Two experiments designated A and B were conducted to evaluate the effect of supplementing napier grass with lucerne on dry matter intake (DMI) and weight gain(ADG) of Friesian and Sahiwal heifers. In experiment A which lasted 92 days, 24 heifers…
A total of 967 animal records, of subjective trait scores, obtained between 1989 and 1990, from the control flock at the Karakul Research Station near Upington were used to evaluate 20 pelt traits in Karakul sheep, applying linear and threshold…
The essential amino acid (EAA) composition of the carcass and duodenal digesta content of South African Mutton Merino ram lambs, fed a standard total mixed diet high in rumen degradable protein (RDP), was investigated. The standard diet consisted (%) of…
The essential amino acid (EAA) composition of the whole empty body of South African Mutton Merino ram lambs fed a standard diet was investigated. The standard diet consisted (%) of 30 lucerne, 8 wheat straw, 56.25 maize meal, 3.5 molasses…
Genetic parameters and trends were estimated for 2296 lambs from a SA Mutton Merino nucleus breeding scheme using multiple trait mixed model procedures. Direct heritability estimates obtained for the traits were 0.32 for weaning weight, 0.03 for post-weaning average daily…
The performance of young cattle, grazing Coastcross 2 (a cynodon hybrid) was studied at two sites in the Eastern Cape (Republic of South Africa). The rainfall and the fertilization rates at the two sites differed. Three stocking rates were applied…
The performance of 98 Merino weaner lambs at two stocking rates (55 and 68 lambs/ha), with access to either no supplementation, 250 g molasses meal/lamb/day or 250 g molasses meal plus 35 mg ionophore (lasalocid)/lamb/day, with or without a growth…
The aim of this research was to study the effect of high-maize diets and pelleting on the accumulation of lutein pigments and appearance of the subcutaneous fat in Dorper and SA Mutton Merino wethers. High and medium energy maize diets…
Batches of 60-65 ostrich eggs were incubated in electronic incubators at 36.09, 36.5 and 37.3°C. The proportion of live chicks hatched relative to eggs set at 37.3°C (22/65 = 0.338) was impaired (p < 0.05) relative to those incubated at…
Data of indigenous and exotic bull breeds used between 1987 and 1995 were available from Ramatlabama Bull Stud and Artificial Insemination Laboratory. The bull breeds include indigenous breeds: Tswana, Tuli, Bonsmara and Africander and exotic breeds: Brahman, Simmental, Hereford, South…
Mutton merino wethers (n = 16) fed either a low nitrogen (LN, with a crude protein [CP] content = 5.4%) or a medium nitrogen (MN, with CP = 10.3%) diet were subjected to two water treatments; either ad libitum or…
Animals, maintained from birth on a higher and lower fibre diet, were slaughtered when postnatal growth curves flattened off. Males tended to be larger than females. The meat of females tended to have higher lipid (9.2 g/100 g fresh mass)…
Estimates of (co)variance components were obtained for growth and efficiency traits in a multibreed synthetic beef cattle herd. Components were estimated simultaneously by fitting four alternative seven-trait models. Direct heritabilities varied according to the model fitted but were higher for…
The selenium (Se) status of lambs grazing kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum) or ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands was determined during four trials and their growth response to Se supplementation was measured. Two methods of Se supplementation were evaluated using…
The investigation entailed four trials in which selenium (Se) was supplemented to lambs grazing kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum) pastures during two summer periods or Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) pastures during two winter periods. Two methods of supplementing the lambs were tested,…
The hatching success of artificially incubated ostrich eggs can be influenced by egg management prior to setting the eggs in the incubator. This can include the length of time and conditions to which eggs are exposed in nests prior to…
The effect of environmental factors on pre-weaning performance traits was studied using 3556 records collected between 1980 and 1995. Sow performance in terms of number born alive was higher if sows farrowed in summer months of October to April than…
