmonary arteries to the descending aorta in the avian embryo. Following hatching, the DA closes, separation of the systemic and pulmonary circulation. I present the morphological changes that occur in the chicken DA during prepipping, internal pipping, external pipping, and hatching. The avian DA consists of two distinct tissue types, a proximal and a distal portion. Histological examination shows developmental differences between the proximal and distal portions of the DA with regard to lumen occlusion, endothelial cells, smooth muscle and elastin. Endothelial cell proliferation begins to occur as early as external pipping, with the lumen almost completely occluded by the 3rd day of post-hatching life. Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) increases in avian endothelial cells during hatching. I provide a morphological timeline of changes in the DA as the chicken develops from embryo to hatchling.

Developing chicken embryos have two ductus arteriosus (DA) that shunt blood away from the lungs and to the chorioallantoic membrane, the embryonic gas exchanger. In mammals, DA closure is stimulated by an increase in blood gas O2 that occurs as the animal begins to breathe with its lungs. The goal of this study was to determine the influence of O2 levels during incubation on the vascular reactivity and morphology of the O2-sensitive DA and to examine the effects of changing O2 levels during late incubation on the morphology of the DA from chicken embryos. In comparison to normoxia, hypoxia (15%) reduced venous O2 levels in day 16 and day 18 embryos and reduced aircell O2 values in day 16, day 18, and internally pipped (IP) embryos, whereas hyperoxia (30%) increased venous O2 levels and aircell O2 level in day 16, day 18, and IP embryos. In comparison to normoxia, hypoxia delayed closure of the DA, whereas hyperoxia accelerated DA closure. In comparison to the left DA from externally pipped (EP) normoxic embryos, the left DA from EP hypoxic embryos exhibited a significantly weaker contractile response to O2. The DA from day 18 hypoxic embryos exhibited a significantly weaker contractile response to norepinephrine and phenylephrine when compared with the DA from day 18 normoxic and hyperoxic embryos. The effect of incubation in hypoxia / hyperoxia during different developmental windows on the DA O2-induced contractile response was observed only in IP embryos that were incubated in normoxia for 16 days and were then moved to hyperoxia. Incubation in hypoxia / hyperoxia resulted in differences in embryo mass, yolk mass, and heart mass. There is an association between the decreased contractile response to O2 and delayed closure in the proximal portion of the DA from hypoxic embryos; as well as an increased contractile response to O2 and accelerated closure in the proximal portion of the DA from hyperoxic embryos.

No abstract provided / Dissertation (MSc (Agric) Nutrition)--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Animal and Wildlife Sciences / unrestricted

Orientador: Aloisio Jose Antunes / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia de Alimentos / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-03T16:03:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Alleoni_AnaClaudiaCarraro_D.pdf: 4141640 bytes, checksum: db9a912da57044569b27e9e031edb1c0 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2003 / Resumo: As proteínas da clara do ovo de galinha têm sido extensivamente usadas como ingredientes em alimentos processados, devido a suas propriedades funcionais, tais como gelatinização e formação de espuma. Durante o armazenamento, podem ocorrer mudanças nas características físicas, microbiológicas, químicas e funcionais dos ovos, que dependem das condições de armazenamento. As vantagens de utilizar filmes e coberturas comestíveis podem ser justificadas pela manutenção das propriedades funcionais dos alimentos, através da diminuição da perda de umidade e da diminuição do transporte de gases (02 e CO2). A aplicação de cobertura em ovos com casca reduz a perda de peso e mantém a qualidade interna do produto. Os objetivos foram quantificar a perda de peso, os valores da unidade Haugh, o pH e os teores de s-ovalbumina do albume, além de determinar alterações na estabilidade da espuma da clara, no perfil de textura e na umidade espremível de géis da clara de ovos frescos e de ovos com e sem cobertura à base de concentrado protéico de soro de leite, armazenados a 25°C, por 3,7, 10, 14,21 e 28 dias. Durante todo o período de estocagem houve decréscimo dos valores de unidade Haugh e perda de peso, tanto para os ovos com cobertura como para os ovos sem cobertura. Já o pH do albume aumentou. A variação dos valores nos ovos com cobertura foi menor do que para os ovos sem cobertura. Os valores da unidade Haugh para ovos com cobertura foram semelhantes aos de ovos armazenados sob refrigeração, encontrados em referências bibliográficas, no mesmo período de armazenamento. O volume de líquido drenado foi maior (P < 0,01) em ovos sem cobertura do que em ovos com cobertura armazenados a 25°C, em todos os períodos de armazenamento. A diferença no terceiro dia de armazenamento foi de 59% entre os ovos com cobertura e ovos sem cobertura, e no vigésimo oitavo dia foi 202%. Durante o período de armazenamento, ocorreu um aumento do pH e do volume do líquido drenado nos ovos sem cobertura. O teor de s-ovalbumina foi maior em ovos sem cobertura, comparados aos ovos com cobertura, em todos os períodos de armazenamento (P<0,01). Após três dias, os ovos sem cobertura apresentaram aumento de 33% em relação aos ovos com cobertura. Já com 28 dias de armazenamento essa diferença passou para 205%. Em ovos com cobertura armazenados a 25°C, o pH ficou na faixa de 8, e o teor de s-ovalbumina permaneceu na faixa de 20%. No vigésimo oitavo dia de armazenamento o teor chegou a 27%. Houve correlação positiva entre o teor de s-ovalbumina com o volume de líquido drenado (R2 = 0,92 para ovos com cobertura e R2 = 0,94 para ovos sem cobertura). Quando aumentou o teor de s-ovalbumina, aumenta o volume de líquido drenado, e diminuiu a estabilidade da espuma. A dureza do gel do albume de ovos sem cobertura foi maior do que a de ovos com cobertura (P < 0,01), dentro de todos os períodos de armazenamento. Não houve efeito do tempo de armazenamento na dureza dos géis dos ovos sem cobertura. Em ovos cobertos, a regressão linear explicou 60% do comportamento da dureza em relação ao período de armazenamento. No caso da elasticidade, não houve interação entre período de armazenamento e a cobertura. Houve diferença entre as médias dentro de cada período, mas não durante o armazenamento. A maior elasticidade foi dos géis de ovos sem cobertura, comparados com os géis de ovos com cobertura. O índice de coesividade e a mastigabilidade de géis de ovos sem cobertura foi maior que o de géis de ovos com cobertura, em todos os períodos de armazenamento. A percentagem de umidade espremível (UE) de géis de clara de ovos com cobertura foi maior do que a de ovos sem cobertura em todo o período de estocagem / Abstract: Egg white proteins are extensively used as processed food because of their functional properties, as gelation and foam formation. Depending on the storage conditions, some physical, microbiological, chemical and functional changes may occur. Functional food properties may be preserved when foods are coated by edible films, since both the loss of moisture and the transport of O2 and CO2 are reduced. The objectives of this work were quantify the weight loss, the Haugh unit and the pH contents of s-ovalbumin in the albumen, determining changes in the stability of egg white foam, in the texture profile and in the expressible moisture of fresh egg white gels and eggs coated or not by whey protein concentrate 0NPc), under six storage periods (3, 7, 10, 14,21 and 28 days), at 25°C. During the storage period, independently of the coating, values of Haugh unit, weight loss and albumen pH decreased, and the differences among the values from the first to the last period were lower in the coated eggs. The Haugh unit values for coated eggs were similar to those found in bibliographic references when the same storage period is considered. For the six storage periods, the volumes of drained liquid in non-coated eggs were higher (P< 0.01). In the 3rd day the difference between the coated and the non-coated egg was 59%, and after 28 days that difference increased up to 202%. In the non-coated eggs, values of pH and volume of drained liquid increased during the storage. The content of s-ovalbumin was higher in the non-coated than in the coated eggs, independently of the storage period (P < 0.01). After 3 days, the content of s-ovalbumin was 38% higher than in the coated eggs, and after 28 days the difference between the values was 205%. In the coated eggs, stored at 25°C, the pH was around 8, and the content of s-ovalbumin remained in 20%; after 28 days, the value increased to 27%. A positive correlation was found between the content of s-ovalbumin and the volume of drained liquid (R2 = 0.92 for coated eggs, and R2 = 0.94 for non-coated eggs). When the content of s-ovalbumin increased, the volume of drained liquid also increased, and the foam stability decreased. Hardness of the albumen gel of non-coated eggs was higher than the coated eggs, during the whole storage period. For the non-coated eggs, the storage period did not affect the hardness of the gels, but for the coated eggs, a linear regression explained 60% of the behavior of the hardness as a function of the storage period. When considering the gel elasticity, no interaction was found between the storage period and the egg coating. Non-coated eggs exhibited gels with higher springiness than coated eggs. The same was found for the cohesiveness index and the gel chewiness, independently of the storage periods. However, the opposite was observed for the percentage of expressible moisture, where the values for coated eggs were higher than for non-coated eggs / Doutorado / Doutor em Alimentos e Nutrição

Thesis (MSc. Agriculture (Animal Production)) -- University of Limpopo, 2015 / Three experiments were conducted to determine the effect of in ovo glucose injection on egg hatchability, chick hatch-weight, productivity and carcass characteristics of indigenous Potchefstroom koekoek chickens. A complete randomized design was used in all the three parts of the study (from incubation, 1-49 days old unsexed chickens and 50-91 days old female chickens). On day 18 of incubation the developing eggs were subjected to the following treatments: 0- (no glucose or water injected), 0+ (only water injected), 5, 10, 15 or 20 mg of glucose per egg. Each treatment had three replications and there were 20 eggs per replicate. A quadratic model was used to determine in ovo glucose injection levels for optimal egg hatchability, chick hatch-weight and chick to egg weight ratio of Potchefstroom koekoek chickens. In ovo glucose injection improved (P<0.05) egg hatchability, chick hatch-weight and chick to egg weight ratio of the chickens. Egg hatchability, chick hatch-weight and chick to egg weight ratio Potchefstroom koekoek chickens were optimized at different injection levels of 4.50, 10.43 and 12.00 mg of glucose per egg, respectively. Unsexed day-old chicks from the first experiment (according to their initial treatments and replicates) were used in a complete randomized design having six treatments, replicated three times, and having ten birds per replicate. Glucose injection levels increased (P<0.05) feed intake, growth rate, feed conversion ratio, live weight, metabolisable energy and nitrogen retention of female Potchefstroom koekoek chickens aged 1 to 49 days. However, growth rate, live weight, metabolisable energy intake and nitrogen retention of the chickens were optimized at glucose injection levels of 3.92, 4.36, 10.67 and 13.50 mg per egg, respectively. Female chickens from the second part of the study (according to their initial treatments and replicates) were used in a complete randomized design having six treatments, replicated three times, and having five birds per replicate. In ovo glucose injection levels improved (P<0.05) on feed intake, growth rate, feed conversion ratio, live weight, metabolisable energy and nitrogen retention of female Potchefstroom koekoek chickens aged 50 to 91 days. However, only feed conversion ratio and metabolisable energy intake of the chickens were optimized at glucose injection levels of 12.15 and 5.57 mg per egg, respectively. Injection level also improved (P<0.05) carcass, breast, v drumstick, thigh, wing, gizzard and liver weights of female Potchefstroom koekoek chickens aged 13 weeks. In ovo glucose injection increased (P<0.05) breast meat tenderness, juiciness and flavour of female Potchefstroom koekoek chickens aged 91 days. However, breast tenderness, juiciness and flavour of female Potchefstroom koekoek chickens were optimized injection levels of 13.50, 19.25 and 10.83 mg of glucose per egg, respectively. No chicken deaths were observe

Orientador: Hirasilva Borba / Banca: Isabel Cristina Boleli / Banca: Guilherme Costa Venturini / Resumo: Poucas são as informações sobre a qualidade em relação aos padrões externos e internos de ovos "cage-free" produzidos no Brasil. O presente estudo analisou: (1) por até quantas horas após a postura os ovos mantêm sua qualidade interna, quando mantidos em temperatura ambiente; (2) a qualidade física e química de ovos estocados por até 28 dias em temperatura ambiente. No Capítulo 1 é apresentada uma abordagem teórica sobre o tema. O capítulo 2 aborda a duração da qualidade interna dos ovos "cage-free". Para tanto, 480 ovos foram distribuídos em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado composto de 8 períodos (ovos recém-colocados e ovos com: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 e 7 horas pós-postura), com 60 repetições cada. Os parâmetros analisados foram: peso do ovo; percentagens de casca, albúmen e gema; unidade Haugh e índice gema. As médias obtidas foram comparadas pelo teste de Tukey a 5% de significância. Houve efeito significativo (P<0,05) dos períodos pós-postura apenas para a unidade Haugh dos ovos. Os valores médios de UH registrados na 3ª hora pós-postura foram maiores que os observados da 5ª a 7ª hora, mas mantiveram-se semelhantes aos ovos recém-colocados. Concluiu-se que os ovos mantiveram sua qualidade original similar durante o período estudado. O capítulo 3 apresenta a qualidade física e química dos ovos "cage-free" durante a estocagem. Para isso 420 ovos foram distribuídos em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado composto de 5 períodos: ovos frescos e ovos com 7, 14, 21 e 28 d... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The information about quality regarding the external and internal patterns of cage-free eggs produced in Brazil are few. The present study analyzed (1) how long the eggs maintain their internal quality after the laying, when they are kept on room temperature; (2) the physical and chemical characteristics of the eggs stored for up to 28 days on room temperature. In Chapter 1 a theoretical approach on the theme is presented. In Chapter 2 the effects of post laying on the egg internal quality are approached. For that, 480 eggs were distributed on an entirely casual outlining composed by eight periods (fresh eggs and eggs with: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 hours post laying), with 60 repetitions each. The analyzed parameters were: egg weight; shell, albumen and yolk's percentages; Haugh unity and yolk index. The obtained averages were compared the Tukey on 5% significance test. There was a significant effect (P<0.05) of the post laying periods only for the egg Haugh unity. The average values of UH registered on the third hour post laying were bigger than that observed between the 5th and 7th hour, but kept similar to the fresh eggs. It was concluded that the eggs kept their internal quality similar during the studied period. The Chapter 3 presents the physical and chemical characteristics from cage-free eggs stored for different periods. For that, 420 eggs were distributed on an entirely casual outlining composed by five periods: fresh eggs (analyzed on the laying and harvesting day) ... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

<p>Natural and constructed rocky reef habitats constitute important areas for lithophilic spawning fishes and their embryonic and larval offspring. Interstitial spaces created by the structure of rocky reefs create micro-environments where incubating embryos and juvenile fishes are potentially protected from predators. However, if interstitial spaces are filled or blocked by sediment deposition or biofouling, the reef structure may lose the protective benefits for embryonic and larval fish survival. Lake whitefish (<i>Coregonus clupeaformis</i>) and walleye (<i>Sander vitreus</i>) are native Great Lake lithophilic broadcast spawning fish that use rocky spawning habitats that are vulnerable to degradation caused by deposition of suspended sediments. To restore degraded rocky reef habitat, common practices include addition of material to existing reef structures or construction of new reefs, but both of these practices can be costly and time intensive. In this study, we measured the effect of different types and amounts of sediment cover on hatching success of walleye eggs and assessed if differences in female walleye (female length and egg size) account for tolerance to sediment cover. Additionally, we explored an alternative approach for reef restoration, custodial maintenance, in which we created two novel devices to potentially clean rocky reef habitat. We carried out two laboratory experiments in 2018 and 2019 to test the effect of sediment cover on hatching success of walleye eggs (2018) and to test how female identity and female length or egg size may interact with sediment cover to influence hatching success (2019). We exposed walleye eggs to instantaneous sediment cover (0 mm – 7mm) of either sand (course) or silt (fine) sediments from fertilization until day 15 of incubation. Our results indicated that walleye eggs were sensitive to silt cover (71% mortality- 2 mm cover silt) but not sand (47% mortality- 7mm cover sand). While there was an indication that hatching success was marginally related to female length and egg size, we concluded that sediment cover seemed to have similar effects on eggs, regardless of female length or egg size. The susceptibility of walleye eggs to mortality caused by sediment cover underscores the need for non-degraded spawning habitat. Our two cleaning devices used either propulsion or pressurized water jets to clean sediments from the rocky structure as they were towed behind a small vessel (i.e., did not require the use of SCUBA divers). We used devices to clean two natural rocky reefs in Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron in 2018 and 2019. We measured relative hardness before and after use of devices on cleaned and uncleaned study plots to determine effectiveness of devices. In addition, we measured egg deposition by fall (lake whitefish) and spring (walleye) lithophilic spawners on study plots to determine potential differences in fish usage of cleaned and uncleaned areas. We found that cleaning devices contributed to changes in relative hardness among study plots. Egg deposition was also variable on study plots but in general, egg deposition was consistently highest on treatment plots cleaned by our device that used propulsion. The practicality of cleaning devices was seemingly related to the magnitude of degradation of rocky reefs, nevertheless, our results show that the use of these or similar devices may potentially increase egg deposition by creating areas of higher-quality habitat. While more testing is necessary to fully understand the potential of our reef cleaning devices, this two-year study suggests that these devices may be capable of restoring degraded rocky spawning habitat which could potentially minimize the negative effects associated with sediment degradation on lithophilic spawning fish.</p>

Food borne infections due to Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (S. Enteritidis) has shown a dramatic increase in many countries. Different egg pasteurisation treaments have been developed in the past but are still not providing practical or optimal solutions. A method is required that ensure that eggs are microbiologically safe, that does not affect the functional quality and possibly also extend the egg shelf life. This research project formed part of a larger study, “Project 32438: The development of a novel microwave system for the pasteurisation of raw whole shell eggs” funded by the National Research Foundation Innovation Fund and conducted by a consortium consisting of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Delphius Technologies, Eggbert Eggs and University of Pretoria. One of the phases in the development of the microwave system was an evaluation of the effectiveness of applying different microwave power levels (250W and 300W) on eliminating or reducing S. Enteritidis as well as evaluating the effect on the functional properties of the eggs. The microbiological tests were conducted by the CSIR while the latter evaluation was the focus of the study reported here. Microwave pasteurised eggs had lower foaming capacity but higher Haugh values than control (unpasteurised) eggs. Albumin foam stability did not differ between control and microwave pasteurised eggs and the pH of the albumin was almost similar. The yolk pH of pasteurised eggs was higher than that of unpasteurised eggs. Significant differences were found for the sensory properties of broken out eggs as evaluated by a trained sensory panel. At 300W, pasteurised eggs collected from the left side of the oven had partially coagulated albumin that was not clear. The visual appearance of pasteurised eggs at 300W from left side was more adversely affected than the eggs collected from the right side oven position and all eggs pasteurised at 250W. The albumin foaming capacity, visual appearance and sensory properties of raw eggs pasteurised at 250W were slightly affected by microwave heating. A triangle taste test showed that there was a significant difference between control and pasteurised (300W) eggs. A home use consumer test showed that control and microwave pasteurised (250W) eggs were equally acceptable. Pasteurisation could extend the shelf life of whole shell eggs (WSE) by reducing or destroying spoilage microorganisms. Another phase of the project therefore focused on obtaining background data pertaining to the shelf life of eggs. The effect of coating of egg shells with mineral oil on the functional properties and shelf life of WSE stored at 16ºC (58 % RH); 25ºC during the day and 15ºC at night (55% RH) and 32ºC (32 % RH) for a period of six weeks, were evaluated. These conditions were selected to reflect typical temperatures that are used for storing eggs in South Africa. Haugh units of eggs decreased with storage time at all storage conditions but for coated eggs it decreased at a slower rate. The pH of both the yolk and albumin of coated shell eggs was lower than that of uncoated shell eggs. Coating did not have an influence on the foam stability of egg albumen. Foaming capacity of albumen was negatively affected by oil coating. Coated shell eggs stored at the three conditions had a prolonged shelf life compared to uncoated eggs stored in the same manner. If the prototype microwave oven can be optimised to ensure even distribution of microwaves, microwave pasteurisation of shell eggs has potential to become a significant break through in the poultry industry. / Dissertation (MInstAgrar)--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Food Science / unrestricted

Diapause is often an adaptation for survival during periods of harsh environmental conditions. Some diapausing stages do not terminate the dormancy once the favourable conditions are restored. Such prolonged diapause may be enforced by environment if a diapausing stage cannot be reached by the cues inducing termination of dormancy. However, it may also be an advantageous bet-hedging strategy to allow only a fraction of dormant stages produced in any given season to hatch the next time conditions become favourable. I tested whether such strategy can be observed in hatching patterns of dormant eggs of Daphnia obtusa - a cladoceran occurring in small Central European temporary waters. I investigated the influence of intensity of illumination on hatching success, and effect of isolating the eggs encased in ephippia from the sediment. Fraction of eggs terminating diapause, fraction of embryos successfully leaving the egg membranes, and timing of the response were assessed at 15 ˚C under four intensities of illumination (100% = 35µmol.m2 .s-1 , 75%, 50%, 25%; photoperiod 12h light: 12h dark) and in complete darkness for 21 days. My results support previous suggestions that there is no genetically-fixed bet-hedging strategy in D. obtusa. I observed high proportion of eggs which terminated diapause in all...