Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (AnGR) have great potential to contribute to increased food security and improved livelihood of poor people in developing countries. However, indigenous livestock which are well adapted to local conditions are often underutilized, and…
Indigenous chicken production systems were studied in Limpopo, Northern Cape and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa. Semi-structured questionnaires were administered to 137 households in the three provinces. The study showed that a small proportion of the households (9.8%) derive…
A South African national livestock survey was conducted in 2003 as part of an FAO initiative. The design of the survey sample framework was based on the input variables of the different biomes and urban/rural and deep rural enumerator areas…
The study was conducted to assess and examine the Community Piggery Projects so as to develop an integrated support system to achieve a continuous improvement in profitability amongst the Resource Poor Farmers of North West (NW), Limpopo (LP) and Mpumalanga…
Heifer International supports families in integrated, sustainable livestock and crop farms in order to develop strong local communities. Livestock receive protection from predators, improved feed supplies, appropriate housing and humane slaughter in exchange for the benefits they give to the…
The objective of this study was to determine the best genotype between F1 (Jersey × Nguni and Jersey × Tuli) and F2 (Jersey × Jersey × Nguni and Jersey × Jersey × Tuli) cows for semi arid smallholder farming areas…
This paper discusses competition for land between communal grazing livestock systems and emerging preferences for wildlife-based tourism land uses in the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Park. Renewed efforts to improve livestock production as a tool for rural development in Southern Africa…
The aim of these guidelines is to assist breeders in applying good management and recording practices to optimize their herds’ genetic evaluations, i.e. to optimize the amount, correctness and effectiveness of your herd’s data that is used in a BLUP…
This presentation provides an overview of beef quality and the manipulation of beef quality through feeding. Beef consists of edible muscle, connective tissue and associated fat. The most important quality attributes of beef include the tenderness, other sensory characteristics, convenience…
This article demonstrates the value of a survey based on a sample framework where urban/rural/deep rural enumerator areas of the South African population census are fused onto the input variables of the different biomes. The results of the survey can…
Livestock, poultry and pigs were domesticated between 5,000 and 11,000 years ago in the Neolithic period, also referred to as the “Neolithic revolution”. This occurred simultaneously and quite spontaneously in different regions around the world and forever changed the history…
The beef production of Belgian Blue and Limousin (x Jersey) crossbred heifers and steers was compared to that of Jersey steers. Fifty, second parity and older Jersey cows weighing at least 350 kg were inseminated with Belgian Blue or Limousin…
Guinea fowls are adaptable to harsh climatic conditions of Botswana and survive well with limited feed resources for most part of the year. Very little research has been done on guinea fowls in Botswana. The objectives of this study were…
