Fertility management of extensively farmed beef cattle in South Africa is essential to ensure the economic viability of such production systems. However, the success of timed artificial insemination (TAI) programmes varies, affecting cattle farmers' adoption of this reproductive technique. This…
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of various dietary energy levels on the carcass and meat characteristics of feedlot-finished steers. A total of 27 purebred and crossbred Charolais and Nellore steers were used, with a mean…
To enhance smallholder beef farmers’ capacity to cope with animal feed shortages, especially dietary protein induced by climate change, it is important to evaluate the feeding value of low-cost protein sources naturally available in the environment. The aim of the…
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of feeding faba bean and sweet lupin as alternative protein sources to soybean on productive performance, blood parameters, carcass composition, and chemical-physical characteristics of meat and its fatty acid…
A better understanding of the influences of the bioregion (production environment) and environmental factors on the productivity of beef cows is vital in the pursuit of improving beef production. The influence of bioregion and important environmental factors in South Africa…
Access to genotyping assays enables the identification of informative markers that discriminate between cattle breeds. Identification of these markers can assist in breed assignment, improvement and conservation. The objective of this study was to identify breed informative markers to discriminate…
The influence of cytoplasmic effects on weaning weight (WW) and age at first calving (AFC) were investigated in the South African Afrikaner beef breed. A total of 14 535 AFC records (1974 - 2008) and 68 152 WW records (1974…
The estimated calving percentage of beef cattle is 62% in the commercial sector of South Africa. Fertility is regarded as the main component influencing total herd efficiency in beef cattle. If the long calving seasons can be shortened and the…
The importance of containing costs through the optimal utilization of feed emphasizes the need to optimize, rather than maximize, the rate of reproduction. It is, however, unknown which lick supplementation regimen, provided to an extensive beef herd on mixed veld,…
Climate change and its effects on existence on earth are becoming more and more relevant as physical evidence of change in our climate is beginning to mount. Livestock production and our dependence on it for survival is a reality. It…
Milk production accounts for about 60% of the variation in weaning weight and is therefore considered an economically important trait in beef production. However, milk production data is not routinely available in beef improvement programmes and therefore weaning weight is…
Genetic parameters were estimated for body weight at scanning (SCW) and live animal ultrasound measures of rump fat thickness (P8FT), rib fat thickness (RBFT), rib eye-muscle area (REA) and intramuscular fat percentage (IMF) for South African Angus beef cattle. A…
Ruminal acidosis is discussed with reference to causes and economic and health implications. Distinction is made between the acute form which with proper adaptation to high energy diets is seldom encountered and the more problematic chronic or sub-acute form, commonly…
Lactate utilising bacteria (LUB) assist in reducing the risk of ruminal lactate acidosis when high concentrate diets are fed to feedlot cattle. Ruminal lactate acidosis can lead to lower animal performance and morbidity. Preliminary studies suggested that the strain,Megasphaera elsdenii…
A total of 828 crossbred beef and dual-purpose type cows were allocated to three herds which were bred either artificially, artificially followed by natural service or by natural service only. Conception rates were 72,9; 88,2 and 94,3 % respectively. The…
The objectives of the study were to estimate genetic parameters for tick resistance and to evaluate the effect of the level of tick infestation on the estimates of genetic parameters for South African Bonsmara cattle. Field data of repeated tick…
The true diagnosis of mineral deficiencies depends on the mineral responses to the supplementation of the deficient minerals; however, based on animal tissue analysis Cu, Mn, Ca and P are minerals that are likely to be deficient in cattle production…
Influence of birth mass on incidence of dystocia in the Northern Transvaal Bushveld. Seven cow herds (Afrikaner, Hereford, Bonsmara, Simmentaler, Hereford x Afrikaner, Simmentaler x Afrikaner, Simmentaler x Hereford x Afrikaner), consisting of 40 animals each, were investigated from 1979…
Four rumen-cannulated steers were fed a diet consisting of whole maize grain, high protein concentrate and molasses. Two of the four animals received 10% ground Eragrostis curvula hay in addition to the whole maize grain diet. The feeding period was…
Effect of substituting maize meal with rolled and whole maize respectively, in a finishing diet for beef cattle containing 20% maize silage (dry matter basis), was investigated. The inclusion of whole maize in a diet without silage was also investigated…
