The lipid and amino acid composition of the kiwi (Apteryx australis mantelli) ratite eggs

Abstract

A complete lipid assay of the egg contents from the New Zealand kiwi (Apteryx australis mantelli) was carried out and compared with that of the domestic hen. The proportion of lipid to protein in the kiwi egg (1 : 0.5) is nearly twice as great as in the eggs of the domestic hen (1 :0.9). Hen's egg lipids also have lower quantities of triacylglycerols (65 %) and higher phospholipids (29 %) as compared with those of kiwi egg lipids as 83 % and 8 % respectively. The overall fatty acid composition from the individual major lipid constituents and protein amino acid composition of the kiwi egg matched those of the domestic hen.

Lipid composition of a clutch of kakapo (Strigops habroptilus) (Aves: Cacatuidae) eggs

“…This pattern is similar to that for other bird species, e.g., domestic hen (Gallus domesticus) 70% and 30% (Body & Reid 1983) and takahe (Notornis mantellii 72-74% and26-28%, respectively (Body 1984). The detailed phospholipidcomposition (fable 3) follows a pattern similar to that for other birds, i.e., phosphatidyl choline (70%) and phosphatidylethanolamine (11%) (Rhodes & Lea 1957;Privett et al 1962).…”

“…The lipid extracts (400-500 mg) from each of eggs 3 and4 were fractionated into their respective neutral and polar lipid classes by silicic acid column (40 g) chromatography, with both CHC13 and MeOH as the eluting solvents (Body & Reid 1983). The polar Body & Powlesland-Lipid composition of kakapo eggs 343 lipids from both eggs were combined (about 160 mg) and rechromatographed on another silicic acid column (40 g) and resolved by eluting with CHC13-MeOH solvent mixtures of increasing polarity strength.…”

“…Low quantities of essential fatty acids, particularly linoleic acid (18:2) in the egg yolk, reflect the low dietary intake that can seriously affect the survival of chicks (Menge 1968;Body & Reid 1983). Now that most kakapo have been transferred to safer locations to reduce introduced predator hazards, similar information on the lipid composition of their infertile egg yolks and natural diet could determine whether lipid deficiencies may be a problem for the kakapo.…”

Ultrasonographic features of the regressing yolk sac of normal captive Brown kiwi chicks (Apteryx mantelli) vary with age

“…All yolk sacs examined in the present study were predominantly hyperechoic relative to adjacent coelomic structures. This is likely attributed to the high lipid content of brown kiwi yolk sac 18 . Small anechoic pockets within the yolk sac were occasionally documented.…”

“…This is likely attributed to the high lipid content of brown kiwi yolk sac. 18 Small anechoic pockets within the yolk sac were occasionally documented.…”