Concentrations of plasma copper, plasma zinc and blood selenium in sheep, goats and cattle, grazing together on natural pastures, were determined at two- to three-monthly intervals over a two-year period. Cattle had the lowest plasma copper concentrations, but no definite…
Fourteen Holstein calves, two to four days of age, were randomly divided into two groups to determine the effect of abomasal curd suppression on selected blood profiles. Calves received a milk replacer in which casein coagulation either was normal (CM),…
The relationship between nitrogen and other components in kikuyu grass (Pennisetum clandestinum) from long-established pastures was investigated. Leaf material, when compared to stem tissue, was higher in total organic nitrogen and protein content, but lower in non-protein organic nitrogen, nitrate,…
Production differences between Merino ewes from different regions and between their progeny as determined at a central testing centre. The first Merino championships for measured production took place in 1984. A total of 31 breeders each sent 12 ewes which…
Problem areas in the production of Cherax tenuimanus, a freshwater crayfish (the 'marron') introduced to South Africa from Australia , are outlined. The high juvenile mortality rate problem is discussed. With reference to the morphology of the mouthparts of the…
The effect of lupin supplementation during mating on the reproduction of autumn-lambing Merino ewes was studied relative to an unsupplemented control group. A total of 158 ewes were available for lambing in 1985, 229 in 1987 and 185 in 1988.…
Milk progesterone levels were measured on a daily basis for 44 dairy cows from calving to conception in order to use the progesterone profiles in diagnosing and treating reproductive disorders related to the oestrous cycle. Some of the profiles could…
True metabolizable energy, corrected for nitrogen retention (TMEN) and true lysine availability, was determined for maize and sunflower oilcake meal, two samples of each, and in samples of fishmeal, soyabean oilcake meal and sorghum meal using intact and caecectomized roosters.…
The effect of supplementing a diet of wheat straw plus urea with either 0, 100 or 200 g/d cottonseed oilcake meal .(CSM) in combination with either 0, 100 or 200 g/d whole maize on wool and carcass growth of SA…
Influence of copper and selenium supplementation in SA Mutton Merino ewes, kept on pastures with low copper and selenium concentrations, was investigated. Ewes which came into oestrus and conceived during March to April, were found to have concentrations of plasma…
The effect of selecting for growth, size and efficiency on fitness (fertility and survival rate) and body composition was investigated by surveying a number of selection experiments which have appeared in Animal Breeding Abstracts since 1938. In the case of…
Data of lambing records from 1984 to 1989, which comprised 914 ewe lambing years and 1522 lambing opportunities, were used to investigate overall productive performance of Dohne Merino ewes under an accelerated lambing system. Ewes were exposed to three fixed…
Afrikaner, Nguni and Pedi weaner bulls (15 per breed) were fed individually from initial masses of 168, 159 and 160 kg to predetermined target masses of 290, 340 and 390 kg respectively. Feed and water were freely available. The diet…
Textural evaluations were conducted on the longissimus thoracis muscles from carcasses of young Afrikaner, Nguni and Pedi bulls fed intensively and slaughtered at 160, 290, 340 and 390 kg. Carcasses were stimulated electrically (500 V, 12,5 Hz) for 2 min,…
Female Boer goat kids were randomly allocated (post weaning) to 2 X 3 factorial design experiments for two observation periods, to monitor puberty and the induction thereof. Treatments for each period (December and April weaning seasons respectively) included three male…
Effect of feed restriction in the early life of young Merino sheep on growth performance and wool characteristics. The effect of feed restriction on the relative performance of young Merino sheep was investigated. Lambs were separated from their mothers between…
The effect of starch fermentation in the rumen on the kinetics of roughage digestion, was studied using 12 sheep fed three roughages, viz. lucerne hay, maize cob leaves and wheat straw. The amount of starch infused per day was increased…
Digestibility or diets containing cottonseed and the effect or supplementary lanolin thereon in sheep. The apparent digestibility of nutrients in four diets (A, B, C and D) containing 0, 10, 15 and 20% whole cottonseed respectively, was determined in sheep…
This experiment was conducted to determine apparent and true amino acid digestibilities of untreated (BPS), heat-treated (HBPS) and thermal-ammoniated (NH3BPS) high-tannin sorghum with pigs both intact and with an ileo-rectal anastomosis (IRA). The mean endogenous protein secretion for the surgically…
An experiment was conducted to evaluate a hetero-yellow endosperm sorghum cultivar (G766W) in comparison to a low-tannin (GL) sorghum cultivar as well as maize in a growth trial using pigs. The digestible energy (DE) content of the experimental diets as…
