30 research outputs found
An integrated system of growth trait improvement in beef cattle under communal management conditions
ThesisIn the past, indigenous cattle in South Africa (SA) were mainly used as foundation stock
for upgrading with Bos taurus cattle, which were thought to be superior. These attempts
failed in the tropics and subtropics and attention was focused on the development of
various indigenous cattle breeds (Kars, Erasmus & Van der Westhuizen, 1994). The
introduction of new breeds, in an attempt to improve the indigenous breeds has become a
common practice. This has resulted in a dramatic decrease in the number of pure
indigenous cattle. The Nguni and Afrikaner represent the two indigenous Sanga cattle
breeds of South Africa, with Pedi described as a relative or variant of Nguni. Presently,
commercial beef producers are showing renewed interest in the indigenous breeds,
especially Nguni, owing to growth and favourable reproduction characteristics under
adverse conditions such as drought and parasite burdens.
Indigenous cattle play an important roe in the traditional subsistence style of farming.
Milk production for sale and household consumption is of overriding importance. Draft
power and manure is of major importance to farmers. Meat production may have to be
considered as a by-product until such time as marketing and price infrastructure have
been developed to increase the economic motivation to produce meat for increased
income. In the recent past, lobola was a system used to move cattle from one herd to
another, thus preventing inbreeding. Cattle are also used as some form of savings and as
an insurance against unforeseen events.
Although genetic improvement of traditional livestock may not necessarily be the top
priority for improving their productivity, the introduction of new breeds may provide the
trigger and focal point for other developmental changes that could contribute more to
overall productivity than the new breed per se. The breed to be inttoduced should lead to
a medium-term improvement in productivity and should have s· )a to environmental stress than indigenous breeds. The possible advantage of crossing local
African breeds is that there would be little or no loss of resistance to environmental
stress.
The objective of this study is to develop an integrated system of growth trait
improvement under communal management conditions. Matters of great concern include
body measurements to improve markets for cattle and to develop baseline data for future
intervention programmes
COP27 climate change conference: urgent action needed for Africa and the world
The 2022 report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) paints a dark picture of the future of life on earth, characterised by ecosystem collapse, species extinction, and climate hazards such as heatwaves and floods.1 These are all linked to physical and mental health problems, with direct and indirect consequences of increased morbidity and mortality. To avoid these catastrophic health effects across all regions of the globe, there is broad agreement—as 231 health journals argued together in 2021—that the rise in global temperature must be limited to less than 1.5oC compared with pre-industrial levels
COP27 CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE: URGENT ACTION NEEDED FOR AFRICA AND THE WORLD
Wealthy nations must step up support for Africa and vulnerable countries in addressing past, present and future impacts of climate chang
COP27 Climate Change Conference: Urgent action needed for Africa and the world
Wealthy nations must step up support for Africa and vulnerable countries in addressing past, present and future impacts of climate change.The 2022 report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) paints a dark picture of the future of life on earth, characterised by ecosystem collapse, species extinction, and climate hazards such as heatwaves and floods. These are all linked to physical and mental health problems, with direct and indirect consequences of increased morbidity and mortality. To avoid these catastrophic health effects across all regions of the globe, there is broad agreement—as 231 health journals argued together in 2021—that the rise in global temperature must be limited to less than 1.5oC compared with pre-industrial levels. While the Paris Agreement of 2015 outlines a global action framework that incorporates providing climate finance to developing countries, this support has yet to materialise. COP27 is the fifth Conference of the Parties (COP) to be organised in Africa since its inception in 1995. Ahead of this meeting, we—as health journal editors from across the continent—call for urgent action to ensure it is the COP that finally delivers climate justice for Africa and vulnerable countries. This is essential not just for the health of those countries, but for the health of the whole world
Guidelines for the vaccination of HIV-infected adolescents and adults in South Africa
No abstract available
COP27 climate change conference: urgent action needed for Africa and the world : Wealthy nations must step up support for Africa and vulnerable countries in addressing past, present and future impacts of climate change
https://academic.oup.com/ajcpNursing Scienc