In search of the Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus in the western-central regions of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

The southern cattle tick, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, is an economically important tick that parasitises cattle and is found on other host species if they graze with cattle. The R. (B.) microplus is a highly adapted tick species prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. In Africa, it has expanded its range and was reported to supersede the native tick, R. (B.) decoloratus. The objective of the study was to determine the distribution of R. (B.) microplus under different ecological zones in the western-central regions of Eastern Cape Province. Engorged adult blue ticks were collected monthly from 360 randomly selected cattle and free living ticks from six replicate drags of the vegetation over a period of 1 year at Bedford Dry Grassland (BDG), Kowie Thicket (KT) and Bhisho Thornveld (BT). A special attention was paid to the lower perineum, neck, dewlap and ventral body parts which are the preferred sites for blue ticks during sampling. In this study, 9 species of ticks which grouped under 5 genera were identified. The identified species of ticks were Amblyomma hebraeum, Haemaphysalis elliptica, Hyalomma rufipes, Ixodes pilosus, R. (B.) decoloratus, R. appendiculatus, R. evertsi evertsi, R. follis and R. simus. Only adult R. (B.) decoloratus (n = 8090) ticks were collected from cattle between April 2016 and March 2017. A total of 4382 females and 3708 males of R. (B.) decoloratus were recovered during the survey. Of the ticks (n = 2885) collected from the vegetation, R. (B.) decoloratus was the most abundant species with a relative prevalence of 58.16%, followed by R. appendiculatus (18.37%) and R. evertsi evertsi (16.90%). Least abundant ticks were H. rufipes (2.98%), A. hebraeum (2.46%), H. elliptica (0.38%), R. follis (0.34%), I. pilosus (0.24%) and R. simus (0.17%). The distribution of R. (B.) decoloratus ticks differ significantly (P < 0.05) among the vegetation types. Significantly more (P < 0.05) engorged R. (B.) decoloratus were collected in KT during summer season (1.39 ± 0.063 females and 1.30 ± 0.063 males) compared to other vegetation types. The R. (B.) decoloratus larvae were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in BT (20.56±1.154) and KT (18.50±1.154) vegetation types during the spring season. R. (B.) microplus was not found in the present study, signifying that it is not yet established in western-central regions of the Eastern Cape Province and as such, continuous monitoring would be advisable.The National Research Foundation (Grant number: 102941).http://www.elsevier.com/locate/ttbdis2020-04-01hj2019Production Animal Studie

Environmentally smart animal agriculture and integrated advisory services ameliorate the negative effects of climate change on production

The objective is to discern how Charles Darwin’s Origin of species (1859) and the theory of natural selection and evolutionary biology – ‘a grain in the balance will determine which individual shall live and which shall die’– are core to achieving environmentally and climate-smart, economically viable, sustainable animal agriculture in a changing climate. Darwin’s ‘survival of the fittest’ theory implies inherent comparative advantage of survivors over the succumbed in any given environment. An animal’s phenotype (P) results from interaction of its genotype (G) and the environment (E), expressed as P = G x E. Human migration has transferred livestock breeds from places of origin to distant continents and agro-ecological zones, far from where they have inherent comparative production advantage. For example, crossbreeds of Bos taurus and Bos indicus have higher average performance than median of either parent population. However, the heterotic effect of hybrids is associated with loss of environmental adaptation compared with parent populations. Indigenous breeds, their phenotypes and ecotypes thrive best in distinct environments, ceteris paribus. An environment is the sum total of conditions that influence animal productivity in the habitat. These include nutrition, genetics, disease, exposure to parasites, management practices, climate, rainfall, humidity, heat and cold stressors, and advisory services. Hybrids lose some adaptive capacity compared with parents, and require habitat modifications if they are to express their fullest genetic potential. In the light of this and of global warming challenges to livestock production, it is scientifically and technically prudent to exploit the inherent comparative production advantages of indigenous genotypes, phenotype and ecotypes, when mitigating climate change, more so in low-input animal agriculture systems of sub-Saharan Africa and at similar locations. Climate change poses multidisciplinary challenges that require integrated collaborative cross-discipline research, extension and training to provide holistic solutions.Keywords: Climate-smart, genotype, livestock production efficiency, global warming, indigenous breeds, mitigation strategie

Untersuchungen zu Interaktionen zwischen Futterfetten, Dicalciumphosphat bzw. Calciumcarbonatzusatz bei Verabreichung lipidreicher Rationen an wachsende Schweine

.Hoechste Gewichtszunahmen, beste Futterverwertung, hoechste Verdaulichkeit der Rohnaehrstoffe (ausser Rohprotein), guenstige Verdaulichkeit der einzelnen Fettsaeuren sowie hoechste Mineralstoff -Retention in lipidreichen Rationen (15% in TS) bei einer Zulage von 1% Dicalciumphosphat. Hohe Gaben von Calciumcarbonat fuehrten zu veraenderten Loeslichkeitsverhaeltnissen im Magen-Darm-Trakt. Es entstanden unloesliche Komplexe. Die Seifenbildung nahm zu mit der Erhoehung des Anteils an langkettigen, gesaettigten, digestalen FettsaeurenAvailable from: Goettingen Univ. (Germany, F.R.). Universitaetsbibliothek / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekSIGLEDEGerman

THE POTENTIAL FOR COMMERCIAL MILK GOAT PRODUCTION IN THE ARID EASTERN CAPE REGIONS: ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF THE PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

Dairy goats appear to be the most suitable milk producing animal species for the arid parts of the Eastern Cape Province. Dairy goats fetch high net returns to a small-scale farmer. A study was carried out to evaluate the long-term economic viability of investments in dairy goats, in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Results of the study show that commercial production of dairy goats, together with a milk processing plant in the region, would be profitable and would have benefits from both economic and social points of view as well as for the environment. With a discount rate of 15%, the Net Present Worth (NPW), Benefit/Cost ratio (B/C) and Internal Rate of Return (IRR) were found to be R4.3 million, 1.44 and 54% respectively. Further, a sensitivity analysis to changes in benefits and costs of inputs was conducted. This found the above proposal to be viable, even when benefits are reduced by 25%. The project proposal was still viable when cost of inputs was inflated by 25%. In both cases, the Benefit/Cost ratio is greater than 1 and IRR is greater than the current market rate of interest. However, the combined effect of reducing the benefit by 25% and inflating costs by 25%, would result in negative NPW. Results from a survey carried out further show the possibility and viability of producing satisfactory levels of milk from dairy goats in the Eastern Cape

Influência do alimento na produção e qualidade do leite de cabra Influence of feed on the production on quality of goat milk

O leite de cabra é considerado um dos alimentos mais completos por apresentar vários elementos importantes para a nutrição humana, constituído de proteínas de alto valor biológico e ácidos graxos essenciais, além de seu conteúdo mineral e vitamínico. Esta revisão tem como objetivo avaliar as variações referentes à composição química e propriedades físicoquímicas do leite, que ocorrem em função de alguns fatores, tais como: climáticos, raça, indivíduo, estágio de lactação e alimentação. O manejo alimentar tem sido considerado um fator preponderante na manipulação dos componentes do leite. Há um entendimento dominante que a gordura é o componente do leite que mais sofre influência dos alimentos. O uso de técnicas biológicas moleculares poderá contribuir para o entendimento do mecanismo de utilização do alimento no rúmen, estabelecendo um novo cenário para a microbiologia ruminal, que pode ser diferente do que tem sido estudado até o momento.<br>Goat milk is considered one of the most complete foods, since it holds several elements which are important for human nutrition, and necessary for the constitution of tissues and blood. This revision aims to assess the variations of the chemical composition and physical-chemical properties of the milk which occur due to some factors, such as: climate, breed, the individual, lactation stage and food. Feed management has been considered a key factor in the manipulation of milk components. There is a general understanding that among the components of the milk fat is the most influenced by food. The use of molecular biological techniques might contribute to the understanding of the mechanism of utilization of food in rumen, establishing a new possibility for ruminal microbiology, which can be different from what has been studied so far