The Use of Hormonal Assay, Phenotypic Morphometry, and CASA Semen Analysis to Estimate Attainment of Puberty in Indigenous Ram Lambs

Ruminant landraces that are locally adapted have become crucial for sustainable farming considering climate change. This study sought to evaluate the commencement of reproductive capability of Bapedi, Namaqua-Afrikaner and Zulu ram lambs. Data were collected from a total of 21 ram lambs (7/breed) starting from 3–8 months of age. From four months of age, the scrotal circumference of rams was measured using a flexible tape and it was found that it differed significantly between breeds (P 0.05). At 7 months, semen was collected using an electro-ejaculator and analysed using a Sperm Class Analyser©. There were significant differences found in semen quality between the studied breeds for various semen parameters (P < 0.05). There was a weak positive correlation between blood serum testosterone and scrotal circumference (r = 0.30). Conclusively, this study highlights the importance of characterisation for the conversation of landrace breeds

Assessment of genetic variation in Bapedi sheep using microsatellite markers

This study was conducted to assess genetic variation in Bapedi sheep using 14 microsatellite markers. Blood samples were collected from 174 unrelated Bapedi sheep on six farms in various districts of Limpopo and from the Agricultural Research Council Animal Production Institute (ARC-API) in Gauteng. Genotypes from other South African indigenous sheep, namely Zulu (N = 14), Damara (N = 11), Dorper (N = 8), and Namaqua (N = 11), were included to represent reference populations. The effective number of alleles averaged 5.6 for across the Bapedi flocks and was 4.9 for the reference breeds. Among the Bapedi flocks, the observed heterozygosity (Ho) ranged from 0.56 ± 0.05 to 0.69 ± 0.03 and expected heterozygosity (He) values were between 0.75 ± 0.04 and 0.88 ± 0.01. Thus, there is considerable genetic diversity within the Bapedi sheep populations. However, the fixation index was high, indicating the possibility of inbreeding becoming a problem for these flocks. A neighbour-joining tree was constructed from the estimates of Nei’s genetic distances among flocks. The presence of Bapedi sheep flocks on all of the main branches of the tree along with one of the reference breeds suggests the present-day Bapedi is not an entirely distinct breed and that there are genetic differences between flocks of these South African indigenous sheep. Sustainable breeding and conservation programmes are needed to control inbreeding and to foreclose possible genetic dilution of Bapedi sheep. Keywords: genetic diversity, germplasm conservation, inbreeding, indigenous shee

Characterisation of Semen and Phenotypic Parameters in Relation to Male Goat Fertility

The following are aspects were discussed in this chapter: Domestication of goats – checking on when the goats were first domesticated and for what purposes; Current goat industry - looking on the contribution of goats economically; Conservation of domestic animal diversity - looking on the importance of conserving indigenous animals since some of them are under threat of extinction; Male goat fertility – discussing male fertility indicators; Characterisation approaches - different approaches to be followed when characterising indigenous species; and Phenotypic and genetic characterisation of indigenous goats

Phenotypic Characterisation of South African Unimproved Indigenous and Tankwa Goats

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Preparation and characterization of co-doped lithium vanadate solid solutions

MSc (Chemistry)Department of ChemistryIn this study, a class of inorganic materials Li3VO4, Li3-xNaxVO4, Li3-xKxVO4, LiV1-yCryO4, and Li3-xKxV1-yCryVO4 (where x = 0.01, 0.05 & 0.1; y = 0.01, 0.05 & 0.1) were effectively synthesized via citrate sol – gel method. Structural properties of the prepared inorganic materials were characterized by powder X – ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy (RS), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy dispersive X – ray spectroscopy (EDS). The XRD data showed that the synthesized materials have an orthorhombic crystal structure (space group Pmn21). From the obtained XRD data, different structural parameters (a, b, and c) are also suggested. The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis showed one distinct strong absorption peak at 600 – 950 cm-1 due to the bending vibrations of the V – O – V bonds of VO4 tetrahedron. Raman study of un – doped and doped lithium vanadate, shows two distinct strong Raman modes which represent VO4 tetrahedra are identified in the Raman shift region of 790 cm-1 to 830 cm-1. The Energy dispersive X – ray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis shows the presence of vanadium and oxygen for undoped LVO, vanadium, oxygen, and sodium for Na-doped LVO, vanadium, oxygen, and potassium for K-doped LVO, vanadium, oxygen, and chromium for Cr-doped LVO and for K & Cr-doped LVO, vanadium, oxygen, potassium, and chromium are present. Surface morphology of the pure and doped Li3VO4 was examined by SEM and the average particle sizes were in between 600 nm and 1000 nm.NR

Characterisation and cryopreservation of South African unimproved indigenous and Boer goat semen

Thesis (MTech. degree in Agriculture.)--Tshwane University of Technology, 2011.There is limited information on semen characterisation and fertility rate of unimproved indigenous goat following cryopreservation. The aim of the study was to characterise semen, evaluate raw and frozen-thawed semen and test the fertility rate of frozen-thawed semen

An Assessment of Economic Sustainability and Efficiency in Small-Scale Broiler Farms in Limpopo Province: A Review

An important factor in determining the success of a small-scale broiler farm is its economic viability and efficiency. During times of trouble for the industry, the idea receives more attention. The conceptual considerations of economic sustainability and efficiency are frequently quite constrained, according to the difficulties raised in this study and by other authors. There is a lack of information about South Africa’s small-scale broiler production’s economic viability and effectiveness. Furthermore, it is clear that small-scale broiler producers have the ability to increase their economic efficiency. By reducing the mortality rate, feed conversion rate, and production duration, both their technical and financial efficiency could be improved. Profitability in the production of broilers will be considerably increased by lowering the cost of these variable inputs, particularly feed and day-old chicks. Additionally, raising the education level, capacity utilization ratio, and broiler production would all contribute to raising the farms’ efficiency levels. To ensure effective resource use and to maximize practicable profit, small-scale broiler producers who are not operating close to the profit frontier must make efforts to reduce both technical and allocation inefficiencies. Collectively, all these measures would ensure the economic sustainability of small-scale farmers in South Africa would be met. Moreover, the sustainability of small-scale broiler producers can be achieved if strategies that build local capacity and that empower them to sustain high levels of productivity are provided. In addition, the efficient use of resources will ensure that productivity is enhanced, and might increase profitability. It is therefore important to ensure that small-scale broiler producers achieve maximum profit for a given set of inputs. Approaches in assessing the farm-level profitability such as cost-benefit and gross margin analyses can be used

An Assessment of Economic Sustainability and Efficiency in Small-Scale Broiler Farms in Limpopo Province: A Review

An important factor in determining the success of a small-scale broiler farm is its economic viability and efficiency. During times of trouble for the industry, the idea receives more attention. The conceptual considerations of economic sustainability and efficiency are frequently quite constrained, according to the difficulties raised in this study and by other authors. There is a lack of information about South Africa&rsquo;s small-scale broiler production&rsquo;s economic viability and effectiveness. Furthermore, it is clear that small-scale broiler producers have the ability to increase their economic efficiency. By reducing the mortality rate, feed conversion rate, and production duration, both their technical and financial efficiency could be improved. Profitability in the production of broilers will be considerably increased by lowering the cost of these variable inputs, particularly feed and day-old chicks. Additionally, raising the education level, capacity utilization ratio, and broiler production would all contribute to raising the farms&rsquo; efficiency levels. To ensure effective resource use and to maximize practicable profit, small-scale broiler producers who are not operating close to the profit frontier must make efforts to reduce both technical and allocation inefficiencies. Collectively, all these measures would ensure the economic sustainability of small-scale farmers in South Africa would be met. Moreover, the sustainability of small-scale broiler producers can be achieved if strategies that build local capacity and that empower them to sustain high levels of productivity are provided. In addition, the efficient use of resources will ensure that productivity is enhanced, and might increase profitability. It is therefore important to ensure that small-scale broiler producers achieve maximum profit for a given set of inputs. Approaches in assessing the farm-level profitability such as cost-benefit and gross margin analyses can be used

Characterization of seminal plasma constituents of unimproved indigenous and Tankwa goats

The aim of the study was to characterize and compare seminal plasma constituents of unimproved indigenous and Tankwa goats. In this study, unimproved indigenous (11) and Tankwa (11) goats were used. Their average age was 3 ± 0.8 years and average bodyweights were 35.5 ± 2.1 kg and 59.8 ± 1.9 kg, respectively. Semen samples were collected with an electro ejaculator, and evaluated for macroscopic and microscopic semen characteristics and seminal plasma constituents. Both unimproved indigenous and Tankwa goats had normal semen characteristics for goats, with the exception of sperm cell concentration. However, Tankwa goats had higher straight-line velocity and average path velocity compared with unimproved indigenous goats. Unimproved indigenous goats had higher intact acrosome than Tankwa goats. Lipocalin-type prostaglandin-D synthase was one of the constituents that were detected, but it was below the detection limit of 0.5 mmol/L. Moreover, the semen of unimproved indigenous and Tankwa goats had the same levels of fertility-associated antigen, lactate dehydrogenase, sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, lipids and urea. In conclusion, unimproved indigenous and Tankwa goats had the same seminal plasma constituents. These constituents seem to be optimal for the sperm cells, as they resulted in acceptable semen characteristics, except for sperm cell concentration, which was low. Moreover, acceptable standards need to be set for all seminal plasma constituents, as they are not currently known.Keywords: Fertility-associated minerals, genetic variation, semen characteristic