Section I-Introduction

Introduction to reviewRevising the work of any scientific pioneers is an unenviable task but one which becomes a necessity when erroneous identifications outweigh the constructive value of the older work, often leading inevitably to wrong conclusions about age and relationships. The necessity for a complete revision of the fossil plants occurring in the predominantly Devonian formation known as the Cape System has long been apparent. The more important reasons for undertaking this task at this time are summarised below.Non

Section III-Description of the fossil plants

Section III of reviewNoneNon

A general review of the Devonian fossil plants found In the Cape System of South Africa

Table of contentsNoneNon

Section II-A brief survey of the geology of the Cape System

Section II of reviewNoneNon

A survey of the fish fauna of Transkei estuaries Part Four: The Mntafufu and Mzamba River estuaries

The Mntafufu and Mzamba Rivers have small catchment areas (178 and 505 km2, respectively) in the forested coastal belt of Transkei and have relatively small estuaries (5 and 2 km long, respectively). Although the annual rainfall is in excess of 1000 mm in this area, the mean annual runoff was less than 70 Mm3 in both cases. Serious floods were not observed during the survey period, while turbidity and sediment loads were usually very low. Salinities were usually high (x̄ = 30,0-38,0‰) in the bottom water and temperatures in the upper reaches were usually higher than in the lower reaches. The species composition, and seasonal and spatial abundance of the fish fauna of the two estuaries were determined by means of gill nets. A total of 1043 fish (385,8 kg) representing 42 species were caught in the Mntafufu estuary. The orangemouth glassnose Thryssa vitrirostris and V. cunnesius were the most abundant fish in the estuary. Numerically 42% of the catch (46% gravimetrically) belonged to the family Mugilidae (11 species) of which Mugil cephalus, Valamugil buchanani and V. cunnesius were the most important. A total of 389 fish (241,1 kg) were caught in the Mzamba estuary. Twenty-five species were obtained with Hilsa kelee dominating numerically. Seven species of mullet contributed 38,3% of the numbers or 54,2% of the fish biomass. The diamond mullet (Liza alata) and the flathead mullet (Mugil cephalus) were the most abundant in terms of biomass. The highest catches in the two estuaries were taken in the lower reaches. Mean number and biomass of fish taken per net was 20,5 fish and 7,2 kg, and 16,2 fish and 10,1 kg in the Mntafufu and Mzamba estuaries, respectively

Section V-Summary of the fossil flora of the Cape System-Its size, composition, environment, age and importance in Africa

Section V of reviewNoneNon

Dietary low-phytate mutant-M 955 barley grain alters phytate degradation and mineral digestion in sheep fed high-grain diets

Greater production demands for ruminants require increased dietary inclusion of high-energy feeds. Grains and oil seeds are most commonly used to enhance diet energy density. However, use of such feeds proportionally increases the amount of dietary phytate phosphorus (P), which the ruminant may not be able to fully utilise. Our objectives for this study were to determine the extent of phytate degradation and mineral digestion in wethers fed high-grain diets consisting of either a non-mutant or low-phytate mutant barley grain. In two separate experiments, mature Columbia wethers (n = 7) fitted with rumen and duodenal cannulas and Columbia × Polypay wether lambs (n = 8) were individually fed one of two finishing diets formulated with either non-mutant Harrington (HARR) variety or low-phytate mutant-M 955 (M955) barley grains. Total-P intake was similar (P=0.46–0.70) between the M955 and HARR treatments for mature (5756 and 5550 mg/day, respectively) and lamb (5207 and 4894 mg/day, respectively) wethers. Dietary water-soluble P was 3.6 times greater in M955 versus HARR diets and phytate P was 11 times greater in HARR versus M955 treatment diets. Apparent total-P digestion was similar between M955 and HARR treatments (P=0.52–0.69). More monoester P was identified in the duodenal chyme of mature wethers fed HARR treatment diet, presumably due to incomplete hydrolysis of phytate P in the rumen. Feeding M955, compared to HARR, treatment diet resulted in greater (P<0.05) apparent partial-tract digestion of calcium (Ca) and total-tract digestion of iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg), and zinc in mature wethers and apparent total-tract digestion of Mg and Fe and retention of Ca, Fe, and Mg in wether lambs. These results indicate that phytate in diets formulated with Harrington variety barley grain may not be fully digested in the rumen. Subsequent passage of partially digested phytate from the rumen may interfere with mineral digestion in wethers fed high-grain diets

What aspect of dietary modification in broilers controls litter water-soluble phosphorus: Dietary phosphorus, phytase, or calcium?

Environmental concerns about phosphorus (P) losses from animal agriculture have led to interest in dietary strategies to reduce the concentration and solubility of P in manures and litters. To address the effects of dietary available phosphorus (AvP), calcium (Ca), and phytase on P excretion in broilers, 18 dietary treatments were applied in a randomized complete block design to each of four replicate pens of 28 broilers from 18 to 42 d of age. Treatments consisted of three levels of AvP (3.5, 3.0, and 2.5 g kg -1) combined with three levels of Ca (8.0, 6.9, and 5.7 g kg-1) and two levels of phytase (0 and 600 phytase units [FTU]). Phytase was added at the expense of 1.0 g kg -1 P from dicalcium phosphate. Fresh litter was collected from pens when the broilers were 41 d of age and analyzed for total P, soluble P, and phytate P as well as P composition by 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Results indicated that the inclusion of phytase at the expense of inorganic P or reductions in AvP decreased litter total P by 28 to 43%. Litter water-soluble P (WSP) decreased by up to 73% with an increasing dietary Ca/AvP ratio, irrespective of phytase addition. The ratio of WSP/total P in litter decreased as the dietary Ca/AvP ratio increased and was greater in the phytase-amended diets. This study indicated that while feeding reduced AvP diets with phytase decreased litter total P, the ratio of Ca/AvP in the diet was primarily responsible for effects on WSP. This is important from an environmental perspective as the amount of WSP in litter could be related to potential for off-site P losses following land application of litter

Interaction of calcium and phytate in broiler diets: 1. Effects on apparent prececal digestibility and retention of phosphorus

Phytate P utilization from soybean meal (SBM) included in broiler diets has been shown to be poor and highly dependent on dietary Ca intake. However, the effect of Ca on P utilization and on the optimal ratio of Ca to nonphytate P (Ca:NPP) when diets contained varying levels of phytate has not been clearly shown and was the objective of this research. A factorial treatment structure was used with 4 dietary Ca levels from 0.47 to 1.16% and 3 levels of phytate P (0.28, 0.24, and 0.10%). Varying dietary phytate P levels were obtained by utilizing SBM produced from 3 varieties of soybeans with different phytate P concentrations. Ross 508 broiler chicks were fed 1 of 12 diets from 16 to 21 d of age. Excreta were collected from 16 to 17 d and from 19 to 20 d of age and ileal digesta was collected at 21 d of age. Apparent prececal P digestibility decreased when dietary Ca concentration increased and was higher when diets contained low-phytate SBM. The apparent digestibility of Ca and percentage of phytate P hydrolysis at the distal ileum were not reduced when dietary phytate P concentration increased. Including low-phytate SBM in diets reduced total P output in the excreta by 49% compared with conventional SBM. The optimum ratio of Ca:NPP that resulted in the highest P retention and lowest P excretion was 2.53:1, 2.40:1, and 2.34:1 for diets with 0.28, 0.24, and 0.10% phytate P. These data suggested that increased dietary Ca reduced the extent of phytate P hydrolysis and P digestibility and that the optimum Ca:NPP ratio at which P retention was maximized was reduced when diets contained less phytate P

Interaction of calcium and phytate in broiler diets: 2. Effects on total and soluble phosphorus excretion

Dietary Ca has been reported to influence the amount of phytate excreted from broilers and affect the solubility of P in excreta. To address the effects of dietary Ca and phytate on P excretion, 12 dietary treatments were fed to broilers from 16 to 21 d of age. Treatments consisted of 3 levels of phytate P (0.10, 0.24, and 0.28%) and 4 levels of Ca (0.47, 0.70, 0.93, and 1.16%) in a randomized complete block design. Feed phytate concentrations were varied by formulating diets with 3 different soybean meals (SBM): a low-phytate SBM, a commercial SBM, and a high phytate Prolina SBM having phytate P concentrations of 0.15 to 0.51%. Fresh excreta was collected from cages during 2 separate 24-h periods; collection I commenced after the start of dietary treatments (16 to 17 d) and collection II followed a 3-d adaptation period (19 to 20 d). Ileal samples were also collected at 21 d. Excreta samples were analyzed for total P, water soluble P (WSP), and phytate P, whereas ileal samples were analyzed for total P and phytate P. Results indicated that excreta total P could be reduced by up to 63% and WSP by up to 66% with dietary inclusion of low-phytate SBM. There was a significant effect of dietary Ca on both the excreta WSP and the ratio of WSP:total P. As dietary Ca increased, the excreta WSP and WSP:total P decreased, with the effects being more pronounced following a dietary adaptation period. There was a linear relationship between the slope of the response in WSP to dietary Ca and feed phytate content for excreta from collection II (r(2) = 0.99). There was also a negative correlation between excreta phytate concentration and excreta WSP during both excreta collections. The response in WSP to dietary manipulation was important from an environmental perspective because WSP in excreta has been related to potential for off-site P losses following land application