Growth performance, haemo-biochemical parameters and meat quality characteristics of male Japanese quails fed a Lippia javanica-based diet

A total of 105 male Japanese quails (153.2 ± 10.21 g) (Cortunix cortunix japonica) were reared in an environmentally controlled house to investigate the effect of inclusion of Lippia javanica leaf meal on growth performance, haematological and serum biochemical parameters, and carcass and meat quality characteristics. The quails were randomly allocated to 15 pens, with each pen holding 7 quails. Pens were then randomly allocated to the following experimental diets: 1) commercial grower diet without antibiotics [NegCon]; 2) commercial grower diet with antibiotics, coxistac and olaquindox [PosCon]; and 3) commercial grower diet without antibiotics in which L. javanica was included at the rate of 25 g/kg [Ljav25]. Experimental diets and fresh water were offered ad libitum. Weekly feed intake and body weights were recorded to calculate feed conversion efficiency (FCE). At 9 weeks of age, quails were slaughtered at a local poultry abattoir for assessment of blood parameters, carcass and meat quality characteristics. Repeated measures analysis showed no significant week × diet interaction effect on average weekly feed intake (AWFI), average weekly weight gain (AWG) and FCE. Diet had no significant influence on AWFI, AWG, FCE, and haematological parameters. There was no dietary effect on overall FI, overall WG and overall FCE. Alanine transaminase (ALT) was the only serum biochemical parameter influenced by diet. Quails offered Ljav25 had higher ALT content (56.83 u/L) than those offered PosCon (18.0 u/L). Diets had no significant impact on carcass characteristics and internal organs, except for gizzard weights. Immediately after slaughter, diets caused no effect on meat quality parameters, except meat lightness (L*), whereas at 24 h post slaughter, diets had significant impact on meat yellowness (b*). No dietary variation was observed for peak positive force (PPF) values of quail meat. NegCon diet promoted the least cooking losses (16.51%) when compared to PosCon and Ljav25 diets, which significantly did not differ. It was concluded that inclusion of L. javanica in quail diets at 25 g/kg feed promoted similar growth performance, health status, and carcass and meat quality traits as the commercial grower diet containing antibiotics. Lippia javanica leaf meal, therefore, has potential as an alternative to antibiotic growth promoters in Japanese quails.Keywords: Antibiotics, health, Lippia javanica, physiological response, quail

Strategy as Plan for Technology Integration to Reposition Lecturers for the New Normal in Higher Education

This chapter reports on the strategy as plan using ICT policy that could impact on repositioning the lecturers for the integration of technology for the new normal in education. Global, the COVID-19 pandemic distinctly exposed the unpreparedness of lecturers to integrate technology in teaching and learning when the shutdown of the higher institutions was announced. The participants consisted of 37 lecturers from four departments in the School of Education at a university of technology in South Africa. A qualitative case study method was used. An open-ended questionnaire, individual interviews and document analysis were used to collect data. Atlas.ti was used to analyse data. The findings revealed that the study University does not have the eLearning policy to enforce technology integration. Hence the unpreparedness of lecturers to integrate was discovered during Covid-19. It is recommended the study university develops an ICT policy, involving lecturers as stakeholders to promote ownership and conformability

Sub-optimal influenza vaccine uptake amongst student healthcare workers in South Africa

Background: Influenza vaccination is recommended for healthcare workers (HCWs), including student HCWs, due to increased risk of exposure to influenza in their work and learning environments. However, there are concerns with costs. Data on influenza vaccine uptake among student HCWs is limited. Objectives: To investigate influenza vaccine uptake and reasons for vaccination decisions amongst student HCWs. Methods: Descriptive study using an electronic self-administered structured questionnaire amongst final year health sciences students at a South African university. Data were captured using Microsoft Excel® and imported to IBM SPSS® Statistics for descriptive statistical analysis. Results: Most respondents were female (61.9% [140/226]), Black African (94.7% [214/226]), from the School of Medicine (41.2% [93/226]), with mean age 23.9±3.7 years. Although 75.2% (170/226) of students knew that vaccination is the most effective strategy to prevent influenza, uptake was low (21.7% [49/226]; 2020 season). The main reason for accepting influenza vaccination was to protect themselves (67.3% [33/49]). Reasons for non-vaccination included: ‘Influenza is a mild disease and no need to be vaccinated’ (28.8% [51/177]) and ‘Do not believe in the influenza vaccine’ (8.5% (15/177); lack of access: ’Did not get a chance to get the influenza vaccine’ (25.4% [45/177]) and no information: ‘Never heard of the influenza vaccine’ (14.1% [25/177]). Conclusions: Influenza vaccine uptake by student HCWs was low due to reasons related to vaccine hesitancy, lack of access and no information. Education about, and access to influenza vaccination for student HCWs must be strengthened

Track D Social Science, Human Rights and Political Science

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/138414/1/jia218442.pd

The impact of Management Operating Systems on performance improvement through the lens of the coal mining industry, and its relevance to private equity turnaround management strategies

Global mining productivity has hit new low levels and has been on an estimated 24% steady decline over the past decade. Productivity decline was rated the number one challenge in the mining sector. In this study we will examine the management operating system's impact on performance and its relevance to private equity turnaround strategies. Through a literature review the following recommendations were identified : addressing the integration gap, embedding effective management operating systems, prioritising operational excellence, and integrating the number of participants in the mining value chain to improve performance. Following the literature review, three research questions were identified : Does the design and implementation of MOS impact operational performance improvement positively? What is the impact of MOS non-financial performance measures on business performance improvement? Is there a significant difference in EBITDA performance pre and post-MOS implementation? To answer these, the study was divided into two quantitative research phases : An online survey questionnaire to 59 MOS experts with a response of 32, to gain their opinions and comments on nine items; and the analysis of secondary data from four mining operations to examine the pre and post-MOS tonnage, EBITDA performance, and the correlation between tonnage output and direct operating hours. The study found that when comparing tonnage output of the mine pre and post-MOS implementation, tonnage output post-MOS implementation was higher. Furthermore, EBIDTA earnings pre and post-MOS implementation were sustained over the period under coal prices were reported to have dropped by almost forty percent. Moreover, the study found that MOS's strength lies in its ability to improve accountability and behaviours, influencing issues within management control and integrating all levels of the management teams. Ultimately, this improves productivity and performance. The study furthermore suggested that MOS is more relevant to turnaround strategies and private equity firms as a management tool for executing operational strategy, improving productivity and performance improvement, especially as far as underperforming companies were concerned.Mini Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2015.vn2016Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS)MBAUnrestricte

A study of some infectious causes of reproductive disorders in cattle owned by resource-poor farmers in Gauteng Province, South Africa

Two hundred and thirty-nine cattle from Gauteng Province in South Africa were tested for various pathogens causing reproductive diseases including bovine viral diarrhoea/mucosal disease (BVD/MD) virus, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis/infectious pustular vulvovaginitis (IBR/IPV) virus, Neospora caninum and Brucella abortus using various tests. For BVD/MD virus, 49.37 % tested positive, 74.47 % for IBR/IPV virus, 8.96 % for Neospora caninum and 3.8 % for Brucella abortus. The result for Brucella abortus is higher than the national average, possibly due to the small sample size. A high seroprevalence of antibodies to both BVD/MD virus and IBR/IPV virus was evident. These 2 viruses should be considered, in addition to Brucella abortus, when trying to establish causes of abortion in cattle. The clinical significance of Neospora caninum as a cause of abortion in Gauteng needs further investigation. One hundred and forty-three bulls were tested for Campylobacter fetus and Trichomonas fetus, and a low prevalence of 1.4 % and 2.1 % respectively was found in this study. The clinical implications of these findings are discussed