Research Articles (Animal Sciences)
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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, ... -
A novel flush technique to simulate natural dispersal of spermatozoa in the female reproductive tract and expedite motility assessment of fresh ejaculated Merino (Ovis aries) sperm
(South African Society for Animal Science, 2018-02-15)Motility is an important criterion in the assessment and quantification of the quality of ejaculated and epididymal sperm samples. Ovine sperm spermatozoa are particularly susceptible to cryodamage, and shortening the ... -
Effect of energy sources on ovarian follicular dynamics and oestrous activity of Holstein cows
(South African Society for Animal Science, 2018-07-30)The objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of three nutritional treatments, which differed in energy level and source, on preovulatory follicles, number of follicles and oestrous activity in dairy cows. Twenty ... -
Application of immunocastration in a commercial Dohne Merino ram flock before weaning
(South African Society for Animal Science, 2019-01-03)The influence of pre-weaning immunocastration on the growth, incidences of reaction to vaccination, serum testosterone concentration and slaughter performance of ram lambs was determined and compared to that of physically ... -
Fertility in dairy cows and ways to improve it
(South African Society for Animal Science, 2018-11-17)The fertility of dairy cows affects the genetic improvement and financial sustainability of dairy herds. Fertility is a complex trait that is affected by several factors. Genetically, fertility is difficult to improve ... -
Feed preference of grower ostriches consuming diets differing in Lupinus angustifolius inclusion levels
(South African Society for Animal Science, 2017-12-01)Feed costs contribute the largest proportion of the input costs of slaughter birds in an intensive ostrich production unit. Alternative, cheaper feedstuffs, such as lupins (sweet and bitter cultivars), were therefore ... -
Pre- and postpartum effects of starch and fat in dairy cows : a review
(South African Society for Animal Science, 2018-01-30)This review discusses the effects of starch and fat before and after calving on metabolism, energy balance (EB), milk production, and reproduction in dairy cows. The shift in dairy cows from a pregnant non-lactating state ... -
Effects of energy levels and sources on plasma metabolites and live weight of Holstein cows
(South African Society for Animal Science, 2018-07-30)The objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of nutritional treatments, which differed after calving, on energy levels and sources on plasma metabolite profiles and live weight (LW) changes as an indication of ... -
Nutrients composition in fit snacks made from ostrich, beef and chicken dried meat
(MDPI, 2018)The aim of the study was to compare three types of meat snacks made from ostrich, beef, and chicken meat in relation to their nutrients content including fat, fatty acids, heme iron, and peptides, like anserine and carnosine, ... -
Feather and skin development of ostriches Struthio camelus
(AOSIS, 2018-12-05)Information on feather and skin growth is important for the development of mathematical optimisation nutritional models for ostriches. Ostriches (n = 65) were subjected to a four-stage formulated growth diet programme ...
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