Friday, May 15, 2009

Crocodile soup

 Crocodile soup is a centuries old Chinese cure for asthma and respiratory problems.

Wednesday, May 06, 2009

Producing avian flu antigens in ostrich eggs


"A Japanese ostrich flock is the source for flu mask ingredients.

TOKYO -- Prevention of swine flu may soon come from a surprising source: ostriches.

Yasuhiro Tsukamoto, a professor of veterinary science at Kyoto Prefectural University, keeps a herd of 500 ostriches on a farm in Western Japan.

He isn't breeding the birds for their meat, skins or feathers, but for their melon-sized eggs -- which he doesn't eat.

He instead injects the ostriches with avian flu antigens (weakened viruses), then harvests the antibodies they produce in their eggs."

http://www.forbes.com/2009/05/06/ostrich-japan-flu-healthcare-business-swine.html

Monday, May 04, 2009

Is swine flu good for crocodile meat ?


"The Australian crocodile industry is hoping swine flu may result in a boom in crocodile meat sales.
Keith Cook, from Australian Crocodile Traders, says the crocodile meat industry received a sales boost from mad cow disease, and if swine flu gathers momentum, the industry should benefit again.
He says crocodile meat is the prefect white meat alternative for consumers who have been turned off eating pork.
"It wouldn't be too far from the truth to be able to say it is the closest simile to pork that you're likely to get," he says.
"Taste-wise, texture-wise, the colour, the fat content, it's very, very similar."

http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/content/200904/s2555817.htm