After a decline in value, ostrich feathers have again become an important part of the income of ostrich producers. Between 22586 and 22753 feather weights, as well as length and width measurements, were obtained from feathers harvested annually during the…
A study was conducted to evaluate the fatty acid (FA) profile of subcutaneous adipose tissue and tailfat of two fat-tailed sheep breeds under identical feeding conditions. Twelve male lambs from two breeds, Sanjabi (n = 6), weighing 23.3 ± 0.48…
The present study sought to quantify the differences between maize-based (MS) and grass-silage-based (GS) diets in terms of their effect on the milk yield, milk fatty acid composition and antioxidant capacity in dairy ewes, and to test the hypothesis that…
The effect of dietary inclusion of Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOLM) on the feed conversion ratio (FCR) of finisher pigs, physico-chemical meat quality, fatty acid (FA) composition and shelf life of pork was investigated. A six-week feeding trial was conducted…
Porcine stress syndrome (PSS) is a genetic disorder caused by a recessive mutation in the halothane (HAL) gene and results in sudden death of pigs when placed under stress during transport and pre-slaughtering conditions. Animals that are affected by this…
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 aim of the study was to compare slaughter value, collagen profile, shear force and sensory quality of muscles originating from carcasses of heifers and single-calf cows of Polish Holstein-Friesian x Limousine crossbreds. Eight heifers (540 days old) and eight…
In this study, performance and carcass characteristics of slow-growing broiler chicks, reared in organic or conventional systems, and fed a diet with an essential oil mixture (EOM, 48 mg/kg diet), were evaluated in the autumn and spring seasons. The rearing…
The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of oxygen supplementation on broiler eggs in a hatchery at high altitude on the growth performance and ascites syndrome of broilers reared at low altitude. The treatment groups were low…
Four commercial organic acids and a reference antibiotic, Neoxyval, were administered to commercial broilers to evaluate the efficacy of these products during pre- and post-challenge with Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) on selected indicators of their antioxidant status…
Fitness is of paramount importance to efficient and profitable beef production. Thus, the objective of this study was to estimate genetic components of fitness traits measured in Afrikaner (A), Brahman (B), Charolais (C), Hereford (H) and Simmentaler (S). For this…
The aim of the study was to analyse whether, and to what extent, the use of RRR-d-α-tocopherol in diets containing oil rich in linoleic or linolenic acid (soybean or linseed oil, respectively) would make it possible to halve the dosage…
The history of sheep breeding research in South Africa can be divided roughly into four eras, namely the research and development phase, the commencement of recording and evaluation, the expansion of recording schemes, and, most recently, the adaptation of schemes…
The objective of this study was to compare the chemical composition and ruminal degradation of whole pod, exomesocarp, endocarp and seed fractions of red and white mesquite pods. The pods contained on average 220 g free sugars, 78 g crude…
This study was conducted to investigate the effects of cage tier and age on performance characteristics of layer hybrids, egg quality and some stress parameters. Ninety laying hens (hybrid ATAK-S) of similar bodyweights were used in the experiment. They were…
This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of replacing soybean oil (SBO), typical in broiler diets, with a less expensive commercial fat blend, Kofat (KOF). A 2 x 2 x 2 factorial experimental design was used to study the…
The effect of replacing maize grain with wheat as an energy source in total mixed rations (TMRs) on feed intake and milk yield parameters was determined for dairy cows. Three feeding trials were conducted using different roughages, namely lucerne hay…
A trial was conducted to evaluate whether the addition of commercial enzyme preparations containing carbohydrases and a protease would increase the available metabolizable energy (ME) of maize-soya-based broiler diets. Seven thousand five hundred and sixty (7560) day-old Ross 788 chicks…
This study was conducted to study the effect of nigella seed oil as an alternative to the antibiotic, avilamycin, on growth, digestibility, muscle fatty acid profile and some physiological parameters in broiler chickens. Fifty four chicks at 15 d of…
The Afrikaner is one of three indigenous cattle breeds found in South Africa. Afrikaner cattle were originally extensively used for crossbreeding purposes and breed development. The objective of this study was to determine the genetic diversity of selected stud and…
