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…
In vitro studies were conducted on five sorghum genotypes developed for the dry tropical highland climate of Kenya and which can be fed to ruminants fresh or as silage. The five sorghum genotypes consisted of two normal white mid-rib (WMR)…
A study was conducted to compare the effects of an antibiotic growth promoter (flavomycin) and two herbal natural feed additives (garlic and thyme) with and without a xylanase-based enzyme complex in wheat-based diets on growth performance, carcass parameters, total plasma…
Ruminant animals acquire their amino acids from the small intestinal digestion of ruminally derived microbial protein and dietary protein which has escaped ruminal degradation. The UK metabolizable protein system provides a framework with which the net absorption of amino acids…
Data collected on the Carnarvon Merino flock over the period 1962 to 1983 were used for this study. Variance components resulting from direct additive genetic effects, maternal additive genetic effects, maternal permanent environmental effects, as well as the relationship between…
Data consisting of records from 3 040 animals, born of 59 sires and 597 dams, were collected from 1978 to 1991 and analysed to estimate variance components for birth weight, weaning weight, average daily gain (ADG) and Kleiber ratio. Birth…
This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) fusion protein vaccine vs. surgical castration on the chemical composition and fatty acid profile of beef cattle (Bos indicus) slaughtered at three years of age…
Mountain reedbuck (Redunca fulvorufula) occupy marginal habitat that is rarely used by cattle. They are fecund, produce good quality meat and have the potential to be cropped commercially. Body condition indices including dressing % (DP), kidney fat indices (KFI), leg…
Ostrich skins (n = 214) were assessed by 28 participants involved in the ostrich leather production and marketing chain. The participants were from various sectors in the ostrich industry, including producers, skin graders, leather marketers, agents and process managers. Skins…
This study was carried out to examine the effect of short-term selection for 5-weeks of age body weight in divergent lines of Japanese quail. Growth curves for both sexes within each selection group resembled the general sigmoid shape of a…
Two trials were conducted to investigate the effects of growth manipulation and early photostimulation on age at sexual maturity and, in one trial, subsequent laying performance, in broiler breeders. In the first trial, the possibility of reducing the age at…
Three dietary inclusion rates of CLA (0, 2 and 4 g/kg feed) and aflatoxin B1 (0, 200 and 300 µg/kg feed) were tested in a 3 x 3 factorial experimental design on a total of 99 Ross-308 male broiler chickens…
The aim of this study was to ascertain the influence of natural zeolite, consisting mainly of clinoptilolite and mordenite, as a component of the litter material in broiler houses on the performance of the broilers and on some litter characteristics…
Data collected from Nguni calves born at the Bartlow Combine Breeding Station were used to investigate factors affecting live weights at birth (1960-1991), 205 days (1960-1991), 365 days (1974-1990) and 540 days (1975-1990) of age. Sire, year of birth, sex…
The continuing search for improved efficiency has led to the introduction of exogenous growth and lactation promotants to enhance traditional animal production systems. Various species-limited somatotropins have been synthesized by means of recombinant gene technology, thereby allowing milk production in…
