STRAUSU (STRUTHIO CAMELUS VAR. DOMESTICUS) TIEVĀS UN RESNĀS ZARNAS MORFOMETRISKIE RĀDĪTĀJI PERINATĀLAJĀ PERIODĀ.

The aim of this research is to find out morphometric indices of the small and large intestine of the ostrich chicks from the 38th day of embryonic development to the age of 60 days. Forty-two individuals of African ostriches of both sexes bred on the ostrich farm Ozoliņi AB, Jekabpils region, Latvia, were used in the present research; 6 of them were embryos at the 38th day of incubation, and 36 chicks - 1, 3, 7, 14, 30 and 60 days old, 6 individuals in each group. The absolute total weight, the absolute and relative weight of the small and large intestine separately were estimated, as well as the absolute and relative intestinal length was measured. The absolute total weight of intestines in chicks from the 38th day of embryonic development to the age of 60 days increases 67 times, i.e. from 8.81 ± 1.00 g to 593.64 ± 82.66 g. The relative intestinal weight increases linearly up to 30 days of age, while at the age of 60 days a significant decrease of the relative intestinal weight is observed. The total length of intestines in ostrich chicks from the 38th day of embryonic development to the age of 60 days increases 6.7 times, i.e. from 1188 ± 67 mm to 7947.00 ± 773.67 mm. With the increase of the age of ostrich chicks, the relative length of the small intestine tends to decrease, the relative length of the large intestine, in its turn, tends to increase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]