Working Group No. 13 - Ratites
It is a pleasure to announce to all WPSA members that, after one year of contacts with the Board of the Association and during the 10th World Ostrich Congress held in Vienna 18-19th October 2003, a new Work Group (No.13) -"Ratites", including ostriches, emus and rheas -, has been created within the European Federation of WPSA. Dr Fritz Huchzermeyer (South Africa) was unanimously elected as first chairman.
Other objectives will be:
- Work for the best interests of Ratite science, farming and industry.
- Represent Ratite science and industry through communication, dissemination of information and provision of standards for production and animal welfare.
- Support and research and through it marketing and promotion within the Ratite farming and associated industries.
- Establish, inside the Ratite World Group 13, different task groups and knowledge areas (improve farming conditions, farming production and rearing methods; improve the breeding under winter Palaearctic conditions and the genetic and productivity improvement; study the diseases as well as the transport and welfare of ratites ).
Information membership
I send this information to clarify how the European Federation of the World's Poultry Science Association (WPSA) likes to handle membership in Working Group 13 - Ratites:
- All members should be members of WPSA. Normally, they will be members of the branch in their own country. If a country has no WPSA branch or if a person prefers to be member of another WPSA branch, exceptions are possible.
- The secretaries of all European branches are asked to propose candidates for active work in the WG 13 Ratites. We like to have 1-3 per country, depending on size of branch and qualification of candidates. Science and industry should be fairly represented.
- The WG Symposia are always open to members and interested non-members. We also like to stress that the "European Federation" excludes no country outside political or geographical Europe when it comes to WG activities.
- In case of the new Work Group Ratites (13), it will be helpful to approach also non-members who are willing to join the WPSA and to support WG13.
For more information:
Prof L.C. Hoffman
University of Stellenbosch
Department of Animal Sciences
Private Bag X1
MATIELAND 7602
SOUTH AFRICA
E-mail: lch@sun.ac.za