Faecal microbial communities in South African Windsnyer-type indigenous pigs (SAWIP) and Large Wh... more Faecal microbial communities in South African Windsnyer-type indigenous pigs (SAWIP) and Large White x Landrace crosses (LW x LR) were investigated using high_throughput sequencing of the 16S rDNA genes. The faecal microbial communities in LW x LR and SAWIP pigs fed control (CON) and high maize cob (HMC) diets were evaluated through parallel sequencing of 16S rDNA genes. Butrivibrio, Faecalibacterium and Desulfovibrio although present in LW x LR were absent from the SAWIP microbial community. Bacteroides, Succiniclasticum, Peptococcus and Akkermansia were found in SAWIP but not in LW x LR. The ratios of Bacteroidia to Clostridia on the CON and HMC diets were similar (0.37 vs 0.39) in SAWIP but different (0.24 vs 0.1) in LW x LR. The faecal microbial profiles determined were different between the LW x LR and SAWIP breeds but not between pigs fed the CON and HMC diets. The composition of faecal bacterial communities in SAWIP was determined for the first time. The differences in microbial communities detected may explain the enhanced ability of SAWIP pigs to digest fibrous diets compared to the LW x LR pigs.
Beef production is a natural possibility in a dairy herd through cull cows and bull calves. This ... more Beef production is a natural possibility in a dairy herd through cull cows and bull calves. This is not always exploited fully probably because of its relatively small contribution to farm income. While producing high quality beef, the growth rate of Jersey (J) bull calves for veal and beef is low in comparison to other dairy breeds. This could be improved by crossbreeding with beef breeds. In this paper the beef production of purebred J and Fleckvieh x Jersey (FxJ) bull calves was compared. Bull calves were reared similarly for veal, i.e. a carcass weight not exceeding 100 kg, or as steers for beef to 21 months of age. In the veal production system, for J and FxJ bull calves, respectively, the mean±se birth weight of 27.5±1.2 and 31.9±0.8 kg, live weight at 6 months of age of 166.2±10.4 and 190.0±20.1 kg, average daily gain (ADG) of 0.754±0.013 and 0.865±0.017 kg and marketing age at 7.3±0.1 and 6.2±1.2 months differed (P<0.01). In the beef production system, for J and FxJ bull ...
ABSTRACT This study investigated the breast meat proximate composition and quality indicators in ... more ABSTRACT This study investigated the breast meat proximate composition and quality indicators in relation to response of broilers to the following dietary treatments (T): positive control (+C; with 668mg salinomycin and 500mg zinc bacitracin per kg of feed); Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOLM) was fed at a low level (ML; 1 to 5 g/kg feed depending on growth stage), a medium level (MM, 3 times the low level) or a high level (MH, 5 times the low level); and a negative control (-C; without supplementation) for 35days. At post-mortem, the carcass weight, breast muscle pH at 45 minutes (pH45) and 24 hours (pH24) were recorded. At 36 hours post-mortem, breast muscles were excised, weighed and stored in a refrigerator at 4°C to measure pH, colour (CIE-L*, lightness; a*, redness; and b*, yellowness) and cumulative drip loss % per day over 8 consecutive days. Chroma (C*) and Hue angle (h) were calculated. The –C had the highest (P&gt; 0.05) dressing percentage and chilled carcass weight, and ML had the lowest. Breast meat fat and energy contents were highest (P&lt; 0.05) in +C and MOLM supplemented diets, and lowest in -C. Dietary treatments had no effect on pH at post-mortem and during storage over time. Cumulative drip loss % increased with each day of storage; and it was highest (P&lt; 0.05) in +C and lowest in MH. Dietary supplementation of MOLM significantly (P&lt;0.05) reduced lightness, but increased redness, yellowness, Chroma and the Hue angle during storage over time. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of M. oleifera leaf meal had positive effects on proximate composition and shelf-life quality indicators of broiler breast meat.
The effects of breed and ageing on beef cooking loss components were investigated. Longissimus th... more The effects of breed and ageing on beef cooking loss components were investigated. Longissimus thoracis et lumborum muscle steaks were prepared by an electric oven-broiling method using direct radiant heat at 260°C. Raw and cooked weights were recorded. Percentage cooking loss, thawing loss, drip loss and evaporation loss were determined. Beef cooking loss components were affected by ageing with meat
A diagnostic participatory and questionnaire survey of 451 farmers was conducted in Tsholotsho, C... more A diagnostic participatory and questionnaire survey of 451 farmers was conducted in Tsholotsho, Chinyika and Mutoko Communal Areas in Zimbabwe to understand farmers' crop production constraints in relation to draft power. Nearly half (49%) of all the farmers had no draft animals but 55% of these had access to neighbours' or relatives' animals. The rest hired or worked in others' fields in exchange for draft use. Animal diseases and shortage of grazing land were noted as the major problems in animal production. Both farmer education and experience as well as household herd were found to vary between districts (p<0.001). Tsholotsho had the largest number of farmers (53%) with more than 10 years' experience and Mutoko had the largest proportion (43%) of 'master farmers'. Farmer education and experience were found to be independent of gender. The average land holdings per farmer for Tsholotsho, Chinyika and Mutoko were 6.2, 4.2 and 1.6 ha, respectiv...
The effects of breed and ageing on beef cooking loss components were investigated. Correlations a... more The effects of breed and ageing on beef cooking loss components were investigated. Correlations among the beef cooking loss components were also determined. Longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) muscle steaks from Nguni, Bonsmara and Angus steers were prepared by an electric oven-broiling method using direct radiant heat at 260°C. They were placed in an oven pan on a rack to allow meat juices to drain during cooking and placed in the pre-heated oven 90 mm below the heat source. Raw and cooked weights were recorded. Percentage cooking loss, thawing loss, drip loss and evaporation loss were determined. Beef cooking loss components were affected (P<0.05) by ageing with meat aged for two days having higher (P<0.05) losses than meat aged for 21 days. Cooking loss components were not (P>0.05) affected by breed. There were no (P>0.05) significant correlations among the cooking loss components.
ABSTRACT The opportunities for sustainable utilisation and conservation of chicken genetic resour... more ABSTRACT The opportunities for sustainable utilisation and conservation of chicken genetic resources in Southern Africa need to be addressed. Indigenous chickens are an important animal genetic resource amongst resource-limited rural communities of Southern Africa. They play an important socio-economic role in traditional and religious ceremonies of rural households. They are important in customary rites, such as gift payments. Although the productivity of indigenous chickens in terms of growth and number of eggs per hen per year is low, its production is attained with minimal labour and rearing inputs. The low inputs and, consequently, low risk is one of the major advantages of indigenous chickens production. The conservation of these valuable chicken genetic resources is necessary in the light of the rapid loss of indigenous breeds and strains through commercial dilution and breed replacement. All varieties of domestic species and species with potential for domestication are considered to be important candidates for conservation. Indigenous chicken populations with economic potential, scientific use and cultural or aesthetic interest are of particular importance but all indigenous chickens which are unique and endangered should be incorporated into conservation efforts. This phenotypic information could be useful to standardise the different phenotypes within a region or country and design some criteria for characterisation and description of the indigenous chicken populations into breeds. Molecular markers are an indispensable tool to understand the genetic structures of populations. The assessed phenotypic coupled with genetic information could be a powerful tool towards the promotion of conservation and utilisation of indigenous chicken genetic resources.
Herd dynamics of indigenous pigs were determined in a semi-arid farming area of Chirumanzu, Zimba... more Herd dynamics of indigenous pigs were determined in a semi-arid farming area of Chirumanzu, Zimbabwe. Thirty-two pig herds were monitored once every month for 12 months. Consequently, pig production potential (PPP) and pig production efficiency (PPE) were computed for each month. Incidences of farrowing were higher in times of pig confinement (57%) than in times when the pigs were free ranging (43%). About 23% of the farmers interviewed had access to irrigation. The mean pig herd size per household was 3.3. The average litter size per farrowing was 7.7. Pigs were free ranging for most of the year and penned during the rainy season. Herd sizes changed with month (P&lt;0.05). Farmers who had access to irrigation had higher (P&lt;0.05) herd sizes, number of piglets and the number of adult pigs. Highest piglet numbers were observed during the rainy months. The number of mature pigs contributing to pig production efficiency was low. Piglet mortality was the major cause of exits from the herd and was higher in farmers with no access to irrigation facility (P&lt;0.05). The PPP was highest in farmers who had access to irrigation (P&lt;0.05), except in June and July. The PPE was low and not affected by either month, village or access to irrigation (P&gt;0.05). It can be concluded that pig production efficiencies were low and intervention strategies to improve them need to be developed.
ABSTRACT A study was conducted to establish non-genetic factors affecting growth and carcass trai... more ABSTRACT A study was conducted to establish non-genetic factors affecting growth and carcass traits in Large White and Landrace pigs. This study was based on 20 079 and 12 169 growth and 5 406 and 2 533 carcass data collected on performance tested pigs between 1990 and 2008 from Large White and Landrace breeds respectively. The traits analyzed were backfat thickness (BFAT), test period gain (TPG), lifetime gain (LTG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), age at slaughter (AGES), lean percentage (LEAN), drip-free lean percentage (DLEAN), drip loss (DRIP), dressing percentage (DRESS), carcass length (CRLTH) and eye muscle area (AREA). Significant effects were determined using PROC GLM of SAS. Herd of origin, year of testing and their interaction significantly affected all traits. Most traits were not affected by season of testing in both breeds, while all traits in both breeds were significantly affected by sex. Testing environment (station, farm) affected all growth traits except for LTG. Backfat thickness and AGES increased with increasing total feed intake, while other traits decreased as total feed intake increased. Improved test centre management did not compensate for pre-test underperformance. Castrates produced higher carcass yields of lower quality than females, while performance testing showed the best results when done at testing centres. This study showed the importance of adjusting for fixed effects when performing genetic evaluations in the two pig populations.
Faecal microbial communities in South African Windsnyer-type indigenous pigs (SAWIP) and Large Wh... more Faecal microbial communities in South African Windsnyer-type indigenous pigs (SAWIP) and Large White x Landrace crosses (LW x LR) were investigated using high_throughput sequencing of the 16S rDNA genes. The faecal microbial communities in LW x LR and SAWIP pigs fed control (CON) and high maize cob (HMC) diets were evaluated through parallel sequencing of 16S rDNA genes. Butrivibrio, Faecalibacterium and Desulfovibrio although present in LW x LR were absent from the SAWIP microbial community. Bacteroides, Succiniclasticum, Peptococcus and Akkermansia were found in SAWIP but not in LW x LR. The ratios of Bacteroidia to Clostridia on the CON and HMC diets were similar (0.37 vs 0.39) in SAWIP but different (0.24 vs 0.1) in LW x LR. The faecal microbial profiles determined were different between the LW x LR and SAWIP breeds but not between pigs fed the CON and HMC diets. The composition of faecal bacterial communities in SAWIP was determined for the first time. The differences in microbial communities detected may explain the enhanced ability of SAWIP pigs to digest fibrous diets compared to the LW x LR pigs.
Beef production is a natural possibility in a dairy herd through cull cows and bull calves. This ... more Beef production is a natural possibility in a dairy herd through cull cows and bull calves. This is not always exploited fully probably because of its relatively small contribution to farm income. While producing high quality beef, the growth rate of Jersey (J) bull calves for veal and beef is low in comparison to other dairy breeds. This could be improved by crossbreeding with beef breeds. In this paper the beef production of purebred J and Fleckvieh x Jersey (FxJ) bull calves was compared. Bull calves were reared similarly for veal, i.e. a carcass weight not exceeding 100 kg, or as steers for beef to 21 months of age. In the veal production system, for J and FxJ bull calves, respectively, the mean±se birth weight of 27.5±1.2 and 31.9±0.8 kg, live weight at 6 months of age of 166.2±10.4 and 190.0±20.1 kg, average daily gain (ADG) of 0.754±0.013 and 0.865±0.017 kg and marketing age at 7.3±0.1 and 6.2±1.2 months differed (P<0.01). In the beef production system, for J and FxJ bull ...
ABSTRACT This study investigated the breast meat proximate composition and quality indicators in ... more ABSTRACT This study investigated the breast meat proximate composition and quality indicators in relation to response of broilers to the following dietary treatments (T): positive control (+C; with 668mg salinomycin and 500mg zinc bacitracin per kg of feed); Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOLM) was fed at a low level (ML; 1 to 5 g/kg feed depending on growth stage), a medium level (MM, 3 times the low level) or a high level (MH, 5 times the low level); and a negative control (-C; without supplementation) for 35days. At post-mortem, the carcass weight, breast muscle pH at 45 minutes (pH45) and 24 hours (pH24) were recorded. At 36 hours post-mortem, breast muscles were excised, weighed and stored in a refrigerator at 4°C to measure pH, colour (CIE-L*, lightness; a*, redness; and b*, yellowness) and cumulative drip loss % per day over 8 consecutive days. Chroma (C*) and Hue angle (h) were calculated. The –C had the highest (P&gt; 0.05) dressing percentage and chilled carcass weight, and ML had the lowest. Breast meat fat and energy contents were highest (P&lt; 0.05) in +C and MOLM supplemented diets, and lowest in -C. Dietary treatments had no effect on pH at post-mortem and during storage over time. Cumulative drip loss % increased with each day of storage; and it was highest (P&lt; 0.05) in +C and lowest in MH. Dietary supplementation of MOLM significantly (P&lt;0.05) reduced lightness, but increased redness, yellowness, Chroma and the Hue angle during storage over time. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of M. oleifera leaf meal had positive effects on proximate composition and shelf-life quality indicators of broiler breast meat.
The effects of breed and ageing on beef cooking loss components were investigated. Longissimus th... more The effects of breed and ageing on beef cooking loss components were investigated. Longissimus thoracis et lumborum muscle steaks were prepared by an electric oven-broiling method using direct radiant heat at 260°C. Raw and cooked weights were recorded. Percentage cooking loss, thawing loss, drip loss and evaporation loss were determined. Beef cooking loss components were affected by ageing with meat
A diagnostic participatory and questionnaire survey of 451 farmers was conducted in Tsholotsho, C... more A diagnostic participatory and questionnaire survey of 451 farmers was conducted in Tsholotsho, Chinyika and Mutoko Communal Areas in Zimbabwe to understand farmers' crop production constraints in relation to draft power. Nearly half (49%) of all the farmers had no draft animals but 55% of these had access to neighbours' or relatives' animals. The rest hired or worked in others' fields in exchange for draft use. Animal diseases and shortage of grazing land were noted as the major problems in animal production. Both farmer education and experience as well as household herd were found to vary between districts (p<0.001). Tsholotsho had the largest number of farmers (53%) with more than 10 years' experience and Mutoko had the largest proportion (43%) of 'master farmers'. Farmer education and experience were found to be independent of gender. The average land holdings per farmer for Tsholotsho, Chinyika and Mutoko were 6.2, 4.2 and 1.6 ha, respectiv...
The effects of breed and ageing on beef cooking loss components were investigated. Correlations a... more The effects of breed and ageing on beef cooking loss components were investigated. Correlations among the beef cooking loss components were also determined. Longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) muscle steaks from Nguni, Bonsmara and Angus steers were prepared by an electric oven-broiling method using direct radiant heat at 260°C. They were placed in an oven pan on a rack to allow meat juices to drain during cooking and placed in the pre-heated oven 90 mm below the heat source. Raw and cooked weights were recorded. Percentage cooking loss, thawing loss, drip loss and evaporation loss were determined. Beef cooking loss components were affected (P<0.05) by ageing with meat aged for two days having higher (P<0.05) losses than meat aged for 21 days. Cooking loss components were not (P>0.05) affected by breed. There were no (P>0.05) significant correlations among the cooking loss components.
ABSTRACT The opportunities for sustainable utilisation and conservation of chicken genetic resour... more ABSTRACT The opportunities for sustainable utilisation and conservation of chicken genetic resources in Southern Africa need to be addressed. Indigenous chickens are an important animal genetic resource amongst resource-limited rural communities of Southern Africa. They play an important socio-economic role in traditional and religious ceremonies of rural households. They are important in customary rites, such as gift payments. Although the productivity of indigenous chickens in terms of growth and number of eggs per hen per year is low, its production is attained with minimal labour and rearing inputs. The low inputs and, consequently, low risk is one of the major advantages of indigenous chickens production. The conservation of these valuable chicken genetic resources is necessary in the light of the rapid loss of indigenous breeds and strains through commercial dilution and breed replacement. All varieties of domestic species and species with potential for domestication are considered to be important candidates for conservation. Indigenous chicken populations with economic potential, scientific use and cultural or aesthetic interest are of particular importance but all indigenous chickens which are unique and endangered should be incorporated into conservation efforts. This phenotypic information could be useful to standardise the different phenotypes within a region or country and design some criteria for characterisation and description of the indigenous chicken populations into breeds. Molecular markers are an indispensable tool to understand the genetic structures of populations. The assessed phenotypic coupled with genetic information could be a powerful tool towards the promotion of conservation and utilisation of indigenous chicken genetic resources.
Herd dynamics of indigenous pigs were determined in a semi-arid farming area of Chirumanzu, Zimba... more Herd dynamics of indigenous pigs were determined in a semi-arid farming area of Chirumanzu, Zimbabwe. Thirty-two pig herds were monitored once every month for 12 months. Consequently, pig production potential (PPP) and pig production efficiency (PPE) were computed for each month. Incidences of farrowing were higher in times of pig confinement (57%) than in times when the pigs were free ranging (43%). About 23% of the farmers interviewed had access to irrigation. The mean pig herd size per household was 3.3. The average litter size per farrowing was 7.7. Pigs were free ranging for most of the year and penned during the rainy season. Herd sizes changed with month (P&lt;0.05). Farmers who had access to irrigation had higher (P&lt;0.05) herd sizes, number of piglets and the number of adult pigs. Highest piglet numbers were observed during the rainy months. The number of mature pigs contributing to pig production efficiency was low. Piglet mortality was the major cause of exits from the herd and was higher in farmers with no access to irrigation facility (P&lt;0.05). The PPP was highest in farmers who had access to irrigation (P&lt;0.05), except in June and July. The PPE was low and not affected by either month, village or access to irrigation (P&gt;0.05). It can be concluded that pig production efficiencies were low and intervention strategies to improve them need to be developed.
ABSTRACT A study was conducted to establish non-genetic factors affecting growth and carcass trai... more ABSTRACT A study was conducted to establish non-genetic factors affecting growth and carcass traits in Large White and Landrace pigs. This study was based on 20 079 and 12 169 growth and 5 406 and 2 533 carcass data collected on performance tested pigs between 1990 and 2008 from Large White and Landrace breeds respectively. The traits analyzed were backfat thickness (BFAT), test period gain (TPG), lifetime gain (LTG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), age at slaughter (AGES), lean percentage (LEAN), drip-free lean percentage (DLEAN), drip loss (DRIP), dressing percentage (DRESS), carcass length (CRLTH) and eye muscle area (AREA). Significant effects were determined using PROC GLM of SAS. Herd of origin, year of testing and their interaction significantly affected all traits. Most traits were not affected by season of testing in both breeds, while all traits in both breeds were significantly affected by sex. Testing environment (station, farm) affected all growth traits except for LTG. Backfat thickness and AGES increased with increasing total feed intake, while other traits decreased as total feed intake increased. Improved test centre management did not compensate for pre-test underperformance. Castrates produced higher carcass yields of lower quality than females, while performance testing showed the best results when done at testing centres. This study showed the importance of adjusting for fixed effects when performing genetic evaluations in the two pig populations.
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