The SARAO MeerKAT 1.3 GHz Galactic Plane Survey

We present the SARAO MeerKAT Galactic Plane Survey (SMGPS), a 1.3 GHz continuum survey of almost half of the Galactic Plane (251○ ≤l ≤ 358○ and 2○ ≤l ≤ 61○ at |b| ≤ 1 5). SMGPS is the largest, most sensitive and highest angular resolution 1 GHz survey of the Plane yet carried out, with an angular resolution of 8″ and a broadband RMS sensitivity of ∼10–20 μJy beam−1. Here we describe the first publicly available data release from SMGPS which comprises data cubes of frequency-resolved images over 908–1656 MHz, power law fits to the images, and broadband zeroth moment integrated intensity images. A thorough assessment of the data quality and guidance for future usage of the data products are given. Finally, we discuss the tremendous potential of SMGPS by showcasing highlights of the Galactic and extragalactic science that it permits. These highlights include the discovery of a new population of non-thermal radio filaments; identification of new candidate supernova remnants, pulsar wind nebulae and planetary nebulae; improved radio/mid-IR classification of rare Luminous Blue Variables and discovery of associated extended radio nebulae; new radio stars identified by Bayesian cross-matching techniques; the realisation that many of the largest radio-quiet WISE H II region candidates are not true H II regions; and a large sample of previously undiscovered background H I galaxies in the Zone of Avoidance

The MeerKAT Galaxy Cluster Legacy Survey: I. Survey overview and highlights

Please abstract in the article.The South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO), the National Research Foundation (NRF), the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, US National Science Foundation, the South African Research Chairs Initiative of the DSI/NRF, the SARAO HCD programme, the South African Research Chairs Initiative of the Department of Science and Innovation.http://www.aanda.orghj2022Physic

The improved Boer goat

The history, origin and characteristics of the South African Boer breed of goats are reviewed. The development was carried out by a handful of farmers in the eastern Cape, particularly in the district of Somerset East. The prototype for the breed was selected from several existing breeds of goats in South Africa in order to achieve the present functional characteristics and type. The Boer goat is a hardy breed with great capacity for adaptation and an exceptional ability to withstand and resist diseases. The Boer goat is highly fertile, conception rate is about 90%, kidding rate about 189% and fecundity rate 210%. Weaning weight at 120 days averages 29 kg. Boer doe produces enough milk to raise twins easily. Boer goat yields falvousome, succulent, tender and tasty lean meat of high quality, particularly during the young stage. Boer goat is able to maintain a high level of production up to 10 years of age. Details on breed standards of the Boer goat are presented. Numerous countries had imported Boer goats from South Africa including USA, New Zealand, Australia, Germany, Israel, France and more recently China

Rendimento de cortes comerciais e composição tecidual da carcaça de cabritos mestiços Commercial cut and tissue yields in carcasses from crossbred kid goats

A composição relativa dos cortes comerciais da carcaça e a composição tecidual (músculo, osso e gordura) da perna, do lombo e da paleta de cabritos mestiços Boer e Anglo-nubiano foram analisadas em 20 cabritos de dois grupos genéticos diferentes (13 &frac12; Anglo-nubiano &times; &frac12; sem raça definida, SRD e 7 &frac12; Boer &times; &frac12; SRD). Os animais foram abatidos aos 10 meses de idade, com 29 &plusmn; 0,08 kg peso corporal. Após resfriamento (2&deg;C) da carcaça por 24 horas, as carcaças foram separadas nos cortes: perna, lombo (anterior e posterior), paleta, peito, costela, pescoço e fraldinha para determinação dos rendimentos em relação ao peso da carcaça fria. Em seguida, a perna, o lombo (anterior e posterior) e a paleta foram dissecados em tecidos muscular, adiposo e ósseo para estimação das relações músculo:osso (RMO) e músculo:gordura (RMG). Os rendimentos médios dos cortes foram: 30,8% de perna, 25,1% de lombo (17,9% no anterior e 7,0% no posterior), 22,0% de paleta, 4,8% de peito, 6,8% de pescoço, 4,8% de costela e 5,6% de fraldinha. Não foi observado efeito entre os grupos genéticos para os rendimentos dos cortes, exceto o rendimento de costela, que foi superior nos cabritos Anglo-nubiano &times; SRD (5,12%) em comparação aos Boer &times; SRD (4,49%). Nos cabritos Boer &times; SRD, os rendimentos de tecido muscular (61,05%), as relações RMO (3,91) e RMG (6,85) foram superiores, enquanto, nos cabritos Anglo-nubiano &times; SRD, os rendimentos foram superiores para os tecidos adiposo (10,23%) e ósseo (16,79%). A carcaça dos cabritos Boer &times; SRD apresenta maior proporção de tecido muscular nos cortes de maior valor comercial em comparação à de cabritos Anglo-nubiano &times; SRD.<br>Carcass composition related to commercial cuts and tissue composition (muscle, bone and fat) from leg, loin and shoulder of kid goats crossbred Anglo-Nubian or Boer were evaluated in 20 kids from two different genetic groups (13 &frac12; Anglo-Nubian &times; &frac12; Undefined Breed - UB and 7 &frac12; Boer &times; &frac12; UB). The animals were slaughtered at 10 months of age and average body weight of 29 kg &plusmn; 0.08. After 24 hours of cooling (2ºC), the carcasses were separated in the cuts: leg, loin (fore loin and rear loin), shoulder, breast, rib, neck and flank for the determination of yields related to cold carcass weight. After that, leg, loin (fore loin and rear loin )and shoulder were dissected in muscle, fat and bone tissues to estimate muscle:bone (MBR) and muscle:fat (MFR) ratios. The average yields for the cuts were: 30.8% of leg, 25.1% of loin (17.9% fore loin and 7.0% rear loin), 22.0% of shoulder, 4.8% of breast, 6.9% of neck, 4.8% of rib, and 5.6% of flank. No significant effect of genetic groups on cut yields was detected, except for the rib, that was higher for Anglo-Nubian &times; UB (5.12%) than for Boer &times; UB (4.49%). %). In Boer &times; UB kids, muscle tissue yield (61.05%), MBR (3.91) and MFR (6.85) were higher, while for Anglo-Nubian &times; UB yield were higher for fat (10.23%) and bone (16.79%) tissues. The carcass from crossbred Boer &times; UB kids showed higher muscle tissue in the cuts of major commercial value than that from Anglo-Nubian &times; UB kids

Animal production and canopy attributes of Cynodon pasture managed under continuous stocking with wethers at three levels of forage allowance

The objective of the present experiment was to evaluate the effect of forage allowance (3, 6 or 9 kg of green leaves dry matter (DM)/100 kg of body weight (BW)) on both animal performance and attributes of Cynodon dactylon var.dactylon canopy managed under continuous stocking by wethers. The study was carried out with 27 Polwarth wethers throughout five 28-day periods, in a completely randomized experiment, which included three paddocks per treatment and three tester animals per paddock. Forage mass varied from 2878 to 6580 kg of DM/ha and was directly related to forage allowance. Leaves proportion (mean of 23%) and leaves growth rate (mean of 25 kg of DM/ha/day) varied between experimental periods in a similar rate for all treatments. Stocking rate varied from 652 to 2428 kg of LW/ha/day and was higher for the lowest forage allowance treatment. Individual BW gain (mean of 9.7 g/day) or gain per area (mean of 406 g/ha/day) were only affected by experimental periods. Forage intake was neither affected by treatments nor by periods (mean of 1042 g of DM/day). Cynodon dactylon var. dactylon pasture may be managed under continuous stocking by grazing wethers at forage allowances varying from 3 to 9 kg of green leaves dry matter/100 kg of BW without effects on canopy attributes or animal production