Research Articles (Animal Sciences)
Recent Submissions
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Composition of rabbit caecal microbiota and the effects of dietary quercetin supplementation and sex thereupon
(Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, 2019)The purpose of this study was to add to the current understanding of rabbit caecal microbiota. This involved describing its microbial composition and linking this to live performance parameters, as well as determining the ... -
Effect of breed types and castration on carcass characteristics of Boer and large frame indigenous Veld goats of Southern Africa
(MDPI, 2020)Weaner male Boer Goats (BG; n = 36; 21 bucks and 15 wethers) and large frame Indigenous Veld Goats (IVG; n = 41; 21 bucks and 20 wethers) were raised on hay and natural grass ad libitum and the recommended amount of ... -
Bioavailability and bioefficacy of hemp by-products in ruminant meat production and preservation: a review.
(2020)Plant by-products obtained from agro-industrial processes require valorisation to demonstrate their potential for enhancing animal health, meat production, and shelf life extension. One example is the fast-growing hemp ... -
Ostrich ejaculate characteristics and male libido around equinox and solstice dates
(Springer, 2020)The study evaluated the effect of time of the year in which changes in photoperiod occurs on ostrich semen characteristics and male libido. Semen was collected for 5 days before, on and 5 days after winter solstice (21 ... -
Meat quality, skin damage and reproductive performance of ostriches exposed to extensive human presence and interactions at an early age
(Springer, 2020)The effect human presence and interactions performed after hatch to 3 months of age has on ostrich meat quality, skin damage and reproductive performance at a later age was investigated in 416-day-old ostrich chicks. The ... -
Livelihood, food and nutrition security in Southern Africa : what role do indigenous cattle genetic resources play?
(MDPI, 2020)Of the 345 million people in the Southern African Development Community (SADC), 30.6% are severely food insecure, 8% malnourished and 50% live with less than US $1 per day, respectively. Livelihood, food and nutrition ... -
Chemical composition of wild fallow deer (Dama Dama) meat from South Africa : a preliminary evaluation
(MDPI, 2020)The effects of sex and production systems on carcass yield, meat quality and proximate composition of sub-adult impala were evaluated by culling 35 impala from intensive (12 males) and semi-extensive (12 males and 11 ... -
Carcass yields and physiochemical meat quality of semi-extensive and intensively farmed impala (Aepyceros melampus)
(MDPI, 2020)The effects of sex and production systems on carcass yield, meat quality and proximate composition of sub-adult impala were evaluated by culling 35 impala from intensive (12 males) and semi-extensive (12 males and 11 ... -
Domestic free-range pig genetic resources in Southern Africa : progress and prospects
(MDPI, 2020)Pig genetic resources in Africa originate from different regions and were introduced through several migration pathways. Genetic analysis has shown a strong phylogeographic pattern, with pigs on the eastern parts showing ... -
The current status of indigenous ovine genetic resources in Southern Africa and future sustainable utilisation to improve livelihoods
(MDPI, 2019-12-25)Abstract: Indigenous sheep play an important role in the livelihoods of communal farmers in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), and this underlines the need to curb the genetic erosion of these valuable ... -
Citrus and winery wastes : promising dietary supplements for sustainable ruminant animal nutrition, health, production, and meat quality
(MDPI, 2018-10-16)Citrus and grapes are the most widely grown fruits globally, with one-third of total production used for juice and wine making. The juice and winemaking processes generate large quantities of solid organic wastes including ... -
Performance, water intake, carcass characteristics and intestinal histomorphology of broilers supplemented with phytase
(South African Society for Animal Science, 2018-09-07)A 32-day experiment was conducted to study the effects of supplementation of phytase enzyme, Ronozyme® HiPhos (DSM Nutritional Products, Basel, Switzerland), on the production parameters, water intake, intestinal ... -
Use of sweet lupin, canola oilcake and full-fat canola as alternatives to soybean oilcake in diets for broilers
(South African Society for Animal Science, 2018-07-02)The effect of replacing soybean oilcake meal as a protein source with three levels (6.6%, 13.0% and 20.0%) of sweet lupin (Lupinus angustifolius), canola oilcake and full-fat canola in diets for broiler chickens was examined. ... -
Feeding preferences of ostriches towards the inclusion of full-fat canola seed in grower diets
(South African Society for Animal Science, 2018-11-20)The largest expense of an intensive ostrich production unit is feed cost (ca.75%). Protein makes up a great portion of feed for monogastric animals and this expense can be lowered by utilizing locally produced feedstuffs ... -
Production and slaughter performance of ostriches fed full-fat canola seed
(South African Society for Animal Science, 2018-09-26)Full-fat canola seed (FFCS) is a locally produced alternative protein source that has potential for inclusion in the diet of ostriches. Chicks aged 84 days and weighing 24.7 ± 0.36 kg were fed five iso-nutritional diets ... -
Effects of varying sweet lupin dietary inclusion levels on feather classes, leather traits and meat composition of feedlot ostriches
(South African Society for Animal Science, 2017-12-01)The main consumer products derived from ostriches are feathers, leather and meat. Despite progress in optimizing production practices, additional information is still necessary about the value of various raw materials as ... -
The effect of beef production system on proximate composition and fatty acid profile of three beef muscles
(South African Society for Animal Science, 2017-12-22)In this study the effects of animal age combined with feeding regime and the utilisation of a beta-agonist (within a grain-fed system) on proximate composition and fatty acid profile of M. longissimus lumborum (LL), M. ... -
Analysis of carcass characteristics and fat deposition of Merino, South African Mutton Merino and Dorper lambs housed in a feedlot
(South African Society for Animal Science, 2018-02-15)The objective of this study was to determine the effect of time spent in a feedlot on the size of the various fat depots and the distribution of the main tissues (muscle, bone, and fat) of three common South African sheep ... -
Relationship of ewe reproduction with subjectively assessed wool and conformation traits in the Elsenburg Merino flock
(South African Society for Animal Science, 2017-11-06)Subjectively assessed wool and conformation traits are widely used to select breeding ewes and rams in the sheep industry. Data from a Merino flock that is maintained at Elsenburg Research Farm were used to investigate ... -
The influence of different dietary energy concentrations on the production parameters of feedlot ostriches
(South African Society for Animal Science, 2017-12-01)Energy is essential for the continuous survival of any living organism. In ostrich diets, energy is usually derived from maize, which is often subject to fluctuations in yield as a result of drought conditions. Therefore, ...