The aim of the study was to compare a new Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) cultivar (Enhancer), bred to contain a high total non-structural carbohydrate content, with the cultivar, Dargle, in terms of dry matter (DM) production, nutritional value, carrying capacity…
Three indigenous Mozambican cattle breeds, namely the Angone, Landim and Bovino de Tete were characterized using six proteins, 13 autosomal microsatellite loci and one Y-specific microsatellite locus (INRA124). The Mashona breed from Zimbabwe was also studied to elucidate the origin…
Correlated responses of curl development, hair quality, hair thickness, hair stiffness, hair length, lustre and pattern to selection for an increase in pattern and hair quality and a decrease in hair length and curl development were determined with mixed model…
Values for mean fibre diameter (FD) and FD variance were determined on wool samples obtained from five different locations on the bodies of progeny in fine wool, strong wool and fine X strong wool Merino sheep. The respective genetic groups…
The effect of early mating on the production and reproductive ability of Nguni heifers was investigated. One group (MN group) of heifers (n = 15) was stall-fed from weaning and mated at approximately 13 months of age. The second group…
A general method is developed for the evaluation of herd efficiency in terms of efficiencies for growth and reproduction. Almost the only requisite knowledge for the application of this method is the value of the allometric slope between the cost…
Genetic evaluation systems require the accurate estimation of genetic parameters. The genetic, phenotypic and environmental parameters for live weight and objectively measured wool traits were estimated for a South African Merino flock. Records of the Tygerhoek Merino resource flock were…
A selection and line x environment interaction study with grade Afrikaner cattle was established in 1956 at Matopos Research Station, Zimbabwe. Two selection lines of 100 cows each were reared in different management environments. The non-supplemented (NS) line relied on…
Simmentaler cross (SX), Bonsmara cross (BX) and Nguni (NG) steers were raised on natural sweet veld pastures and slaughtered at 18 or 30 months of age. Slaughtering occurred at the end of the wet summer season. Live weight and carcass…
Weaning performance of calves sired by Charolais and Hereford on dams of Angus, Bonsmara and Hereford and various crossbred dam combinations was compared. Charolais sired calves were on average 5 kg heavier at birth and 20 kg heavier at weaning…
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of supplementary light on the performance of bulls in a feedlot. Feed intake (FI), average daily gain (ADG), back fat thickness (BFT), eye muscle area (EMA), P8 (fat layer on…
The objective of this research was to validate the maternal breeding value for preweaning gain as a predictor of genetic differences in milk production. Phenotypic variation in preweaning gain and in milk production measured by the weigh-suckle-weigh method was partitioned…
Inbreeding levels and their possible influence on growth traits of the South African Brahman cattle were investigated. Data utilized in this study consisted of 180264 pedigree (1955 – 2002), 41509 birth weight (BWT), 37705 200-days weaning weight (200d), 22682 400-days…
In general ram semen does not cryopreserve acceptably in terms of post-thawed survival and fertilization. In South Africa it is common to feed high energy diets to breeding rams in performance testing schemes and in preparation for shows and sales,…
Accurate genetic parameters are vital for genetic prediction, selection on breeding values and creation of selection objectives. Consequently, records for birth weight (BW), 200 (WW), 400 (YW) and 600 (FW) day weight were analyzed to obtain heritability estimates. These records…
A dose-response trial was conducted with dairy cows on six farms in the Ixopo district of the Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal. Up to 30 cows per farm received a single subcutaneous injection of 5 mL of a long-acting/slow-releasing selenium (Se) supplement…
This study was undertaken to determine the influence of three grazing pressures [high (HGP), medium (MGP) and low (LGP), corresponding to 30, 50 and 75 g available DM/kg BW/day, respectively] on the quality of herbage consumed by lambs grazing Lolium…
This study was undertaken to determine the influence of three grazing pressures [high (HGP), medium (MGP) and low (LGP), corresponding to 30, 50 and 75 g available DM/kg BW/day, respectively] on the performance of lambs grazing Lolium perenne and Dactylis…
This study was undertaken to determine the degradation characteristics and in vitro gas production kinetics of drought tolerant shrubs (Cassia sturtii, Atriplex nummularia and three Atriplex canescens cultivars, viz. Santa Rita, Field Reserve 1 and Rincon) growing under South African…
